UniBank Blackstone River Valley
Greenway Challenge Charitable Recipient

 

 

Blackstone River Watershed Association selected as 2011 Charitable Recipient

 

The Steering Committee has been impressed by this organization's enthusiasm with the event, assisting us in a number of ways during the last 10 years – helping staff transition sites, sponsoring river cleanup projects critical to race course integrity, and providing important input to help us stage a quality event. 

We salute the environmental work members of the BRWA do year round to educate the public, provide water quality monitoring, maintain the beauty of the natural setting, increase wildlife habitat and improve recreational sites in the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.

The mission of the selected organization must be compatible to that of the UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge, which is to promote the recreational opportunities in the Blackstone River Valley. Working with partner organizations, the Greenway Challenge supports clean water campaigns, hiking and biking trails, wildlife projects, environmental education and development of waterway access.

Upon receiving the news of the Charitable Recipient award, Dona Neely,  President of the Blackstone River Watershed Association, said,  “ We are very pleased and greatly appreciate the Greenway Challenge Steering Committee's support in general and for the BRWA's new educational initiative that this grant will help support.” 

Dona wrote in their proposal, "lf selected, the award funds will be invested in the continuation and expansion of our new school program that brings the watershed model into the classroom and provides students with a hands-on opportunity to learn how daily activities on the land impact the health of our waterways. At the conclusion of the presentation materials that students can bring home to share with their families are distributed. The information packets provide homeowners with suggestions and tips for things they can do to help improve water quality and mitigate the negative impacts of contaminated stormwater runoff. Polluted stormwater is one of the major problems we are facing in terms of water quality. When students participate in the watershed model demonstration they "get it" and they are really good at taking this knowledge home and nagging family members with their new found knowledge. They become our best champions for more eco-friendly practices!"

Congratulations Blackstone River Watershed Association.

For more information, visit www.greenwaychallenge.org or contact Event Coordinator, Barbara Dixon, UniBank Greenway Challenge Request, One Depot Square, Woonsocket, RI 02895. Barbara may be reached at 401-762-0250 ext. 30.#      

Past Charitable Recipients

Past Recipients


2005 Charitable Recipient

2006 Charitable Recipient
2007 Charitable Recipient

2008 Charitable Recipient

2009 Charitable Recipient

2010 Charitable Recipient