Grant Generously Provided by the Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation

Pawtucket – Mayor Donald R. Grebien and the City of Pawtucket have announced that six recently graduated, high school seniors heading to college have been awarded with the Inaugural Mayor’s Scholarship. The scholarship, set up to help assist Pawtucket youth with college tuition costs, was funded through a grant that was generously provided by the Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation.

“College is an exciting and scary time for seniors and we want to make sure we can help our city’s youth when possible,” said Mayor Donald R. Grebien. “I thank Bristol County Savings for their extreme kindness and dedication toward our students. I also thank the Commission and School Department for their assistance throughout the creation and selection process.”

The Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation generously donated $20,000 to the City that has allowed the scholarship program to launch.

“Congratulations to the six deserving students who received the scholarships for college and, on behalf of everyone at the Bank, we wish them good luck as they enter the next stage of academic life,” said Patrick Murray, President & CEO of Bristol County Savings Bank and President of the Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation. “The Foundation places a particular emphasis on education and literacy within the communities we serve so our grant supporting the start of the Mayor's Scholarship is a perfect fit with our mission.”

Pawtucket students planning to attend an accredited public or private, vocational technical school, two-year or four-year institution, were eligible to apply for this scholarship consideration provided the student submitted an application that met general guidelines including proof of Pawtucket residency and an essay. Each of the six students will be receiving a $1,000 scholarship for the upcoming year.

• Amanda Afriyieb – University of Rhode Island
• Elizabeth Ahwireng – University of Rhode Island
• Kassia Almeida – University of Rhode Island
• Valeria Alvarado – Boston College
• Brendan Lorena – University of Rhode Island
• Elisio Nascimento – Lasell College

A Mayor’s Youth Scholarship Commission was established to review applications that consisted of Bristol County Savings Bank’s Vice President of Community Relations Jeff Bradley, Councilor Elena Vasquez representing the City Council, School Committee Member Roberto Moreno, Dr. Jacqueline Naspo of the Pawtucket School Department, Ed Soares of the Pawtucket Planning Department, and a representative of the Mayor’s Office.

The Mayor’s Scholarship Program is designed to aid students of low and moderate-income families in the City of Pawtucket to attend college and universities, as well as vocational technical schools.

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About Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation

The Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation (BCSCF) was established in 1996 as part of Bristol County Savings Bank’s 150th Anniversary celebrations. The purpose of the Foundation is to fund needs that contribute to the economic and social well-being of the people and institutions located in the greater Attleboro/Taunton, greater New Bedford, greater Fall River, Massachusetts area and the Pawtucket, Rhode Island area. Since the Foundation began, close to $20 million in grants have been committed to 501(c)(3) organizations in the local communities.

For Immediate Release
July 25, 2019
Contact: Wil Arboleda
401-728-0500 ext. 358