NEWPORT, RI, March 22, 2010 – The ice at the Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center may have melted, but its commitment to area non-profits proved to be quite solid. The Family Skating Center, located at the Newport Yachting Center on America’s Cup Avenue in downtown Newport, offered a wrap-up of its many events throughout the winter.
Specifically, the Family Skating Center and Amica Insurance conducted a Coat Drive throughout January to benefit St. Joseph’s Soup Kitchen located on Broadway in downtown Newport. More than 200 coats were donated this year, some of which are shown by coat drive coordinators (from left): Rebecca Knapp LeBlanc, Senior Partnership Manager at Newport Harbor Corporation; Meghan C. Palumbo, Senior Communications Specialist with Amica Insurance; Captain James W. Martin, USN Ret., St. Joseph’s Soup Kitchen Coordinator; and Colleen Maher, Partnership Coordinator, Newport Yachting Center. In order to take part, skaters were asked to donate one new or gently used coat and received a two-for-one skating admission.
The Family Skating Center also hosted 25 children as part of the "Skate For Joy" Program each Tuesday afternoon in January and February. “Skate For Joy” is a non-profit organization committed to helping groups of under-served children from all backgrounds discover the joy of ice skating with a basic skills program. The program provides mentoring that fosters skills in goal-setting and teaches the importance of physical fitness and respect for themselves and others.
“I’m always amazed by the generosity of our community, and this winter was no different. The Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center collected a total of 212 coats now being distributed by St. Joseph’s Soup Kitchen, far surpassing last year’s total of 120 coats donated,” said Michele Maker Palmieri, General Manager of the Newport Yachting Center. “And to see the smiling faces of the kids taking part in the “Skate for Joy” Program was one of the many highlight of our season for me. ” Palmieri added that the Chuck-a-Puck contest to benefit the Special Olympics raised much-needed funds and the annual Blood Drive held January 9th did its part to help strengthen the blood supply at the Rhode Island Blood Center.
The Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center features a 9,000 square foot skating surface large enough to accommodate up to 150 skaters at a time. FREE parking, skate rentals, hot beverages and comfort foods, lighting for night skating, regular admission discounts, a warming room and viewing spaces for the public are also featured at the rink. The tickets can be purchased at the Family Skating Center. Skate sharpening is available for $5.
In addition to Sovereign Bank, other sponsors of the rink during the 2009-2010 season were Stop & Shop, Amica Insurance, Cox Communications, Cardi Furniture, Newport Marriott, Sheahan Printing, Viti Mercedes-Benz, The Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina and Rockport.
About Sovereign Bank
Sovereign Bank, which provides customized solutions to help its customers reach their financial goals,operates branches at 286 Thames Street in Newport and 42 Valley Road in Middletown, as well as more than 250 other locations in Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts.
About Newport Yachting Center
The Newport Yachting Center is a subsidiary of Newport Harbor Corporation, an ESOP (employee-owned) hospitality company located in Newport, Rhode Island. For more information about the Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center at the Newport Yachting Center, call (401) 846-3018 or visit skatenewport.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
David Hughes, Dodge Associates
(401) 273-7310 dave@dodgeadv.com
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