Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation Awards $100,000 Grant to Support El Centro Community Center in Central Falls
This investment supports new center which will provide housing and food assistance, workforce development, and financial literacy programming.
West Warwick, R.I. (March 24,2025) – The Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation has awarded a significant grant to support the development of El Centro, a new community resource center in Central Falls. Located at 702 Broad Street, El Centro will serve as a vital hub for youth, families, and residents, offering essential services, programming, and career development opportunities. A breaking ground ceremony is planned for late Spring 2025.
As part of this commitment, Centreville Bank will also become a leading partner in supporting a key culturally aligned youth development initiative—the Central Falls Youth Career Empowerment Program. This program aims to provide young people with career readiness training, mentorship, and access to educational and employment opportunities, empowering them to build a strong future.
“Centreville Bank has long been committed to strengthening the communities we serve, and supporting El Centro aligns perfectly with our mission of making a meaningful impact,” said Paola Fernandez, Senior Vice President of Community Development at Centreville Bank. “By investing in this vital resource center and the Youth Career Empowerment Program, we are making a commitment to be active partners in supporting the success of young people in Central Falls and ensuring that families have access to the support they need to thrive.”
Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera expressed her gratitude for the Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation’s support, emphasizing the transformational impact of El Centro:
“I want to extend my sincere thanks to the Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation, whose generous support is helping us bring to life our vision of El Centro—one community resource center that will be life-changing for our youth and families. Through this support, we can address some of the most pressing challenges our community faces while providing new opportunities and pathways to success for residents of all ages. Thank you to our community partner, the Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation, for investing in our city’s future.”
El Centro is set to become a cornerstone of Central Falls, providing critical services and programs that foster economic stability, education, and career advancement. The Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation’s investment underscores its ongoing commitment to strengthening Rhode Island communities through meaningful partnerships and strategic giving.
In addition to this investment in Central Falls, during the Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation’s latest round of giving, more than $425,000 went to support more than 20 organizations in RI and CT including:
Rhode Island organizations receiving first quarter grants:
- San Miguel School: Student Sponsorship Program
- Student Diplomacy Corps: Centreville Bank Student Diplomacy Scholarship
- Progreso Latino: Youth Entrepreneurship Student Mentorship Program
- Genesis Center: Genesis Financial Opportunity Center
- Olneyville Housing Corp, DBA One Neighborhood Builders: Support for affordable housing pre-development activities
- Friends Way: Meeting the Emotional Needs of RI’s Bereaved Youth
- Central Falls Foundation: El Centro Community Center
- United Way of Rhode Island:2025 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
- Onward We Learn: Onward We Learn Chatbot Launch and Organizational Capacity Support
- Pawtucket Central Falls Development Corporation: PCF Development Homeownership Program
- Reach Out and Read Rhode Island: Partnering with Pediatricians to bring early literacy intervention
- Tides Family Services: Supporting Youth and their Families meet their needs through hardship fund
- West Warwick Senior Citizens Center, Inc: Transportation costs for seniors providing volunteer service in their communities
- Pawtucket Soup Kitchen: Food for Pawtucket Soup Kitchen
- Teatro ECAS: Te Quiero Improving Young Lives
- Salve Regina University: Basic needs support for refugee students
Connecticut organizations receiving first quarter grants:
- Junior Achievement of Southwest New England: Economic Empowerment for New London and Windham County Students
- Connecticut College-Holleran Center: Horizons Beyond High School
- The Last Green Valley, INC: Explore the Last Green Valley Adventure
- Southeastern Council on Alcoholism and Drugs: Senior Management Development
- Thames River Community Services
- St. Vincent de Paul-Norwich: Food Pantry
About The Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation
The Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation was established as a nonprofit charitable organization in 2008 by the Board of Trustees to further the philanthropic mission of Centreville Bank. The Foundation strives to support local community-based organizations tackling the most significant challenges and helping to meet the needs of underserved populations throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island. Grants are considered on a quarterly basis focusing on the following priority areas: education success, economic security, and capacity building. For more information, please visit www.centrevillebank.com/Community.
About Centreville Bank
Founded in 1828 and headquartered in West Warwick, Rhode Island, Centreville Bank is a full-service mutual bank with over $2.8 billion in assets and 22 locations throughout Rhode Island and eastern Connecticut. Centreville understands the unique financial needs of individuals, families and businesses and offers a wide range of personal banking and commercial banking products and services including checking accounts, savings accounts, CDs, money market accounts, mortgages, business loans and more. Centreville is committed to its employees and the communities it serves, always striving to help people make progress and achieve their financial goals. That is progress on purpose. Visit centrevillebank.com, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, or come into a branch or office to learn more.