Posted: Tuesday, November 17, 2015

On November 10th, The Providence Center held its annual “Circle of Stars” fundraiser at the Rhode Island Convention Center, where over 250 supporters gathered to celebrate the organization. The $173,000 raised will go to support over 60 programs that help Rhode Islanders overcome mental illness and addiction issues and professional development programs for staff. For their long-time support, Rich Cawthorne and Mark Salamone of Alpha Pension Group and Ro Mede of The Providence Center were the event’s honorees.

The event was emceed by NBC 10 anchor Alison Bologna. Bologna, who has served on TPC’s board of trustees since 2012, remarked that she has “had the chance to hear clients tell their inspiring success stories and almost every person says two things: ‘my clinician never gave up on me’ and ‘The Providence Center saved my life.’”

The Providence Center president Dale Klatzker took the podium and praised the staff at the organization. “I know unequivocally that The Providence Center employs the most dedicated, compassionate and skilled behavioral professionals in Rhode Island,” Klatzker said. Klatzker’s speech also highlighted the successful innovations that have come about because TPC staff members simply asked: “what if.” He mentioned ideas like client support through text messaging, clinician ride-alongs with police and placing staff in emergency rooms all over the state.

Since 2007, honorees Rich Cawthorne and Mark Salamone of Alpha Pension Group have served as The Providence Center’s retirement plan advisers, and they also lend vital support to the organization’s annual golf tournament. Cawthorne remarked, “For us, the real fun begins when we get to meet the hardworking staff at The Providence Center. On a daily basis, the people here are creating miracles and putting someone’s needs before their own.”

The next honoree was Ro Mede, who has served as The Providence Center’s Chief Human Resources Officer since 2010 and supported for the organization since 2006. Mede highlighted the dedication of The Providence Center staff. “For them this work is very personal—they are pulled to this place because they have been touched by some experience in their lives,” Mede said.

Mede is an ardent advocate of career growth and continuing education for The Providence Center staff and related the story of an employee who worked his way up from a maintenance position to eventually become a psychiatric nurse in the Community Support programs.

Also speaking at the event was Keenan Oliveira, a recent graduate of The Providence Center School. He shared his mental health challenges in middle school, where he was paralyzed by his desire to be perfect. Keenan also talked about the dangers of living behind a facade; under a “happy-go-lucky disguise,” he was “anxious, depressed, and afraid of failing.”

In 8th grade, Keenan started at The Providence Center School and got the guidance he needed to succeed. “They helped me take down my ‘everything’s fine’ disguise and be authentic and genuine. Now that I could be real, I was able to work on the issues that were affecting me emotionally.” Keenan graduated in June and went on to receive a $72,000 Presidential Scholarship to Salve Regina University, where he is now in his freshman year.