2014 Believe Breakfast to Honor Former Citizens Financial Group CEO Graboys
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
The College Crusade of Rhode Island will hold its 2014 Believe Breakfast on November 14 from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. at the Providence Marriott Downtown.
"The Believe Breakfast is a celebration to honor the leaders in our state who are dedicated to educating our youth," said Karen Donovan, Marketing & Communications Officer of The College Crusade of Rhode Island.
Educators, state policymakers, business leaders, philanthropic organizations, community agencies, and families are all honored at the event.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTDr. Americo W. Petrocelli Distinguished Service Award
The event will honor George Graboys, of Providence, with the 2014 Dr. Americo W. Petrocelli Distinguished Service Award.
Honorary co-chairs for this year’s event are James Diossa, mayor of Central Falls and an alumnus of The College Crusade, and Denise Jenkins, managing director of United Providence. Dr. Warren Simmons, executive director of the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University, will deliver the keynote address, titled “College Readiness and Success: Building Pathways That Strengthen Student, Family and Community Development.” Close to 400 guests are expected to attend.
The award is given annually to an individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to the field of college access and success. It is named in honor of Dr. Petrocelli, who founded The College Crusade in 1989 and served as RI Commissioner of Higher Education from 1989 to 1995.
About Graboys
Graboys was president, chairman, and CEO of Citizens Financial Group for 17 years and was a dedicated community leader throughout his long career. Graboys was one of the founders of The College Crusade and served as its first chair.
Grayboys was also an adjunct professor and executive-in-residence at the University of Rhode Island’s College of Business. He served as chair of the Rhode Island Foundation, AAA of Southern New England, and the Rhode Island Urban Project, and he was a director of Miriam Hospital and the United Way of Rhode Island. George has been honored with the Anti-Defamation League’s Torch of Liberty Award, the Brotherhood Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice, and Citizen of the Year awards from both the Providence Rotary Club and the International Institute.
Distinguished Alumni Award
The event will also honor Robert W. Britto-Oliveira, of Providence, with the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award. The alumni award recognizes an alumnus or alumna of The College Crusade who has had exemplary college and early career success and who demonstrates a commitment to community. Born and raised in the Fox Point section of Providence, Mr. Britto-Oliveira graduated from East Providence High School in 2001 and earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Rhode Island. After serving for a number of years as a High School Advisor for The College Crusade, Britto-Oliveira now works as an Academic Advisor for URI’s Talent Development Program.
Presenting sponsor for the 2014 Believe Breakfast is Citizens Bank. Other major sponsors are H. Carr & Sons, Inc., Nellie Mae Education Foundation, Brown University, Providence College, Rhode Island Federation of Teachers & Health Professionals, AAA Southern New England, Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University, Center for Labor Markets & Policy at Drexel University, Cox Communications, Delta Dental of Rhode Island, Home Loan Investment Bank, Johnson & Wales University, Roger Williams University, University of Rhode Island, and Yarlas, Kaplan, Santilli, Moran, Ltd.
More information is available here.
