Author: Tim Blankenship

CVS Health Charity Classic

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show – underwritten by National Grid and supported by Lifetime Medical and Emery’s Catering. Hosted this week by Bronwyn Dannenfelser.

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On this week’s show Bronwyn will be joined by two remarkable women who are doing great philanthropy work in Southern New England. Our first guest is Jennifer Leigh, the director of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy at CVS Health. Jennifer will be sharing details of all of the upcoming activities for CVS Health Charity Classic and the charitable work that goes along with it.

Bronwyn’s next guest is Jen Andruzzi, the executive director of the Joe Andruzzi Foundation. Founded by former New England Patriots offensive guard Joe Andruzzi and his wife Jen in 2008, the Joe Andruzzi Foundation grew out of Joe’s own successful battle with cancer and the couple’s ongoing work with young cancer patients. They are one of the benefactors of the Charity Classic.

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WaterFire Providence’s New Director of Philanthropy | Rhode Island PrideFest

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show – underwritten by National Grid and supported by Lifetime Medical and Emery’s Catering. Hosted this week by Bronwyn Dannenfelser.

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On today’s show Bronwyn will be joined by Nicole Purcell, WaterFire Providence’s new director of philanthropy. Nicole is an art lover, a sculptor working out of a studio at the Steel Yard, and has recently taken up the sport of Boxing.

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Starting off the show will be Arthur Richter, a member of Rhode Islands gay community. Arthur is the founder of Network, the first gay men’s organization in Rhode Island and the Triangle Foundation. Arthur will sharing his perspective on the RI PrideFest and Illuminated Night Night Parade festivities that are coming up on June 18th.

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PVDFest and Olneyville’s Ovie Awards Highlight the Best Providence Has to Offer

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show – underwritten by National Grid and supported by Lifetime Medical and Emery’s Catering. Hosted this week by Bronwyn Dannenfelser.

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Today we will be speaking with Stephanie Fortunato from the city of Providence about PVDFest 2016 which kicks off this evening and goes through Sunday. The City of Providence will be bustling with musical performances, art exhibits and many fun cultural happenings.

We will also be speaking with Tina Shepard of ONE Neighborhood Builders and Pilar McCloud from A Sweet Creation Youth Organization, Chair Providence Branch Youth Work Committee and Chair NEAC Youth Work Committee about the upcoming event, on Saturday June 11th, when ONE neighborhood Builders will host its first ever Olneyville Ovie Awards – Olneyville’s Version of the Oscars! The goal of this red carpet, dress to impress event is to honor, recognize, and pay tribute to some of the businesses, organizations, residents, and community stakeholders that make Olneyville such a special place! Get tickets here.

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Citizen’s Police Academy | Rites and Reason Theatre | The New Skyline at Waterplace

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show – underwritten by National Grid and supported by Lifetime Medical and Emery’s Catering. Hosted this week by Bronwyn Dannenfelser.

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On this week’s show will be talking about the upcoming first full lighting of the season and we’ll be joined by a great WaterFire Providence partner, The Chief of the Providence Police Department,  Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr. We will be chatting about the City of Providence’s Citizen’s Police Academy and it’s first class of recruits who will be graduating this evening. Our host Bronwyn Dannenfelser will be sharing her experience as a member of this year’s graduating class.

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Celebrating 20 years at The Met High School

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show – underwritten by National Grid and supported by Lifetime Medical and Emery’s Catering. Hosted this week by Bronwyn Dannenfelser and Barnaby Evans.

On this week’s show we’re talking with Dennis Littky the co-found and co-director at the The Met High School. They are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year will a full day of activities on Saturday May 21st. The festivities kick-off 11:00 a.m. with a bike fest, carnival, live musical performances by Met Students, basketball tournament, activities, food trucks, a job fair, and more. Capping of the celebration will be a special Basin lighting of WaterFire featuring music performances and 150 torch Ring of Fire ceremony in the Basin of Waterplace Park starting at 6:30 p.m.

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Rockin’ Around the Christmas Trees!

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show –
underwritten by National Grid
supported by Lifetime Medical
Hosted by Bronwyn Dannenfelser

On today’s show we will be speaking about the upcoming Very Special Christmas WaterFire and the Festival of Trees with Briana Tutalo from Providence Investment Management, a group that has been sponsoring a tree each year and she will be telling us all about what Christmas means to her and the company.

We then will be speaking with the award winning Patty Jeffrey lifestyle blogger who will be giving some Christmas advice as to what to buy and where to go. Because she is the girl that is really in the know.

Finally we will be speaking with Willa Van Nostrand of Little Bitte Artisinal cocktails who will be giving us some great holiday cocktail and “mocktail” recipes to help with your holiday entertaining.

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It’s Christmastime in the City!

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show –
underwritten by National Grid
supported by Lifetime Medical
Hosted by Bronwyn Dannenfelser

Today we will be talking about many of the wonderful things happening for the holidays here in Providence including of course the December 18th Very Special Christmas WaterFire to support the Providence Rescue Mission. Sean Carew (executive director and founder of the mission) will be talking us behind the doors of the mission and opening our eyes and ears to the work being done at PRM.

To get things started we will be getting a special call in from Mike Ritz who will be telling us all about the caroling night you will not want to miss that will be happening in the West Broadway Neighborhood area!

It is certainly beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in RI!

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The RI Independent Film Scene | Christmas WaterFire

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show –
underwritten by National Grid
supported by Lifetime Medical
Hosted by Andrew Doig

Featuring RI film maker Jonathan Waugh, we will explore Rhode Island’s independent film scene. Jon has working with local production company Four Frogs Productions on their 48 Hour Film Project team for several years. He also volunteers as a videographer for WaterFire Providence events and has traveled to Pennsylvania to film WaterFire Sharon.

We are also joined by WaterFire Providence’s interactive media manager Tim Blankenship to discuss its Fifth Annual WaterFire Christmas Lighting! Tim will be discussing the Buy Local RI movement, the Christmastime Arts Festival and WaterFire’s Let In The Light campaign for #GivingTuesday.

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Fusion Works Dance Company | The Chorus of Westerly

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show –
underwritten by National Grid
supported by Lifetime Medical
Hosted by Bronwyn Dannenfelser and Andrew Doig

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In the first half of the show we had the pleasure of speaking with Melody Gamba and Erica Busillo from the Fusionworks Dance Company. Melody has been a dancer with the group for over 12 years and Erica is vice president of their board of directors. The Fusionworks Fall Concert Series is taking place Saturday, November 21st, 2015 at Rhode Island College’s Sapinsley Hall. Tickets are available online and by phone at 401.456.8144.

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In the second half of the show we were joined by several representatives from the Chorus of Westerly: Ryan Saunders, executive director; Andrew Howell, music director; and Brenda Green from the their board of directors. The Chorus of Westerly’s The Classical Chorus performances are happening on Sunday, November 22nd, 2015 at 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. Tickets are available online.

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Wrapping up our 3rd Annual Salute to Veterans Lighting

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show –
underwritten by National Grid
supported by Lifetime Medical
Hosted by Bronwyn Dannenfelser

Our first guest on this show is Christopher N. Buchanan, Director
Public Affairs & State and Local Government Relations at Walmart. Walmart was the Gold Star Sponsor of last weekend’s WaterFire Salute to Veterans. Walmart is highly committed to Veterans and their families and we will be discussing the many different ways in which they support and hire veterans and their goal of hiring 250,000 Veterans by 2020.

Our second guest is Laurie Ludovici: Rhode Island State Police Woman and Major Rhode Island Army National Guard (Ret.). Laurie served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and will be speaking about being a woman in combat in the military and the life changing impact that experience had on her.

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Episode Segments:

Part 1 – Christopher N. Buchanan, Walmart

Part 2 – Laurie Ludovici, Rhode Island State Police

Episode 50 – Broadcast: November 11th, 2015 | Featured image: Memorial Park During the 2015 WaterFire Salute to Veterans. Photo by John Nickerson.