#bankri

June 20, 2024

10th Annual R.I. Interscholastic League Peanut Butter Express Drive Leads to 3,640 Pounds for Rhode Island Community Food Bank

Presented by BankRI, local high school collection effort again led by Lincoln High School

 May 31, 2024

Lincoln High principal Ken Hopkins, Jr., (L), BankRI Lincoln branch manager Carla Gabriel (2nd from L) and Lincoln assistant AD Madison Flaxington (Far R) join a group of Lincoln seniors in the school's courtyard for the Peanut Butter Express championship banner presentation on Wednesday. PHOTO/CAROLYN THORNTON, RIIL

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (May 31, 2024) – The Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) has concluded its 10th annual Peanut Butter Express collection drive to benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, with Lincoln High School once again setting the gold standard. In total, the statewide community service initiative resulted in a delivery of 3,640 pounds of peanut butter to the Food Bank earlier this week.

In addition to serving as presenting sponsor of this initiative, Bank Rhode Island (BankRI) actively participated by placing collection bins at all 22 of its branch locations. The Bank’s customers and employees gave generously, resulting in 1,318 jars of peanut butter, which surpassed last year’s total by nearly 300 jars.

“The generosity and support from our member schools and BankRI continues to astound me,” said RIIL Executive Director Mike Lunney. “The success of the Peanut Butter Express is a testament to our mission to develop a sense of community service within our schools and within our communities.”

This year’s RIIL Peanut Butter Express drive began on April 8, opening a month-long window for participating schools to engage in a friendly competition for an important cause. The RIIL has hosted the statewide challenge since 2015 as a way to encourage leadership and citizenship among the league’s more than 30,000 student-athletes. Peanut butter, a protein-rich food, is among the most requested items for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and its statewide network of emergency food pantries. Each month, more than 80,000 Rhode Islanders turn to the Food Bank and its network for food assistance.

Carla Gabriel, manager of BankRI’s Lincoln Branch, paid a visit to Lincoln High School with the RIIL’s Carolyn Thornton on Wednesday, May 29, to present the school with yet another Peanut Butter Express Championship banner – it’s fifth to be exact. Madison Flaxington, Lincoln High’s assistant athletic director, led the school’s first winning drive of 1,375 pounds of peanut butter in 2019 when she was a student at Lincoln and a member of the RIIL’s Student Advisory Board. She and Lincoln athletic director Greg O’Connor have continued to coordinate the collection effort, engaging the entire student body and sparking a friendly competition between all of the Lions’ spring sports teams. Lincoln has been the top collector every year since - with the exception of 2020 when the Peanut Butter Express had to be suspended because of COVID. With this year’s haul of nearly 2,000 pounds, which again was spearheaded by Lincoln’s girls outdoor track and lacrosse teams, the Lions have now donated 4.2 tons of peanut butter to the Food Bank over the past six years.

Along with Lincoln High School taking top honors, Bay View Academy and Toll Gate High School placed second and third, respectively. The RIIL concluded the drive at its RIIL Leadership Training Workshop, held earlier this month at Camp Fogarty, encouraging students who attended to bring along a jar of peanut butter.

(Updated May 2, 2024)

April 19, 2024

WARWICK, RI – The Rhode Island Interscholastic League will honor 23 individuals, including 16 student-athletes, for their exemplary achievements and contributions over the past year at its 12th annual RIIL Awards Breakfast, to be held Wednesday, May 8, 2024 from 9-11:15 a.m. at the Quonset “O” Club, 200 Lt. James Brown Rd., North Kingstown. (Registration from 8:30-9 a.m.). In addition, the RIIL will present Brady Toner of Rogers High School with the 2024 Local 51 Scholarship.

Tickets, which cost $26 per person, may be purchased online at https://gofan.co/app/school/RIIL  by May 3rd. For more information, contact Susana Borges via email at [email protected] or by phone at the League Office at 401-272-9844. No tickets will be sold at the door. The honorees:

RIIL Student-Athlete of the Year Awards

Presented by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI

Wayne McNamara, Lincoln High School

Leila W.X. Hopkins, Classical High School

RIIL Leadership & Service Awards

Presented by Bank Rhode Island

Maura Pendergast, Scituate High School

Adeline Areson, Toll Gate High School

Nolan Rogalski, Cumberland High School

Adam Beaudry, Woonsocket High School

RIIL Distinguished Achievement Award

Emily Ballard, Chariho High School

Griffin Crain, Bishop Hendricken High School

Alexia DiLorenzo, Johnston High School

Chukwuemeka Ezeama, Smithfield High School

Alexandra Stoehr, Westerly High School

Peter Vachon, Cranston West High School

Samantha Vernancio, Cranston High School East

Arden Katherine Wilkes, Mt. Hope High School

RIIL Unified Sports Award

Brady Cullen, Ponaganset High School Athlete

Luke Daponte, Ponaganset High School Partner

RIIL Spirit of Sport Award

Keith MacDonald, Portsmouth High School Football Coach

RIIL Distinguished Service Award:

John Abbate, Burrillville Athletic Director

Susan Chandler, Exeter/West Greenwich H.S. Principal

Elaine Lyden, Gymnastics Official

Emma Ofner, La Salle Academy Athletic Trainer

Jamey Vetelino, Westerly Athletic Director

Rhode Island College Athletic Department

2024 Local 51 Scholarship Recipient

Brady Toner, Rogers High School

April 16, 2024

March 25, 2024

January 29, 2024

November 22, 2023