Children's Book Drive, Day of Action
Sat, Jun 6 · 10am–2pm
WaterFire Arts Center
Register
For a century, Rhode Islanders have stepped up for one another — expanding opportunity, advancing equity, and helping families build stable, secure lives.
Our centennial is both a celebration and a commitment. As we look back on 100 years of impact, we're also focused on what it takes to build a Strong Rhode Island — Strong Families, Strong Nonprofits, and a resilient and Strong United Way ready for its next century of service.
This year is about honoring what we have been and inviting every Rhode Islander to help shape what comes next.
In 2026, we're showing up in all 39 cities and towns — listening, connecting, and inviting action.
From neighborhood festivals to workplace gatherings, we'll meet Rhode Islanders where community already happens. Through story-gathering experiences and pop-up events, we'll capture what makes your community strong and what it will take to keep Rhode Island strong for the next generation.
Every stop is a chance to reconnect and recommit to a Strong Rhode Island.
A centennial is more than a birthday; it is a powerful testament to the United Way of Rhode Island's enduring commitment to meeting the state's most critical needs across an entire century. This milestone allows us to honor the generations of donors, volunteers, and partners who built our foundation, while also serving as a critical inflection point to reimagine our next 100 years of impact. It is a moment to galvanize our community around a proven legacy of trust and to boldly declare that our collective work to create an equitable Rhode Island is more urgent and vital than ever.
We're collecting stories from Rhode Islanders across generations — volunteers, donors, nonprofit partners, community leaders, and families whose lives have been shaped by collective action. Throughout the spring and summer, we'll gather these reflections and compile them into a commemorative film and digital archive, premiering at our Grand Centennial Celebration. Together, these voices will reflect the power of community and the shared responsibility we have to build a stronger future.
In 2026, United Way of Rhode Island celebrates 100 years of service to communities across the state. To mark this milestone, we're launching the United Across Rhode Island Tour, connecting with Rhode Islanders in all 39 cities and towns at community events throughout the year.
As part of United Way of Rhode Island's United Across RI Tour, the United Way will stop at Everything Great and Unique About Hopkinton Day to celebrate the people, history, and community spirit that define the town. Residents and visitors are invited to join United Way in honoring local pride while highlighting the impact of coming together for the greater good.
The United Across Rhode Island Tour will stop at Rhode Island PrideFest to celebrate community, pride, and equity. This moment unites the United Way of Rhode Island's 100-year legacy with Pride's 50 years of impact in a shared commitment to belonging and equity.
On June 21, The United Across Rhode Island Tour will celebrate Juneteenth at the Temple to Music at Roger Williams Park. This stop celebrates Juneteenth as a joyful community gathering filled with culture, connection, and opportunities to come together in the spirit of freedom and unity.
On June 26, 2026, the official anniversary of United Way of Rhode Island's founding, the United Across Rhode Island Tour will stop at Food Truck Friday at Roger Williams Park Zoo and Carousel Village to celebrate 100 years of service and community impact across the state.
On July 4th, the United Across Rhode Island Tour celebrates at America's oldest Fourth of July celebration, bringing together community, tradition and patriotic spirit.
The United Across Rhode Island Tour will take flight in Newport on July 11 and 12 at the Newport Kite Festival. In 2026, this beloved event celebrates 40 years of kite flying, community, and creative expression, and we invite families and visitors to join us for a joyful day of colorful kites soaring over Newport's beautiful coastal skies.
The United Across Rhode Island Tour will be at the Blessing of the Fleet on Friday night at the race starting line at Narragansett Pier Middle School, kicking off a weekend of traditions that includes great food, live music and nostalgic summer fun.
As part of United Way of Rhode Island's United Across Rhode Island Tour, join us at Foster Old Home Days, a family-friendly fair celebrating Foster's agricultural roots with fair food, live music, local vendors, farm animals, contests, and activities for all ages.
Join us at the Looff Arts Festival on August 8th! Come celebrate with United Way and the Looff Arts Festival and enjoy a day of art, music and family-friendly entertainment!
As part of United Way of Rhode Island's United Across Rhode Island Tour, join us at Jamestown's Sunflower Family Festival, a free community celebration of Ukrainian culture and Independence Day with live music, Ukrainian food, kids' activities, raffles, and fundraising to support humanitarian relief efforts.
Join the United Across Rhode Island Tour on September 20th as we stop at the Johnston Apple Festival. Food trucks, fall activities and fun make this event one to attend!
Sat, Jun 6 · 10am–2pm
WaterFire Arts Center
RegisterFri, Jul 17 · 8am–12pm
Sodexo, 25 Royal Little Drive, Providence
RegisterSat, Aug 15 · 10am–1pm
United Way of Rhode Island
RegisterUnited Way of Rhode Island will coordinate volunteer recruitment, training, and scheduling statewide, making it easy to jump in and get involved.
Activities begin at 2PM on October 17, followed by a full WaterFire lighting and a range of community-centered experiences, including:
Come be part of a night that reflects who we are and where we're going, together.
October 17, 2026 | Downtown Providence
On October 17, 2026, we'll gather alongside the iconic WaterFire for a once-in-a-century celebration.
This family-friendly evening will activate the WaterFire footprint and surrounding downtown with nonprofit partners, volunteer activities, music, storytelling, and a special VIP experience for supporters and sponsors. Tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders will come together in a shared celebration of community, generosity, and possibility. It's more than a celebration. It's a public expression of what it means to stand together for a Strong Rhode Island.
For 100 years, Rhode Islanders have shown up for one another, expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and building a more equitable state.
As WaterFire lights the river, it will also mark a transition: from honoring a century of impact to building what comes next. We will mark this milestone by recommitting to a strong Rhode Island, built through connection, investment, and continued action.
This event is about visibility, connection, and participation. Nonprofits, volunteers, donors, and community partners will help shape the experience through storytelling, engagement opportunities, activations, and collaborations across the city.
Feb 11, 2026
May 9, 2026
May 7, 2026
May 12, 2026
"Volunteering is something that you do for love. It's not something that you do because you're forced to. It's not something that you do because it makes you feel good. It's not something that you do because it looks pretty to others. Volunteering is something that you do because you feel love towards your neighbor, towards others. I guess it's really something that comes from within."
"When life took a hard turn for me, our leadership put their words into action. The organization stood by me and ensured I had what I needed to fulfill my role, and to continue growing and thriving. This experience affirmed for me that our culture is not performative; it is authentic, lived, and practiced."
"Without hesitation, one of proudest days at UWRI was 4/1/2020 when we raised over $1M for 401Gives's inaugural year. It was just 2.5 weeks after Covid effectively swept us all off our feet and we didn't know what would happen, but we pushed forward believing it was the right thing to do despite many voices telling us people were too stressed and we should postpone. Thankfully we ignored the skeptics and powered an amazing day for the community that truly made me proud to be a part of this organization that never backs down from a challenge!"
"My vision for United Way of Rhode Island over the next century is a focus on housing and the development of sustainable communities. It is imperative that, as a state, we finally address the issue of homelessness."
"When you collaborate with us, as you are doing today, you become a tile in the mosaic of United Way history."
"Since arriving in 2008, we have served the community by offering 211 as a resource — a place where people can call or visit to access the help they need."
"I feel privileged to be in a position to help others, and 401Gives helps us contribute to many causes that align with our core values."
"As we plan for United Way's next 100 years of impact, extraordinary investment in United Way of Rhode Island's Next Century Campaign will accelerate the work to provide all Rhode Islanders with resources and pathways to fuel economic growth."
"Hay que celebrar y hay que agradecer a las generaciones anteriores, que son las que mas tuvieron estragos. Son los que hicieron el camino. Gracias a ellos estamos aqui heredando este compromiso comunitario de desarrollo."
"After 100 years of work, United Way continues to do a great job of reinventing themselves and positioning themselves to think future forward and to really look ahead and look downfield to say, how can we make sure that the next 100 years is even more impactful for the community? Serving as a nucleus for all of the nonprofits, big and small, allows for some of those smaller nonprofit organizations to get some of the same resources and services that the big ones have access to, ultimately being able to provide a level playing field for everybody."
"I think the Centennial is an opportunity for us to not only stop and reflect on everything that the United Way's accomplished over the past 100 years, but to think boldly about where we're going to be in the next 100. It's an opportunity to really think boldly about how we can stretch out and meet those needs wherever they are."
"Without the past 100 years of support, I don't think that we would be able to continue uplifting the communities that we serve in the state of Rhode Island. From nonprofits to children's families, to services that allow the more vulnerable Rhode Islanders to get access to resources… It brings a lot of hope for the next 100 years. I think 100 years of life, hope, and making sure that our community continues working together to uplift all Rhode Islanders."
"With the supplemental funding from UWRI, we anticipate expanding and strengthening our core programs that directly support refugee integration. This includes sustaining and enhancing case management programs, youth programs, training and mentorship programs as well as our integration services. These critical tools help for building self-sufficiency and successful community integration."
Contact us at:
info@unitedwayri.orgTogether, we're honoring a century of impact — and building a Strong Rhode Island for the next hundred years.
