Feinstein Foundation

THE FEINSTEIN FOUNDATION was created in 1991 in Rhode Island by Alan Shawn Feinstein, a nationally known philanthropist and humanitarian. The foundation is dedicated to charitable causes, specifically, alleviation of hunger, community service and education, and the values of caring, compassion, and brotherhood.

The foundation is very active, raising money each year to fight hunger and support education. The Fein-stein Foundation provided the seed money for the World Hunger Program at Brown University, the first university center to study and try to end the causes of hunger; the World Hunger Brigade, a program that encourages middle school students to study hunger and design programs to fight it; the Feinstein International Famine Center at Tufts University, which carries out projects designed to help reduce hunger in countries around the world; and the Center for Hunger Free America at the University of Rhode Island.

In 1994, Providence College, through a grant of $5 million from the foundation, established the Feinstein Institute for Public Service and a bachelor's degree program in public/community service studies, the first major of its kind in the nation. The program provides the opportunity for students to select either a major or minor in public/community service. In addition, the institute will develop a Community Service Clearing House and Resource Center. An additional grant of $1 million has been provided to the college to establish an endowment fund for scholarships for students electing to major in community/public service.

The Feinstein Foundation supports several other educational programs, such as the Middle School Youth Hunger Brigade, where students learn about the causes and effects of hunger and take action to address the problem in their communities. A resource guide is provided to all participating schools.

Schools are given cash awards for outstanding reporting on their help to agencies aiding the needy in their communities. This program is now being disseminated nationally. Another program is the I Can Make a Difference elementary school program, in which over [Page 352]100,000 children have participated. Students are provided with journals in which they record their good deeds and other acts of kindness that make a positive difference in the lives of others. Teachers are provided with instructional guidance and other incentives, including grants, for projects they undertake with their classes to help better their communities. Community Service Learning Programs, or grants, are awarded to high schools to establish programs that support and promote community involvement, and the Enriching America Program awards grants to higher education institutions to establish such programs at their institutions.

The foundation established a magnet high school for Community and Public Service, first in Rhode Island, to have service written into the curriculum. The foundation also sponsors several service-based scholarships. A Feinstein grant of $500,000 was given to initiate a joint doctoral program at the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College, where community service is an integral part of the curriculum. All graduates of this program are known as Feinstein Fellows.