Donations for school supplies: To help support the Back-to-School Celebration, a series of events next month that provide backpacks, school supplies and books to Providence students in need, Rhode Island Hospital will be hosting drop-off days for donations to the program on July 23 and 24, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the Rhode Island Hospital cafeteria, 593 Eddy St., Providence.

Donations accepted are:

•New or used (in good condition) books

•New backpacks

•$5 or more toward the purchase of new backpacks

Cash or checks made payable to Back-to-School Celebration/YMCA are accepted. For more information, call Bonnie at the Lifespan Community Health Connection at (401) 431-5410, ext. 222, or visit www.lifespan.org

African-American initiative: In an effort to explore and highlight the many accomplishments and contributions made by individuals and organizations of African-American descent in Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities has announced its “On The Road to Freedom: African-American Heritage in Rhode Island” initiative.

The initiative will bring to light the role of Rhode Islanders in the history of the slave trade and emancipation; pacifism and military heroism; pioneering artists and the creation of nationally recognized cultural and educational institutions. The council has identified the following three strategies that will help make the initiative successful and inclusive of all Rhode Islanders:

•Special grants initiative: The council will offer financial support to organizations and individual researchers involved in the collection, preservation and interpretation of Rhode Island’s African-American heritage through a special grants initiative launching in September.

•Council conducted programs: The council’s existing programs will focus on Rhode Island African-American history and culture.

•Partnerships: The council will work collaboratively with statewide partners to plan public events and exhibitions highlighting African-American contributions to Rhode Island’s cultural heritage. The Freedom Festival, scheduled Oct. 9-20, during Arts & Humanities month, will include keynote speakers Paula J. Giddings and Ida Berlin, a family festival with storytellers, gospel music, dancing and drumming at the Cathedral of Life Assembly in Olneyville, screenings of Oscar Micheaux’s Within our Gates; and Nehaissau de Gannes’ play The Door of No Return.

Additionally, a blog, onfreedom.wordpress.com, has been launched to keep the public informed and up-to-date about this initiative. For more information, contact Risa Gilpin at risa@rihumanities.org

Social worker award: Joan Kwiatkowski, chief executive officer of The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly Organization of Rhode Island, has been awarded the 2008 Social Worker of the Year in Aging. She was presented with the award at the National Association of Social Workers – Rhode Island Chapter 2008 annual awards celebration held recently at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, in Cranston.

Kwiatkowski, of Barrington, said “any rewards you receive are nice, but my real award is being able to encourage change in the health-care system so that we all benefit. Being recognized for work I believe in and get tremendous joy out of is simply a gift beyond measure.”

Humanitarian award: Pawtucket Red Sox President Michael A. Tamburro will be honored with Tides Family Services Humanitarian Award at its annual event, July 24, at Belle Mer, Goat Island, Newport.

The late Amby Smith, a longtime sports reporter for various Rhode Island newspapers, including the Kent County Times, will receive a posthumous humanitarian award.

Tamburro’s commitment to the Rhode Island community spans the state from Woonsocket to Westerly. He is currently the vice president of the Pawtucket Education Foundation and the vice president of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, a director of Cox Charities of New England and the Providence Journal Summertime Fund. He is also a board member of Big Brothers of Rhode Island, a trustee of Memorial Hospital, and he helped create the Pawtucket Red Sox Charitable Foundation.

Smith was a longtime active supporter of Tides Family Services since its inception 25 years ago. A lifelong resident of Kent County; he brought the community’s perspective to his participation in Tides Family Services. His ties to the Christian Brothers were so strong and he was so much loved by them, that he is buried on the grounds of the Ocean Tides property in Narragansett.

Proceeds from the July event will be used for critical repairs and renovations to Tides’ facilities. Tickets, which include dinner and a silent and live auction, are $150, with corporate tables available for $2,500. Seating is limited and early reservations are recommended. For information and reservations, call Barbara G. DeCesare at (401) 823.3884 or email bgd53@cox.net

Vigil for animals: The 13th annual Homeless Animals Day and Candlelight Vigil will be held at Rose Larisa Park (across from the Crescent Park Carousel) in Riverside on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Awards will be presented to individuals for their acts of humaneness toward animals, including legislative awards to Rhode Island legislators for their role in introducing pro animal bills that have become law in Rhode Island.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Dennis Tabella of Defenders of Animals at (401) 738-3710.

Honoring R.I. women: YWCA Northern Rhode Island will celebrate the achievement of Rhode Island women working to improve for the economic empowerment of women at the fourth annual Tools of the Trade luncheon Sept. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln.

For more information or a nomination form, call Lisa Piscatelli at (401) 769-7450 or visit www.womenofachievementri.org

Women of the year: The Rhode Island Commission on Women has selected three distinguished individuals as recipients of the 2008 Women of the Year Award to recognize the achievements of positive female role models who have made significant contributions to women in our state.

The award will be presented at a dinner and reception to be held in their honor on Oct. 16 at the Radisson Airport Hotel in Warwick.

Those selected include:

•Dr. Susan Cu-Uvin, professor of obstetrics/gynecology at Brown University and director of the Clinical Immunology Center at Miriam Hospital in Providence. Cu-Uvin established the first clinic in the nation to treat the unique health needs of post-menopausal women living with HIV disease and AIDS and has trained 17 doctors from India, Brazil, Cambodia, Kenya and the Philippines on women and HIV/AIDS.

•Joyce J. Dolbec, of North Smithfield, has committed more than 20 years to community service and outreach, focusing her work on health-care education to women and minority populations. A three-time cancer survivor, Dolbec began volunteering with the American Cancer Society in 1990 as a way to give back and help change the course of the disease. Currently, she serves as the health and wellness program manager and consultant for the YWCA of Greater Rhode Island in Providence and the YWCA Northern Rhode Island in Woonsocket.

•Carol Englander, a Kingston resident, is a science teacher at the Curtis Corner Middle School in South Kingstown. Englander created the SMILE (Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences) Program, an afterschool science and math activities club for women and minority students. In operation since 1994, the program has grown to include career counseling, study skills development, field trips and collaboration with the University of Rhode Island. The program, originally in one school, has expanded into three school districts and served more than 800 students.

The Women of the Year Award dinner and reception will be held Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. at the Radisson Airport Hotel, 2081 Post Rd., Warwick. Tickets are $45. All net proceeds from this event will benefit the R.I. Commission on Women/Freda H. Goldman Education Award, established to assist women of modest means seeking education and training, for practical expenses such as childcare and tutoring.

For information on tickets, donations or sponsorships for this event, call the RICW Office at (401) 222-6105 e-mail swells@ricw.ri.gov

Scholarship funds: The Rhode Island Foundation administers nearly 150 scholarship funds that help with the cost of higher education. Students studying nursing may benefit from the Albert E. and Florence W. Newton Nursing Scholarship or the Edward J. and Virginia M. Routhier Nursing Scholarship. The J.D. Edsal Advertising Scholarship/Women’s Advertising Club Scholarship and the RDW Group Inc. Minority Scholarship for Communications assists students in those respective fields. Numerous funds benefit students from a specific city or town — the Miss Swinburne Scholarship assists women living in Newport County, the Stone Bridge Volunteer Fire Department Scholarship assists residents of Tiverton, the Bristol Children’s Home Scholarship Fund assists Bristol students, and more. These funds are among the 19 scholarship opportunities with deadlines in the coming weeks. To learn more about these scholarships and others, or to obtain an application, visit the Receive/Scholarships section of the foundation Web site at www.rifoundation.org

Volunteers for pledges: The UNITY (Understanding Needs Important To You) Coalition is seeking volunteers to collect pledges throughout the summer through various community and public events.

An ad hoc coalition comprised of businesses, faith communities, local schools, colleges and universities, nonprofits, state workers, labor, community groups and Rhode Island cities and towns, the goal of the coalition is to obtain a fair and equitable balanced budget that meets the needs of all Rhode Islanders.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. Hours are flexible and may be credited toward community service or class credits. Professional training will be provided.

For more information, call the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless at (401) 421-6458.

Psychiatrist honored: Dr. Achina P. Stein, medical director of The East Bay Center, was named the 2008 National Alliance on Mental Illness of Rhode Island Exemplary Psychiatrist. Stein is one of 30 psychiatrists who were nationally recognized for “going the extra mile.”

NAMI also recognized H. Reed Cosper with the 2008 Lee Yates Advocate of the Year Award for speaking out against injustices on behalf of those living with serious mental illness. Kathleen Carland was recognized as the 2008 Helen M. Downey Award Volunteer of the Year for her 10 years of dedication to the NAMI Washington County Affiliate.