Viola Davis Expands RI Food Pantry With $1.2M Gift

Actress Viola Davis is giving back to the Rhode Island community where she was raised in a major way.

A Major Investment in Central Falls

Davis and her husband, producer/actor Julius Tennon, have announced that their Rhode Island-based Davis-Tennon Foundation will be making one of their largest donations to date to expand their community resources in Central Falls.

Already the site of their Mary Alice Davis Food Pantry, the philanthropic couple will now also establish the Mary Alice Davis Family Engagement Center, named after Davis' mother.

Through a $1.2 million donation from the Foundation, Davis and Tennon plan to build a permanent gathering place aimed at driving community growth, strengthening local households, and linking Rhode Islanders to the essential tools they need to succeed.

Honoring Her Mother’s Legacy

Davis said,

"For me, this has always been about possibility. My mother believed in people, even when life was difficult. Naming this Center in her honor is a tribute to her strength and a promise that we will continue investing in people and creating places where hope can grow."

What the New Center Will Offer

The new center will offer a lot to the local community. It will:

expand the Mary Alice Davis Food Pantry
feature a parent resource center and parent university and adult empowerment classes
provide meeting space for non-profits
offer financial literacy programs
include family engagement initiatives and educational workshops
serve as a permanent headquarters for the Davis-Tennon Foundation

Expanding a Critical Food Resource

The Foundation's Mary Alice Davis Food Pantry is one of the most relied upon in Rhode Island, with some 3,000 individuals served each month. It is currently housed in Pawtucket, so the new building will allow the food pantry services to expand in a permanent home.

A Full-Circle Moment for Viola Davis

Davis grew up in Central Falls and often describes her childhood as one of extreme poverty, hunger and trauma. She is dedicated to giving back to the community, even speaking at her alma mater for the 2012 Central Falls High School graduation.

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