With the holidays upon us, Bank Rhode Island (BankRI) is getting ready to help brighten the season for underprivileged children across the state with the launch of its 21st annual “Holiday Giving Tree” program on Friday, Nov. 23. The signature effort is BankRI’s longest-running community initiative.

Beginning the day after Thanksgiving, all BankRI branches will feature a “Holiday Giving Tree” in its lobby, decorated with ornaments featuring the name, age and holiday wish of children served by that branch’s nonprofit partner. Throughout the multi-week effort, customers and community members are invited to visit their local branch to select an ornament and grant that child’s holiday wish by providing a gift. Donors may return to the branch with their unwrapped gift to be placed under the tree.

In Warwick, gifts collected at the Bank’s three branches will be distributed to children served by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Warwick.

“As special as the holidays are, they also are a reminder of the challenges some of our neighbors face to provide gifts when they’re struggling to make ends meet,” said Mark J. Meiklejohn, President and CEO of BankRI. “Historically, our customers and staff respond generously each year which underscores what this season is really all about – a time to give back and to help others.”

In total, BankRI has partnered with 16 nonprofits statewide to help spread holiday cheer this season. The Bank hopes to exceed the more than 1,500 gifts collected during last year’s “Holiday Giving Tree” program.

The bank’s three Warwick branches are located at 265 Jefferson Boulevard, 1300 Warwick Avenue, and 2975 West Shore Road. For each branch’s hours of operation, visit www.bankri.com/locations.