Rhode Islanders in every corner of the state embraced this year’s Bank Rhode Island (BankRI) Holiday Giving Tree program, leading to an incredible 5,556 gifts donated to brighten the season for underprivileged children served by local nonprofits. It is the most presents ever collected by the program, which recognized its 25th year in 2022.

“This was a tremendous display of generosity by so many people who simply wanted to spread kindness and help bring joy to kids at a special time of year,” said Will Tsonos, BankRI’s President and CEO. “Our customers… our staff… our entire community – I’m so grateful to everyone who gave, and also to our nonprofit partners for the work they do on behalf of families each and every day.”

This year’s Holiday Giving Tree began Nov. 1, with all 20 BankRI branches statewide displaying a giving tree decorated with ornaments featuring the name, age, and wish of a child served by that branch’s nonprofit partner. Throughout the six-week effort, people visited branches, selecting ornaments and later returning to place their donated, unwrapped gifts beneath the tree.

Some of the most popular gifts wished for were LEGO sets, L.O.L. Surprise dolls, science and slime kits, board games, sports equipment, and Lite-Brite sets. Numerous bicycles were donated at the bank’s Jefferson Boulevard, Lincoln, and Wakefield branches, while the Coventry location received a large number of digital learning toys for young ones. BankRI’s Lincoln branch led the effort, collecting 852 donated gifts for its partner, Town of Lincoln Holiday Basket Program.

As of Dec. 20, all gifts were given to BankRI’s nonprofit partners for distribution to the kids they serve, ensuring they would reach their new homes in time for the big holiday.

The bank’s partners for the 25th annual Holiday Giving Tree and the branch(es) collecting on their behalf are: Adoption Rhode Island (Pawtucket), AIDS Care Ocean State (Park Avenue, Cranston), Angel in Action RI (Coventry), Boys & Girls Clubs of Warwick (all 3 Warwick branches), Comprehensive Community Action Program (Plainfield Pike, Cranston), Connecting for Children & Families (Woonsocket), Domestic Violence Program of Crossroads RI (East Side, Providence), East Bay Community Action Program (both East Providence branches), House of Hope (East Greenwich), Jonnycake Center for Hope (Wakefield), Kingstown Crossings (North Kingstown), Lucy’s Hearth (Middletown), Providence Housing Authority (Turks Head, Downtown Providence), SSTARbirth (Atwood Avenue, Cranston), Town of Lincoln Holiday Basket Program (Lincoln) and Tri-County Community Action Agency (Johnston and Smithfield).