Foundation Chairman David M. Hirsch expressed his enthusiasm for Mr. Stokes appointment, noting that, Keith Stokes has an outstanding track record of service to our state. Beyond his leadership of the Newport Chamber, Keith has championed a number of important causes and has been a major force in improving the climate for business development in Rhode Island. Foundation President and CEO Neil D. Steinberg concurred. Keiths business acumen is matched by his commitment to public service. We are indeed fortunate that he is joining our board.
Keith W. Stokes brings considerable business, government, historic preservation and community planning experience to the Foundation. He serves on the boards of the Preservation Society of Newport County, of which he is a vice president; the Quonset Development Corporation; the Business Development Corporation of Rhode Island, and the Touro Synagogue Foundation. He is an overseer of Roger Williams University, vice chair of the Newport Redevelopment Agency, and serves as an advisor to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Mr. Stokes has worked as a senior policy advisor to Governor Bruce Sundlun, executive director of the Omni Development Corporation, and senior policy advisor to the states general treasurer. Until his appointment this week as its interim executive director, he served as treasurer of the Economic Development Corporation.
Mr. Stokes was educated at Cornell University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and was a member of the Quill and Dagger Honor Society; he holds a masters degree from the University of Chicago. He is a frequent lecturer on the national, state, and local scene and has written extensively on community and regional planning, historic preservation and interpretation with an expertise in early African and Jewish American History.
Mr. Stokes has received numerous honors and awards, including the United States Small Business Administration Rhode Island Small Business Advocate for 1997, the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities Creative Achievement in the Humanities Award, Rhode Island for Community & Justice Community & Justice Award, and the Omni Development Corporation Affordable Housing Community Development & Preservation Award.
Mr. Stokes, who was appointed to serve as a director through the end of 2012, stated, It is a real honor to join the board of The Rhode Island Foundation. I am eager to work with fellow directors as the Foundation plays a leadership role in addressing the states most critical issues, so that Rhode Islanders can have a much brighter future.
The 13-member board of directors is responsible for setting policy at the Foundation, which celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2006 and has raised nearly $90 million during the past three years for permanent endowments. Grantmaking in 2009 neared $29 million, benefiting hundreds of nonprofit organizations throughout Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island Foundation was founded in 1916 and is one of the nations largest and oldest charitable organizations serving a specific geographic community. In 2009 the Foundation made grants approaching $29 million to more than one thousand organizations.