The Point Association of Newport capped off its 2020 year of community activities with their seventh annual year-end fundraising drive to benefit the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center. This fundraising campaign was directed by John Broughan and Bill Rauch, who have wonderfully led this fundraising effort for the last seven years.
The neighborhood association collected a record $17,230 in donations from its members and neighbors on the Point to help the MLK Center. Since initiating the MLK Center holiday campaign seven years ago, the Point Association has raised more than $74,000 to help the Center to continue and expand the services offered to Newport neighbors in need.
“We are humbled, honored, and beyond grateful to the Point Association for rising to the occasion to back the MLK Community Center in such a big way during these uncertain times,” said Heather Hole Strout, Executive Director of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center. “The Point Association has been incredible friends of the Center, from their Mobile Food Pantry sponsorship to their recent coat drive. The Center honored the Point Association as our Keeper of the Dream: Community Partner in 2019, and that honor still could not hold more true to us. We so value their dedication to the MLK Community Center’s mission and their steadfast support.”
“We are proud and deeply appreciative of the members of the association and our neighbors who generously came forth with their enthusiastic support for the MLK Center and this fundraising drive,” said Tom Hockaday, President of the Point Association. “We are strong supporters of the MLK Center and the wonderful work they do for our community, especially the ongoing work they have done for those in need during this pandemic. Our neighbors know that every dollar raised goes right to work for those in need in our community—feeding the hungry, providing high quality educational programs for children, engaging seniors, and much more. We look forward to continuing our work and support for the MLK Center and their programs in 2021.”
In addition to their efforts on behalf of the MLK Center, the Point Association has raised and contributed over $93,000 in the last ten years to numerous other local organizations and charities that serve our community.
The Point Association of Newport, comprised of neighbors and residents in Newport’s historic Point neighborhood, has been serving the neighborhood and community for over 60 years. We pride ourselves in taking proactive measures to make our neighborhood a better place to live and work. The year-end activities of the Point Association not only include the fundraising drive for the MLK Center and their annual coat drive, but additional programs that help boost neighbors and members of the community during the holiday season. This year, the Point Association sponsored their annual Christmas Tree lighting in Storer Park and embarked on two new efforts to help bring joy to the community during the difficult year of the pandemic. Volunteers placed Christmas wreaths on the 41 historic gas street lamps in the neighborhood and sponsored “Light Up the Point,” a call for all neighbors to light up their homes with decorations, window candles, lightings and Christmas trees to celebrate the holidays. Over 150 homes participated in this effort to “Light up the Point” for all neighbors and the community to enjoy.
