How about East Bay Community Action Program??? They provide health and dental care, child services, family services in the public schools, elderly programs, fuel assistance....without EBCAP, Newport's poor and struggling middle class would be in worse shape.

Newport Gulls, they do so much for the kids in the community and bring great baseball to the city every summer.

The James L. Maher Center. They have supported people with developmental disabilities for nearly 60 years. They provide educational, vocational and residential programs designed to maximize the abilities of those they support and enhance their lives. Their vocational programs provide employment opportunities while providing quality service to regional businesses and the local community, ie. The Maher Garden Center, Safe and Secure Shredding and Northeast Linen and Laundry Services are just a few. Their educational services include Early Intervention, Family Supports, Adult Day and Recreation Programs. Their residential programs include 13 group homes and 16 apartment programs. They are also Newport's largest non-profit employer providing employment to over 600 people in Newport and Bristol Counties.

Sailing, mansions, historic colonial homes, pretty flowers? Yes, these are all "nice". They are what tourists may think of when they think of Newport. That is not Newport.

Martin Luther King Community Center feeding the hungry, EBCAP helping with health, dental, heating and social services, and Child and Family Services who offer counseling, help with foster care? This is Newport! We are not the Vanderbilts and Dukes anymore.

Thanks to everyone who gave their input on what makes a great Newport nonprofit. Our list is certainly worth expanding on and I encourage everyone to give a shout out to their favorite organization.

I am sorry you did not include the Potter League for Animals. That organizarion is certainly an Aquidneck Island asset. Not only does it care for lost or unwanted animals but it cares for the human community as well with their education programs, hospital and nursing home visits and training programs. Not to mention that their fabulous new buiding is the FIRST Leeds gold shelter in the whole country. If you havn't made the time to viist the new facility do so soon - it will knock your socks off!! This organization truly follows their by line....Enriching Lives.