2024 Common Good Awards

We’re partnering with the Rhode Island Foundation again to present the seventh annual Common Good Awards. This program recognizes Rhode Island businesses of all sizes that inspire philanthropy in their employees around the state, not by just writing a check to a worthy cause, but by encouraging staff to go into the community and help people in need. These companies also take it a step further, offering employees incentives like paid time off for volunteerism and donation-matching programs.

THE JUDGES: Lauren Clem, associate editor, Rhode Island Monthly; Carmen Greene, finance and human resources administrator, Rhode Island Foundation; Laurie White, president, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce.

Congratulations to this year’s winners! 

BEATBOX STUDIO • GRACIE’S AND ELLIE’S • BEACON MUTUAL • BLUE CROSS & BLUE SHIELD OF RHODE ISLAND

Honorable mention: We Be Jammin’ • Dr. Day Care 

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BEATBOX STUDIO 

Winner, Micro Category: 9 employees or fewer

Location: Pawtucket, instagram.com/beatboxstudio401

Beatbox Studio is committed to helping artists build their careers and retain the rights to their music.

When Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island contacted Chachi Carvalho and Edgar “Vertygo” Cruz of Beatbox Studio to help make a child’s wish come true, the two-man operation went over and above the call of duty. Miraya, an eleven-year-old battling leukemia, wanted to record a rap music video. Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island teamed up with Beatbox Studio to put together an all-star team to grant Miraya’s wish. Through the music studio, Miraya was able to record her own rap song with a creative music video, and Carvalho and Cruz encouraged her and gave her the confidence to perform. 

Miraya’s video for her song “Video Games” was amazing, but Beatbox Studio took her wish to a whole other level. At Make-A-Wish night at a Boston Celtics game, Miraya and Carvalho took to center court to perform her song before a sold-out crowd at TD Garden. Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island representatives say that Carvalho and Cruz “are examples of how we can all use our platform and our business to support others.” Because of Beatbox Studio’s support, Miraya was able to share her talent and her voice with more than 19,000 fans at the game.

Judge’s Take: “I really liked Beatbox Studio, which was an entry submitted by one of their nonprofit partners, Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The story about how they were able to help the little girl with her music video and performance was very emotional. It showed a high level of commitment to the community from the owners because of the amount of time and effort it took to put that all together.” —Lauren Clem

 

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WE BE JAMMIN’

Honorable Mention, Micro Category: 9 employees or fewer

Location: Warwick, webejamminri.com

We Be Jammin’ is a local food product company owned by Jason Wood, a young man on the autism spectrum. The company produces jams, salsa and other gourmet foods while giving back to the community. Employees promote and run community events for local police departments’ community divisions and volunteer at the Rhode Island Brain, Tumor and Spine Foundation.

Judge’s Take: “When I looked online, I saw that the owner of We Be Jammin’ has autism, and he encourages everyone in the company to contribute and help the community.” —Carmen Greene

 

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GRACIE’S and ELLIE’S

Winner, Small Category: 10–80 employees

Location: Providence, graciesprov.com; elliesprov.com

Gracie’s is a fine dining restaurant fueled by a passion for exceptional food and guest service.

The proprietor of Gracie’s and Ellie’s, Ellen Gracyalny, and her team work tirelessly with the Providence community by supporting local farms, purveyors and vineyards while giving back to local nonprofits and charities. The restaurant organizes a community Thanksgiving dinner (photography above and below) for the ReFocus community, which provides home and services to adults with differing abilities. For the last fourteen years, employees have also created gingerbread cookie kits, with 100 percent of the profits going to the Warm-A-Heart program in partnership with Lifespan, City Year, Dave’s Marketplace and ReFocus to support families in need with warm garments, blankets, supplies and other necessary items. Many of Gracie’s and Ellie’s staff members participate in the gingerbread cookie kit program by baking the gingerbread people and directing and participating in kit assembly and delivery. 

Judge’s Take: “Ellen Gracyalny of Gracie’s and Ellie’s has been around a long time and has a demonstrated record of generosity, community service, sponsoring and giving.” —Laurie White

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BEACON MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY 

Winner, Medium Category: 50–249 employees

Location: Warwick, beaconmutual.com

Beacon Mutual aims to be the workers’ compensation insurer of choice in Rhode Island by providing the most innovative programs, competitive products and outstanding service to businesses and their employees.

Beacon Mutual supports local nonprofit organizations by encouraging employees to volunteer their time at charity events, clothing and donation drives, environmental clean-up days, relief and emergency programs, soup kitchens and working with those with special needs. Beacon’s employees have shown a commitment to the community, while many senior leadership team members also serve on various boards and advisory councils with local organizations. Employees volunteer through fundraising and engagement activities, with Beacon providing two paid volunteer days per year.

Beacon’s employees were involved in the 2023 Week of Service in June, for which two-thirds of the company’s employees partnered with seven organizations, including the Groden Network, Gotta Have Sole, the Rhode Island Tree Council, Ronald McDonald House, Amenity Aid, We Share Hope and the East Greenwich Animal Protection League. Additionally, in August, a group of Beacon employees participated in the Back-to-School Volunteer Program with Charette High School in Providence, helping to collect supplies and prepare classrooms for incoming students. Beacon also organized drives for books, clothing and food, collaborating with United Way of Rhode Island, the Groden Network and Amos House. 

The Beacon Foundation was created in 2021 to raise money and give grants to local charitable organizations in excess of $100,000 per year. Additionally, Beacon’s Charity of Choice program allows each employee to direct a $100 gift from the Beacon Foundation to one of twenty-four local charities. Passionate employees visited five of the top charities and delivered their donations in person, giving them a chance to connect with the nonprofit staff. 

Beacon’s commitment to the community also involves diversity and inclusion efforts. The “Voices of Beacon” DEI employee resource group has engaged employees throughout the year by raising awareness of important issues facing different groups to celebrating diverse backgrounds and perspectives. 

Judge’s Take: “Beacon Mutual is a great choice for giving employees the ability to go to the nonprofit of their choice and actually shadow someone working there. It’s about making
that connection and building community.” —Carmen Greene

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DR. DAY CARE

Honorable Mention, Medium Category: 50–249 employees

Location: Various locations, drdaycare.com

Dr. Day Care gives back to programs that benefit children of all ages in the communities where they work and play. Dr. Day Care founder Mary Ann Shallcross Smith has served as an Inspiring Minds board member, a Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer, a Department of Health Rhode Island Social Work board member, the president of Family Child Care Homes of Rhode Island, and was the president of Foster Forward. She is a mentor for a Community College of Rhode Island student and serves as a state representative for District 46 in Lincoln-Pawtucket. 

Judge’s Take: “Mary Ann Shallcross Smith is really dedicated to making advances in the child care industry. There are so many challenges associated with recruiting people to work as child care professionals and elevating the importance of pay that’s commensurate with the work. She’s really been a champion for the industry. I’ve seen what she does and it’s a difficult, important and undervalued industry.” —Laurie White

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BLUE CROSS & BLUE SHIELD OF RHODE ISLAND 

Winner, Large Category: 250–plus employees

Location: Providence, BCBSRI.com

Since 1939, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island has been the leader in providing Rhode Islanders with affordable, high-quality health care and the peace of mind that comes with the country’s largest provider network. 

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island’s mission has always involved philanthropic efforts. Employees constantly volunteer in the community and partner with local nonprofits like Rhode Island Student Assistance Services, Habitat for Humanity, Urban Perinatal Education Center, Rhode Island Community Food Bank, Elisha Project, Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition, Rhode Island Free Clinic, LISC RI, Crossroads, United Way of Rhode Island and many others.

Employees receive twelve hours of paid time off each year to volunteer during the workday. They use the time to create outdoor spaces, build affordable and safe homes, assemble meals for distribution by local food banks, and put together comfort kits for Rhode Islanders experiencing homelessness as well as hospitalized children. BCBSRI recognizes employees’ volunteer efforts through its Champion Grant program, a traditional dollars-for-doers grant initiative.

BlueAngel employee volunteers gave 7,600 hours last year through company-organized events. BCBSRI also conducts an annual United Way Rhode Island campaign, generating nearly $114,000 in employee donations, and sponsors/participates in several fundraising endeavors, including the American Heart Association Heart Walk, a virtual food drive for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and United Way’s 401 Gives Day. 

Judge’s Take: “One thing that stood out to me is the fact that they were nominated by Cortney Nicolato at the United Way. Just the fact that an organization took the time to submit a nomination for this one specific partner spoke to me.”  —Lauren Clem