The Empowerment Factory (TEF) invites Rhode Islanders to help boost children’s creativity, self-esteem, and civic pride. TEF’s “12 Days of Wishmas” offers a dozen ways to spark joy during this long school year.
Supporters can select from: monetary donations, volunteering, social media sharing, and/or purchasing from Stillwater Books. Some monetary donations will be used to buy gift cards and art materials from local stores.
Go to www.EmpowermentFactory.org/Wishmas December 9-20 to easily offer your support: Any amount and effort will positively impact Rhode Island elementary and middle school students.
Pawtucket-based since 2014, The Empowerment Factory quickly adapted its popular and unique afterschool programs to provide virtual and Covid-safe creativity programs that build self-esteem and resiliency through social-emotional learning curricula.
After a challenging spring, families enthusiastically welcomed TEF’s Art in the Park program, which was adapted to keep students safe while engaging them socially.
“We told jokes, read books, and created art, but most importantly we made happy memories of joy and laughter, as well as new friends,” said artist and TEF Founder-Director Gail Ahlers.
Supporting students takes a community
The Coronavirus pandemic highlighted the need for enriching programming that focuses on students’ well-being. The Empowerment Factory is again readying for unprecedented demand in its spring and summer programs and wishes to serve even more at-risk students.
“Teaching at-risk children the skills they need to lead happier, healthier, more empowered lives are especially appreciated by children and their parents during these challenging times,” Ahlers said. “Monetary gifts fund the development and delivery of virtual and COVID-compliant in-person programs for more at-risk children in Rhode Island.”
Welcome non-financial contributors
“TEF volunteers make it all happen,” Ahlers added. The Empowerment Factory runs on the talents of teachers, artists, writers, photographers, marketers, technology and media experts, retirees, and students, organizing files, preparing class materials, and assembling Creativity Kits, for example. For an extensive list of volunteer opportunities, go to www.EmpowermentFactory.org/Volunteer.
Share you care about children and the arts
“Families all across Rhode Island can benefit from TEF’s creative and empowering opportunities — at no cost to them,” Ahlers said. “Social media sharing is a powerfully simple way to support families and boost children’s well-being. We know how passionate Rhode Islanders are about the arts. Let’s not let Covid take that away from our next generation of creatives and makers. As a grassroots nonprofit, we rely on everyone who knows about our work to let families know how we can help support their children’s well-being.”
Advocates and fabs are encouraged to connect with TEF on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and share joyful posts about the “12 Days of Wishmas” with the hashtag #TEF12WISHMAS.
Keep local small businesses open.
The Empowerment Factory has partnered with local businesses that provide student-centric books and materials to the local community. Let’s keep their doors open and support at-risk students who may not have access to these resources — if not through TEF programs. Supporters ordering online or in-store from Stillwater Books in downtown Pawtucket will provide books for TEF’s Creative Literacy Program, which gives inspiring books like Wayne Dyer’s Unstoppable Me to children lacking access to quality reading material.
“Direct purchases of books and art materials double the impact of donation dollars, supporting both at-risk students and local businesses,” said TEF Board President Karen King, DiPrete Engineering’s Managing Director of Administration.
TEF’s programming, whether in-person or virtual, requires art supplies, which are largely unaffordable or inaccessible to the children served by TEF. COVID-19 requires the careful assembly and delivery of Creativity Kits to children’s homes. Donors can order by phone or in-store from TEF’s wish list at Blick Art Supply.
Local businesses supporting students
Local businesses and their fans are welcome to donate gift certificates of any amount for students’ perfect attendance or completed activities, especially those who are challenged by remote learning. Ice cream shops, toy, craft, book, clothing stores, or other favorite place are appreciated and can be sent to TEF at 999 Main Street, Suite #707, Pawtucket, RI 02860. TEF’s volunteer board and staff hope to inspire Rhode Islanders to bring joy to our state’s schoolchildren and their families. Visit www.TheEmpowermentFactory.org/Wishmas to quickly and easily select how you would like to support Rhode Island students.
