Davis-Tennon Foundation issues first grants to local organizations

The Davis-Tennon Foundation, founded by award-winning actors and advocates Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, is officially launching with a mission to remove barriers for Rhode Island families and connect individuals to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

Rooted in the personal experiences of Viola Davis, who was raised in Central Falls, the Foundation is focused on four priority areas: empowering women, preventing domestic violence, expanding student opportunities beyond the classroom, and supporting housing stability.

As part of its early impact, the Davis-Tennon Foundation has issued initial grants to the following Rhode Island-based organizations:

• Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• The Warde-robe Thrift Store (a program of McAuley Ministries)
• Central Falls/Rhode Island College Workforce Hub
• Central Falls Square Mile Club

These organizations are using Foundation support to provide safe housing, combat food insecurity, expand workforce access, and create out-of-school enrichment for youth.

“The Foundation was created to make meaningful, lasting connections between people and the organizations working every day to serve them,” said Angelo Garcia, Chair of the Davis-Tennon Foundation. “These initial grants reflect our commitment to investing in Rhode Island communities and building on the work already happening across the Barbara Haynes, Executive Director of McAuley Ministries, shared: “As an organization committed to supporting and improving the lives of families in Central Falls and beyond, we are deeply honored for The Warde-robe to be among the inaugural grantees of the Davis-Tennon Foundation. This funding will make it possible for us to expand our outreach, allowing us to better serve our community and meet the needs of those who rely on us for essential items. The generosity of Ms. Davis and Mr. Tennon will undoubtedly help us positively impact even more lives at a time our mission is more important than ever.”

state.”

Lucy Rios, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, added: “We at the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV) are profoundly grateful to the Davis-Tennon Foundation for this generous support for survivor-led advocacy and empowerment. This funding will allow the RICADV, and our task force of survivors SOAR (Sisters Overcoming Abusive Relationships), to continue to raise awareness about the issue of domestic violence and to champion systemic changes through our policy advocacy. Now more than ever, as the federal landscape is in flux, this support ensures that our critical advocacy work to prevent domestic abuse and strengthen the safety net for survivors remains intact.”

Viola Davis has long spoken about the importance of giving back to the place that shaped her. In her bestselling memoir, Finding Me, Davis shares her personal journey from growing up in poverty in Central Falls to becoming one of the most celebrated actors of her generation. The book also explores deeper themes of identity, self-worth, racism, and the power of healing—values that echo through the Foundation’s mission.

To learn more about the Davis-Tennon Foundation, visit www.davis-tennonfoundation.org.