News Release

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I., January 28, 2016  - The Boys & Girls Club of East Providence (EPBGC) will hold a ceremonial ribbon cutting to open its new 3,000-square-foot “Saint-Gobain Wing” at its facility in East Providence. This new Saint-Gobain Wing will expand the current facility and allow EPBGC to create new youth afterschool and workforce development programs such as homework help, computer game design and culinary skills.

“This is a dream come true for the Boys & Girls Club of East Providence,” said Erin Gilliatt, EPBGC Executive Director. “This is a rebirth of our purpose and our mission for the youth of East Providence. We say that great futures start here at the Club, and this new space will allow us to expand our programs and help ensure that our members are graduating on time and with a plan for their future. I am so excited for this new beginning and am thankful to Saint-Gobain, the Champlin Foundation, the Lowe’s Foundation and KITE Architects for making this dream come true.”

This new annex was made possible by a $75,000 charitable donation from Saint-Gobain’s Initiatives Foundation. The Saint-Gobain Initiatives Foundation is the global philanthropic arm of the French-based international company, Saint-Gobain. Saint-Gobain is an international leader in sustainable development, and through its Foundation, provides financial support to community organizations through various grant programs in an effort to improve the quality of life for the communities in which the company operates, and in which its employees live and work.

Locally, Saint-Gobain employs approximately 50 people at its Bristol, Rhode Island plant. This 110,000-square-foot facility is responsible for manufacturing critical components made from polymide and other high-performance polymers (Meldin®) which are used for the aerospace, automotive, electronics and industrial sectors. The Bristol site began operations in 1963 and is part of Saint-Gobain’s Performance Plastics’ Seals business. The company also has an additional plant site in Taunton, Massachusetts.

“We know it is important to develop a well-rounded future generation, and understand that the Boys and Girls Club of East Providence has done just this, by serving our local youth for more than 80 years and helping students graduate from high school and plan for their futures,” said Tom Kinisky, President and CEO of Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics. “The addition of the ‘Saint-Gobain Wing’ is all about helping our future generation receive the best opportunities possible, and it is truly an honor to be able to celebrate this accomplishment.”

In addition to Saint-Gobain’s generosity, other foundations including the Cranston-based Champlin Foundation  and the Lowes Foundation were critical in providing funds for the Williams Avenue Clubhouse Improvement project, which included replacing the pool roof and improving the aquatics facilities which reopened in November after a six-month refurbishment. Providence-based KITE Architects also provided countless hours of in-kind services to ensure that the new spaces would be vibrant and exciting places for Club members to learn and grow.

“For many decades the pool facility has been an invaluable resource for the club and the community,” said Albert Garcia, KITE architect and EPBGC board member.  “This much loved building was beyond its service life and in dire need of repairs.  As a board member, architect, swim coach and swimmer, it was an exciting and rewarding experience to see the aquatics center come alive again.”

CONTACT:

Dee Dee Edmondson, RDW Group
P) 617-835-3272
E) dedmondson@rdwgroup.com

Shari Rosen on behalf of Saint-Gobain North America
P) 267-238-4132
E) srosen@brownsteingroup.com

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About:
Boys & Girls Club of East Providence:
For more than eighty years, the Boys & Girls Club of East Providence has served the youth of East Providence by providing them with a safe haven each and every day.  Our goal is for every Boys & Girls Club member to: graduate from high school with a plan for their future; remain fit for life; and become engaged citizens of their club and community

To meet these goals, the EPBGC serves youth through a variety of after-school and summer programs including homework assistance, technology programs, teen programs, career exploration, job assistance, sports and recreation, art classes and leadership development.

About Saint-Gobain in North America
For 350 years, Saint-Gobain, the world leader in sustainable environments, has designed and manufactured high-performance building materials that improve the lives of people all over the world. From the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles and the glass pyramid at the Louvre, to The Statue of Liberty and The World Trade Center, and even components that allow the Mars Rover Curiosity to seek out life on another planet, Saint-Gobain has been a part of the fabric of human history, advancement and improvement.

In North America, the company upholds this rich history of innovation by making a material difference in the spaces where people work, live, play, heal and learn. Along with its North American headquarters in Malvern, Pennsylvania, Saint-Gobain has more than 150 locations in North America and approximately 15,000 employees. In the United States and Canada, Saint-Gobain reported sales of approximately $6.2 billion in 2014. Experience our innovation, wonders and advancements by visiting www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com and connect with Saint-Gobain North America on Facebook and Twitter.

About Lowe’s Foundation
Lowe's, a FORTUNE® 100 home improvement company, has a 50-year legacy of supporting the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. Since 2007, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together have contributed nearly $200 million to these efforts, and for more than two decades Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers have donated their time to make our communities better places to live. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility and LowesInTheCommunity.tumblr.com.