Raises more than $50,000 for student scholarships

KINGSTON, R.I. – March 27, 2009 – The University of Rhode Island Alumni Association’s first Big Chill Weekend, held Feb. 13 and 14, raised more than $50,000 for student scholarships and brought nearly 500 alumni and friends to South County and Newport for several events designed to warm up a cold winter weekend.

“Big Chill Weekend was a nice evolution from our traditional Winter Gala and Young Alumni Weekend. Realizing that special events need to stay current and fresh, our alumni volunteers and staff did a superb job creating a new, different, and still very special weekend. We were especially pleased to bring together alumni of all ages, while generating $50,000 in much-needed student scholarships for URI,” said Vice President of University Advancement Robert Beagle.

The vice president praised the Big Chill planning committee, composed of alumni spanning more than four decades, and the Student Alumni Association for putting together a series of events, tours, raffles, auctions, and dinners. The weekend is the URI Alumni Association’s largest annual scholarship fundraiser.

Gina Simonelli, assistant director of Alumni Relations, said, “On behalf of the URI Alumni Association, I want to thank the hundreds of friends and alumni who came out for Big Chill Weekend. It was all about the scholarships for our students, and thanks to so many generous people, we consider it a huge success.”

Pictured above

(left to right): Gary Kullberg, ’63, President, URI Alumni Association; Michele Nota, ’87, M ’06, Executive Director, Alumni Relations; Harry Amaral, M ’80, Director, Enrollment Services