2016 -- S 3066

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LC006170

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

THANKING BERNARD BEAUDREAU FOR HIS TWENTY-SIX YEARS OF EXEMPLARY

AND DEVOTED SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senator Juan M. Pichardo

     Date Introduced: June 09, 2016

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, Mr. Bernie Beaudreau began his distinguished public service career in 1977,

serving as a community planner working on myriad issues including job training, community and

housing development programs for South County Community Action, and assisting organizations

such as OIC of Rhode Island, the Women's Development Corporation, and the Community

College of Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Boudreau served as the Executive Director of the Rhode Island

Community Food Bank from 1995 to 2006. Under his leadership, the Food Bank grew its base of

financial donors from 4,600 to 30,000 by 2005, increased annual donor contributions from

$400,000 to $3,000,000, increased food distribution from three to nine million pounds, increased

food assistance from less than 30,000 people to 50,000 people monthly, increased the number of

full-time employees from eighteen to forty-five, and managed an 8.2 million capital campaign

that resulted in the Food Bank's relocation to a new, state-of-the-art 77,000 square foot facility;

and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Beaudreau, in his capacity as the Executive Director of the Food Bank

was also known for his innovative policy and program initiatives. He developed and designed a

new multi-year hunger-free state initiative to broaden the Food Bank's mission to include working

towards the elimination of hunger and its causes. He was also at the forefront of efforts to restore

food stamps for legal immigrants, expand school breakfast programs to all schools in the state of

Rhode Island, and to reduce barriers to Food Stamps for eligible households. In addition, he led a

number of fasts and summits involving community leaders, activists, religious leaders, corporate

leaders, and government officials to bring attention to the issues of child poverty and hunger; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Beaudreau served from 2008 to 2016 as the Executive Director of Serve

Rhode Island. Under his guidance, the organization administered $2 million in AmeriCorps

programs involving 200 to 300 AmeriCorps volunteers for the state. He also directed the

Volunteer Center at Serve Rhode Island, developed internships and work experience AmeriCorps

programs in Providence and Pawtucket for low-income high school youth, developed a number of

volunteer programs for unemployed workers and public assistance recipients, helped to increase

volunteerism among older adults and seniors, and developed volunteer programs that helped

improve schools, clean up the environment and assist in disaster recovery work. Additionally, he

worked with Senator Juan Pichardo to create an inner-city neighborhood initiative to increase

career employment and opportunities for youth and parents; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Beaudreau served as the International Development Director from 1984

to 1995 and from 2006 to 2008, where he was Chief Development Officer for Oxfam America

and the Global Food Banking Network. He also devoted much of his free time in service to

numerous nonprofit boards including Edesia Global Nutrition Solutions, McAuley Ministries,

OIC of Rhode Island, the Women's Development Corporation, the George Wiley Center, and the

Ocean State Youth Orchestra; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby thanks Mr. Bernard Beaudreau for his twenty-six years of exemplary and devoted service

to the citizens of Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Bernard Beaudreau.

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LC006170

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