Ralph, Letty, and Anthony Raponi Tribute Fund
Janet L. Robinson Fund
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T
ith the establishment of this designated fund, Ralph and Letty Raponi, along with Ralph’s brother Anthony, have established a total of nine funds at the Foundation.
hroughout a career that took her from teaching first and second grade to serving as President and CEO of The New York Times Company, Janet Robinson has been on a philanthropic journey, developing strong, charitable interests through her personal experiences.
In speaking of Letty, who died in 2017, Ralph shares, “She lived an active life with real goodness in her heart.” That goodness is reflected in the family’s dedication to bettering the lives of children, a commitment which is furthered through this newest fund which benefits four children-serving organizations. The fund’s beneficiaries are The Tomorrow Fund, which “provides daily financial and emotional support to children with cancer and their families treated at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence”; Make a Wish - Massachusetts and Rhode Island (for Rhode Island children), which “creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses”; The Shriners Hospitals for Children, which “is changing lives through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research, and outstanding medical education”; and Smile Train, Inc., which “is an international children’s charity with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate.” The Raponis’ earlier funds benefit these four organizations and others. One, the Frank J. Raponi Memorial Fund, created to honor Ralph and Anthony’s brother, also is designated for The Smile Train. At the time, Ralph shared, “Frank was an avid believer of the Smile Train Charity where children from all over the world with deformed clefts would get free surgery so that they could live a normal life. This fund will forever benefit Smile Train, Inc., helping to continue its wonderful work.”
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The Raponis long have given back to the community, “We’ve done well,” says Ralph, noting his work as a stockbroker and investor. He adds, “The Rhode Island Foundation makes sense to us as a way to help others.” The Raponis also are members of the Foundation’s 1916 Society.
Born and raised in Somerset, MA, Janet came to Rhode Island as a student at Salve Regina University. After earning a bachelor’s degree in English, she taught in Newport and Somerset for 11 years. “I am a strong believer in the importance of offering quality public education, and a substantial portion of my philanthropy is directed toward education,” she shares. She joined The New York Times Company in 1983, beginning what would become a 28- year career that culminated in 2004 when she was named President and CEO. “In that role, I was responsible for all business operations of the corporation, including management of the philanthropic activities of the corporation,” Janet says, noting that overseeing The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund “molded my viewpoint regarding my own personal philanthropy.” She also credits the Carnegie Corporation of New York, of which she currently serves as chair, as shaping her charitable interests. Janet serves on the Rhode Island Foundation board of directors, is chair of the board of trustees of Salve Regina University, vice chair of The Public’s Radio, and assistant treasurer of the Preservation Society of Newport County. She also serves on the board of directors of Bank Newport/OceanPoint Financial Partners MHC and on the advisory board of the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island.
Along with education, Janet is passionate about supporting journalism and healthcare. “Quality journalism provides much-needed information regarding the challenges confronting civil society and the debates over how to meet these challenges. We must continue to inform all of our citizenry.” “The Rhode Island Foundation is doing an excellent job addressing challenges in the state. I particularly like that the Foundation has taken on the role of convener to gather the best minds in the field to work together. This collaborative approach, owned by all, will be instrumental in how challenges will be overcome,” Janet concludes.
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