relief fund
for RI Hospitality Association member employees
RI Hospitality Employee Relief Fund
in Honor of Alfred A. Zannella
The RI Hospitality Employee Relief Fund was created in honor of our late longtime Board Member, Alfred “Al” A. Zannella. Al was the Executive Vice President of Mancini Beverage and a longtime Board Member of the RI Hospitality Association. In 2018, he was named as our Man of the Year at our Stars of the Industry Awards. Al was a dedicated member of the hospitality community, always willing to lend a hand and help his industry thrive. This fund was created in his honor as a way to carry on the legacy of his generosity.
Who
RI Hospitality Education Foundation a 501c3 non-profit corporation with more than twenty-five years of trusted organization management.
What
A relief fund for RI Hospitality Association Member Restaurant, Hotel, and Tourism employees who are facing an unexpected financial hardship as a result of an injury, illness, death of immediate family member, disaster (flood, fire, storm) or other form of crisis.
Employees can apply for a one-time financial assistance grant to help cover basic need expenses such as rent/mortgage, household utilities, groceries, car payment or transportation costs, childcare, or medical bill/insurance.
Where
Donations will be made through the RI Hospitality Education Foundation website. Applications for funding will be made through the RI Hospitality Education Foundation website.
How
Money raised came from United Way of RI, Rhode Island Foundation, corporate donors, fundraising efforts, and private individual contributions.
Why
This fund was originally created in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic which had a tremendous impact on the hospitality industry workforce. As public places of accommodation our industry was the first to be shut down by executive order resulting in thousands of unemployment claims.
Most of the laid off employees were struggling to pay rent, mortgage, household utilities, groceries, gasoline/transportation, and childcare. Basic human needs begin with food and shelter and COVID-19 had stripped these employees of their ability to financial provide these two basic needs for their families.
With the industry now at full capacity and restrictions lifted, the Education Foundation Board of Directors will extend our fund to unexpected financial hardship.
Application
Eligibility
One-time grant with a maximum amount of $1,000.
Recipient must be employed by a RIHA Dues Paying Member Establishment (for minimum of one year) at time of application.
This one-time grant is intended to cover basic financial expenses during a short-term financial hardship as a result of an injury, illness, death of immediate family member, disaster (flood, fire, storm) or other form of crisis.
Grants can be used to cover any of the following expenses:
- Mortgage or Rent
- Utility bills
- Car payments or transportation costs
- Childcare
- Groceries
- Medical bills or insurance
Requirements:
*Upload copy of most recent paystub
*Upload completed copy of W9 form (Click Here for more information on a W-9)
- Utility bills
- Car repair bill
- Medical bills or insurance
- Other
For more information:
Traci Dufresne
Director, Education Foundation
RI Hospitality Education Foundation
94 Sabra Street
Cranston, RI 02910
401-223-1120, ext. 111
traci@rihospitality.org
*Only accepting online applications.
*Denotes required field.