Davies Named as WaterFire's Community Partner of Year
May 11, 2017
We’re pleased to share that Davies Career and Technical High School has been chosen as WaterFire Providence’s Community Partner of the Year. It is the first year WaterFire has presented this annually designated award to a school.
Each year, WaterFire recognizes a key organization in the community who has contributed significantly to volunteerism. According to WaterFire’s criteria for choosing a partner of the year, the partner must demonstrate outstanding commitment and reliability, offer “multiple modes” of contribution, and go above and beyond the minimal or required volunteer hours, participation, and work ethic.
“Last year, we had tons of kids at every event,” says Jerry Suggs, an American History teacher at Davies and, for the last four years, a WaterFire volunteer. “There would be two boats of people and a third would be Davies students. On Thursdays, we would have twenty people and ten would be Davies students. On Saturdays, you would have 200 people and 20 would be Davies. For the Christmas lighting in 2015, out of 30 trees, two were fully decorated with Davies-donated ornaments.”
Suggs became hooked on WaterFire after attending the non-profit organization’s renowned installation events, which feature more than 80 bonfires lighting the river in downtown Providence. In 2013, he decided to change his role from spectator to volunteer. Since then, Suggs “has done every job a volunteer can do,” ranging from riding the river and feeding the fires to selling merchandise. Along the way, he’s shared his enthusiasm with students.
During the school year, there are normally two to three fires in September that students may have a chance to volunteer at, a WaterFire in October for breast cancer awareness, and another in November for Veteran’s Day. The first WaterFire featuring Davies students as volunteers was in December 2013 -- students were Santa’s elves for the Christmas lighting. “They loved it,” recalls Suggs. “From then on, our students were involved.”
Suggs notes the partnership has not just instilled a sense of community service in students, but also builds work ethic. "WaterFire doesn't look at our students as just kids from Davies," Suggs says. "They treat our students as organizational professionals of WaterFire. The kids have done everything. We've had kids who were struggling with grades and pulled their grades up to participate and stay involved."
The award was presented at the Volunteer Appreciation Party and WaterFire Arts Center on Housewarming Party on Wednesday, May 10.