PHILANTHROPY
by JUDY OSTROW
photography by CHIP RIEGEL
Making an Impact Ocean House Fund for Charitable Giving Supports Community Causes with Innovative Employee Involvement Above, left to right: The advisory board consists of Ocean House Collection employees including Lauren DiStefano, Laurie Hobbs, Ben Tomek, Dant Hirsch and Harry Staley.
T
he management and associates of Ocean House, Weekapaug Inn and its sister properties have built a global reputation for these resorts on the strength of their unified commitment to providing excellence in hospitality at the highest level. So when thinking about how to extend this degree of commitment and give back to the communities in which they operate and live,
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the Ocean House Fund for Charitable Giving was launched five years ago as a philanthropic effort to support worthy local causes. The Ocean House Fund was created in 2017 in cooperation with the Rhode Island Foundation, focusing on philanthropic efforts to support local children in need, underserved households and local foodways-related causes, that help bring food to people who otherwise
wouldn’t have it. The Ocean House Fund was inspired by the generosity of OH Collection Founders Charles and Deborah Royce and their commitment to the community. Each year, employees from any Ocean House Collection property can nominate a non-profit organization to receive a donation from the Ocean House Fund. The Fund's advisory board consisting of employees of every level,
