School ship Oliver Hazard Perry receives grant

Ohpri

BankNewport has contributed $10,000 to Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island (OHPRI) in support of the organization’s new headquarters at the historic Buliod-Perry House on Washington Square, in Newport, R.I. In 2008, the bank granted the non-profit organization $25,000 to help with the acquisition and design planning for the school ship, Oliver Hazard Perry.

“BankNewport is proud to help our new neighbor establish a presence on historic Washington Square,” said BankNewport President & CEO Thomas W. Kelly. Kelly recently joined OHPRI Chair Bart Dunbar and Vice-Chair Perry Lewis for a tour of the new office, which occupies the Newport Restoration Foundation building (circa 1750) and has ties to the ship’s namesake Oliver Hazard Perry. “It is our hope that the Bank’s support will inspire other contributions of support for OHPRI,” continued Kelly. “We commend their dedication to commissioning the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry to teach education-at-sea programs to Rhode Island area youth.”

The steel hull of SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, which was acquired by OHPRI in 2008, is currently at Promet Marine Services in Providence, R.I. Once completed, SSV Oliver Hazard Perry will sail as a 207-foot three-masted, square rigger. Perry will be the largest privately owned, active tall ship in America.

The ship is named for Newport’s War of 1812 naval hero Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry and will be owned and operated for the people of Rhode Island by OHPRI. She will be based in Newport, serve America and sail the world as an ambassador of Rhode Island.

For more information visit www.OHPRI.org.

By Ocean Navigator