Four Areas, One Vision: Inner Transformation, Outer Change
Our funding focuses on four interconnected areas that work together to create lasting transformation on Aquidneck Island.
ENVIRONMENT
Connecting with
Our Natural Home
We support initiatives that connect residents with Aquidneck Island's natural world, fostering environmental stewardship and appreciation for our unique ecosystems. When people feel connected to nature, they become its guardians, creating sustainable communities that protect our shared home.
This work honors the Gruben valley's influence on Diana's awakening and continues the family tradition of finding wisdom in natural settings.
Current Challenges: All nine of Aquidneck Island's drinking water reservoirs are polluted. Raw sewage discharge and toxic runoff threaten our coastal waters.
Our Response: Conservation projects, clean water initiatives, sustainable transportation programs, and nature immersion experiences that build environmental consciousness.
LIFESTYLE MEDICINE & WELLNESS
The Body's Natural Healing
We champion the body's natural healing capacity through evidence-based lifestyle interventions - whole-food nutrition, regular movement, quality sleep, stress management, avoiding harmful substances, and positive social connections.
This continues Morton Prince's revolutionary understanding that the body has inherent wisdom for healing when we work with its natural processes.
Current Challenges: Newport's opioid death rate is twice the national average. 18.5% of Rhode Islanders with substance use disorders don't receive necessary treatment.
Our Response: Lifestyle medicine programs, holistic wellness initiatives, addiction recovery support focused on inner transformation, and community health education.
Arts and Culture
Pathways to Discovery
We believe arts and culture open pathways for personal discovery and community connection. By supporting local creative expression - from music and visual arts to theater and dance - we help residents explore new perspectives and build stronger bonds with each other.
This honors the creative spirits that Gruben has inspired for generations, from Krishnamurti to countless artists and thinkers.
Current Challenges: Despite Newport's cultural richness, many residents lack access to creative expression and community connection opportunities.
Our Response: Community art projects, performance opportunities, creative workshops, and cultural events that bring diverse groups together.
Community Service & Education
Growing Through Giving
We fund initiatives that encourage residents to serve others and pursue lifelong learning. Through volunteer opportunities and educational programs, people develop empathy, gain new skills, and contribute meaningfully to our island community.
This embodies Frederick Henry Prince's approach to philanthropy as service and continues the family tradition of using knowledge to benefit others.
Current Challenges: Newport's poverty rate of 15.1% affects 25% of children. Unemployment at 5.5% exceeds national averages.
Our Response: Educational programs, mentorship initiatives, volunteer opportunities, and community leadership development that builds skills and connections.
How These Areas Connect
These four focus areas work together to create comprehensive transformation:
Environment grounds us in our natural home
Wellness builds healthy, resilient individuals
Arts opens hearts and minds to new possibilities
Service channels growth into meaningful contribution
Together, they create the conditions for the inner growth that radiates outward, transforming families, organizations, and our entire island community.
The Ripple Effect
By supporting initiatives in all four areas, we're creating a network of transformation that strengthens with each connection. As individuals grow in consciousness and capacity, they naturally reach out to serve others, creating ever-widening circles of positive change that extend far beyond our small island.
