Providence, RI- Child & Family, a Rhode Island non-profit, is expected to get a boost from the arrival of Boscov’s, the newest department store opening at Providence Place this September. The 105 year old, family owned department store chain offers apparel for the entire family, shoes, accessories, furniture, bed & bath, and even an old fashioned candy counter.
Being a meaningful part of the community is at the core of this retailer’s mission. “We live here, we work here. We want to understand what the community’s needs are and we want to help address those needs,” says Johanna Corcoran, who has lived in Rhode Island for sixteen years and now serves as the Community Relations Manager for Boscov’s. “Our first offering to the non-profit community is through our Gala Preview on Thursday, September 26, 2019 from 10AM to 10PM. This is an exclusive ‘sneak peek’ for non-profit organizations and their supporters to see the store and shop before anyone else in the state.” Tickets are $5 for the Gala, and are being sold through Child and Family. They will keep every penny from the tickets they sell. Boscov’s is currently partnering with over 95 non-profits across the state and are happy to include more. “It’s going to be a fun day, with free gifts for ticket holders, refreshments, entertainment and activities for the kids,” Says Corcoran.
Boscov’s was founded by Solomon Boscov in 1914. As the story goes, Solomon came from Russia to Reading, Pennsylvania, with $1.37 in cash and worked as a peddler with an initial $8 in goods. Because he spoke Yiddish, he could talk to people in Berks County who spoke Pennsylvania Dutch, because both are rooted in German.
Solomon’s son Albert Boscov took over when he died, and when Albert died in 2017 at age 87, nephew Jim Boscov took over. “Providence is a vibrant and exciting city and we’ve been warmly welcomed by members of the community. The entire team is excited to become Rhode Island’s newest retailer,” says Jim Boscov, “The Gala Preview for a Great Cause is really the first of many things that we’ll do to connect with the non-profit community. We hope to help our non-profit partners raise over $100,000 collectively through this event.” says Boscov.
If you are affiliated with a non-profit and would like to participate in the event, please reach out to Johanna Corcoran directly at jcorcoran@boscovs.com. For more information on Child & Family, or if you would like to purchase a ticket to the Gala, please contact Jennifer Whelihan at 401.848.4141 or jwhelihan@childandfamilyri.org
