Viola Davis is giving back to the place that raised her.
Davis grew up in Central Falls, Rhode Island, a community that also helped shape her career as an actor. She attended Rhode Island College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in theater, according to TheGrio. She is now an award-winning actor recognized for her work in projects including “Fences,” “How to Get Away with Murder” and, most recently, “Children of Blood and Bone.”
Mary Alice Davis Family Engagement Center
Now, Davis is returning to her roots and giving back to the community that raised her.
Davis and her husband, Julius Tennon, have made a $1.2 million investment to establish the Mary Alice Davis Family Engagement Center, named in honor of Davis’ mother. The investment comes through the couple’s shared foundation, the Davis-Tennon Foundation, per The Grio.
“My mother believed in people, even when life was difficult,” Davis said in a statement, per the outlet. “Naming this center in her honor is a tribute to her strength and a promise that we will continue investing in people and creating places where hope can grow.”
The new venture will be an expansion of the Mary Alice Davis Food Pantry, which was created in 2013 and serves 3,000 people monthly in Rhode Island, notes The Grio. The center will also offer workforce development trainings, financial literacy programs, educational workshops, and family engagement initiatives, among other resources, according to WBSM.
“For me, this has always been about possibility. Every person deserves to be seen. Every family deserves opportunity. Every child deserves to grow up believing their future is larger than their circumstances,” Davis expressed, per The Grio.
Angelo Garcia, chair of the Davis-Tennon Foundation, said, according to NBC 10 WJAR:
“Whether someone comes seeking food, parenting resources, educational support, workforce training, or guidance through a difficult season, our goal is simple: one place where people are welcomed, connected, and empowered.”
