About CGPRI

Our Mission

Our mission is to increase the quality and quantity of charitable planned gifts by serving as the voice and professional resources for the gift planning community.  We are the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Association of Charitable Planners.  National Association of Charitable Gift Planners

The Charitable Gift Planners of Rhode Island (CGPRI) is an association of advancement professionals and colleagues from allied fields, which is dedicated to furthering the gift planning profession through education and professional development. We are proud to include over 100 Rhode Islanders in our membership. Meetings are typically held monthly during the months of September through May and include presentations, by both local and national speakers, on a wide variety of topics related to planned giving. Meetings also include "primer sessions" and provide a forum for sharing ideas and experiences with colleagues.

We are fortunate to be able to attract outstanding speakers from across the country as well as to work effectively for the betterment of our profession. CGPRI is committed to offering a broad scope of educational opportunities to meet the growing needs of its diverse membership, through its monthly programs and special programming.

Current President

2025-2026

Christine Pellegri, Rhode Island Foundation

Past Presidents

  • 1993-94     Susan DameGreene, Founding President
  • 1994-95     Richard Ely, Strategic Fundraising Consultants
  • 1995-96     Richard B. LaFleur, Rhode Island Hospital
  • 1996-97     Marjorie A. Houston
  • 1997-98     Carol Golden, Rhode Island Foundation
  • 1998-99     Mary Miller, Women & Infants Hospital
  • 1999-00     Joshua C. Karlin
  • 2000-01     William F. O’Neil, Providence College
  • 2001-02     Claire Marcille Gadrow
  • 2002-03     Shawn P. Buckless, Roger Williams University
  • 2003-04     James A. Roehm, CFRE, Lifespan
  • 2004-05     Karen Cooper, Christian Children's Fund, NE& NJ
  • 2005-06     Alan Axelrod, The University of Rhode Island
  • 2006-07     Gail Ginnetty, Citizens Investment Mgt. Services
  • 2007-08     Kimberly M. Butler, The Rhode Island Foundation
  • 2008-09     Peri Ann Aptaker, Esq. CPA/PFS, CFP, CBA, Kahn, Litwin, Renza, Co., Ltd.
  • 2009-10     Marilyn Shriver, YMCA of Greater Providence
  • 2010-11     Lisa Roth Blackman, Rhode Island Community Food Bank
  • 2011-12     Robin Marek, American Mathematical Society
  • 2012-13     Joanne Speroni-Woody, Citizens Bank
  • 2013-14     Mary Alice Conlon, Brown University
  • 2014-15     Adrienne C. Morris, Lincoln School 
  • 2015-16     Michele Sczerbinski Diaz, The Wheeler School
  • 2016-17     Catherine Campbell, The Nature Conservancy
  • 2017-18     Nicole Medeiros, BNY Mellon
  • 2018-19     Josh Caswell, Howland Evangelista Kohlenberg LLP
  • 2019 - 20   Karen Fuller, RI Community Food Bank
  • 2020 - 21   Elizabeth Manchester, Partridge, Snow & Hahn LLP
  • 2021 - 22   John Garcia, URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement
  • 2022 - 23   Robert Ferrell, URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement
  • 2023 - 25   Alicia L. Anthony, Esq., Howe & Garside, Ltd.

A Brief History

The Charitable Gift Planners of Rhode Island (formerly Planned Giving Council of Rhode Island) was formed in the spring of 1993 by Susan DameGreene, Richard Ely and Richard LaFleur. Taking as a model the Planned Giving Group of New England, these Rhode Islanders noted that there was nothing comparable in southeastern New England.  The concept of planned giving was growing across the country; and the National Committee on Planned Giving had grown to 65 local councils totaling 1500 members. The key question was whether the Ocean State could support a new planned giving council, given the strength of programming offered by PGGNE.

That question was answered affirmatively when a number of peers and colleagues signed on to help.  Among those involved in forming the council were Pat Thompson, Art Everly, Andy Davis, Jack Buckely, Max Kohlenberg, Linda FitzPatrick, Ed Bennett and Ed Casey. By-laws were approved on June 10, 1993. The first program of the Planned Giving Council of Rhode Island was held at the Turks Head Club on November 10, 1993, and featured Doug White, now of Washington D.C. The Council’s first all-day educational session featured Andre Donikian, an Indianapolis attorney, as the main speaker.

Compiled by Jim Roehm, Richard LaFleur and Richard Ely.