About the Awards

The WBNA presents awards at the Annual Meeting, held in January. While there are some awards that are given regularly, the WBNA also awards special recognition when the Board deems necessary. The following awards are given annually.

Ken and Rebecca Philips Award

This award is WBNA's highest and most prestigious award. It is not given out lightly and is only given when someone comes along that has done outstanding service to the neighborhood. Ken and Rebecca Phillips were board members in the 1980s who brought the WBNA to a new level, they organized and professionalized the organization. They went above and beyond for the neighborhood and for the WBNA. This award is only given out when there is someone who does that.

Rick Rembijas Outstanding Volunteer Award

Formerly named the Outstanding Volunteer Award, this award was renamed in 2010 to honor the late Rick Rembijas for his outstanding service to the community. The award is presented to an individual or group in recognition of voluntary service to the community or to the WBNA.

Outstanding Business Award

Presented to businesses in recognition of service to the neighborhood or WBNA.

Neighborhood Action Award

Presented to an individual or group in recognition of their leadership in organizing the community around a particular issue to improve the West Side.

Municipal Award

Presented to a civil servant in recognition to the neighborhood or WBNA.

Elected Official Award

Presented to an elected official in recognition to the neighborhood or WBNA.

2011 Awards

Ceremony held at Providence Hmong Church

Rick Rembijas Outstanding Volunteer Award - The Bodner Family

Outstanding Business Award - John Richard and The Avery

Community Development Award - Dexter Training Ground Playground Rebuild Planning Team

Neighborhood Action Award - Josh Gigantino and the Crime Watch in the Column Google Group

Municipal Award - Lt. Luis San Lucas

2010 Awards

Ceremony held at Providence Career and Technical Academy

Rick Rembijas Outstanding Volunteer Award - Alex Smith Bourget, Shery Principe, Kathleen Rehder

Outstanding Business Award - Mike Sears

Outstanding Business Award - E&O Tap

Outstanding Business Award - Seven Stars Bakery

Neighborhood Action Award - West Side Tree Planters: Tod Damon, David Udris, Christopher Utter

Municipal Award - Yvonne Graf

Elected Official Award - Senator Paul Jabour

2009 Awards

Ceremony held at Public Safety Complex

Outstanding Volunteer Award - Vinnie Bucci

Outstanding Business Award - Loie Fuller's

Neighborhood Action Award - Greater Knight Street Neighbors

Neighborhood Action Award - Neighbors for Neighborhood Design

Ken and Rebecca Phillips Award - Filomena Lupo

2008 Awards

Ceremony held at Central High School

Outstanding Volunteer Award - Chris Good & Robyn Ericsson, William Atwater, Wil Yoder

Neighborhood Action Award - Save Our Schools Coalition

Municipal Service Award - Mayor Cicilline

State Service Award - Robert Brunelle

Outstanding Business Award - Classic Café

2007 Awards

Ceremony held at Phoenix Dragon

Elected Official - Representative Anastasia Williams

Municipal Award - Francisco Ramirez

Outstanding Volunteer Award - Baruch Sachs

Outstanding Business Award - Nicks on Broadway

Outstanding Business Award - Citizens Bank

2006 Awards

Ceremony held at Providence Public Safety Complex

Community Service Award - West Side Arts

Ken and Rebecca Philips - Award: Deming Sherman

Special Recognition Award for Adaptive Re-Use and Community Development Project - West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation for Westfield Lofts (former Rau Fastner building), and Armory Revival Company for Pearl Street Lofts

Municipal Award - City of Prov. Department of Art, Culture and Tourism for Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative

Non-Profit Business Award - Partnership for Creative Industrial Space

Preservation/Beautification Award - Dr. Cervone

2005 Awards

Ceremony held at Cranston Street Armory

Community Service Award - Gerry Collins

Community Service Award - Laura Mullen of Pinpoint Studio

Business Award - Parade Street Farmer's Market

Business Award - Joann Seddon and the Decatur Lounge.

Advocate Award - Mark Liberati of Liberati and Peretti LLP.

Elected Official Award - Representative Steven Costantino.

2004 Awards

Ceremony held at WBNA Design House

Community Service Award - Kari Zeigler and Linda Carlson

Public Servant Award - Lieutenant Anthony Sauro Patrolman Janis Noel, Patrolman  Chris Owens

Business Award - West Seven Merchants Association

Special Recognition Awards - Outstanding Contribution to Revitalization: Adler's Hardware and Gasbarro's Liquor

2003 Awards

Ceremony held at Najarians

Community Service Award - Vinnie Bucci, Paul Caswell, Grant Dahlgreen

Public Servant Award - James Baum, Linda Caldarone, Steve Dambruch AND  Bill Ferguson

Business Award - White Electric Coffee

Special Recognition - Columbus Theatre

Ken & Rebecca Philips Award - Peter Bramante, Janet Keller, and Gerry Roy

2002 Awards

Records have been lost for these awards. Please help us if you can!

2001 Awards

Elected Official Award - Senator Frank Caprio

Volunteer Award - Tacey Hellewell for Kids Activity Day and Margaret Richmond & Maria for Girl Scouts at the WBNA

Municipal Award - Jon Ozbek, Principal Planner, Department of Planning and Development

Business Award - Armando Nievez, Armando's Meat Market

2000 Awards

Elected Official Award - John Lombardi

Municipal Award - Bob McMahon et al on parks team

Outstanding Volunteer Award - Joyce and Roland Landry, participation, help, bulk mailings

Outstanding Volunteer Award - Judy Wood, Meg Denton, Cyd McKenna, Andrea Sims, Tony Silva (playground rebuild committee)

Outstanding Business Award - Jephry's Floral Studio

1999 Awards

Elected Official Award - Joan DiRuzzo

Ken and Rebecca Phillips Award - Nancy Courtney & Jim Quinn, Hudson Street Market

Municipal Official Award - Joe Elliot

Outstanding Volunteer Award - Gerry Roy

Outstanding Business Award - Chris and John Tavanian

1998 Awards

John Lombardi for his advocacy, availability and bond money

Steven Costantino for going above and beyond for the Armory

Susie Prouty for monthly youth activity program and continued work for youth through festival

Julie Van Noppen for West End Festival

Martina Windels for Armory Bash (special event fund raising for WBNA single handedly)

Fleet Bank for calendar

Tom Zincone and Rick Piccirillo, Community Police for quality of life issues

Carrie Marsh for service to WBNA

Chris Good for service to WBNA

Thom Deller, support

Bell Street Chapel for hosting us for 15 years and for continuing partnership

Tony and Nancy Freitas of JKL Engineering for their leadership role in the reuse of vacant and decrepit buildings into commercial, viable spaces that follow the vision for Westminster Street

Ken and Rebecca Phillips for their service to the community and WBNA

1997 Awards

Sally Spadaro, State of RI for help with Armory

Tony and Nancy Freitas for redevelopment of Westminster Street property

Christian Stolte for pro bono graphics

Kristen Kiley for pro bono graphics

Keith Lescarbeau for gas station renovation above call of duty

Julian's restaurant for new business in neighborhood

1996 Awards

Lesley Urgo and John Campanini, Trees

Cool Cats Café, business

Glen Buie and Virginia Branch, WBNA Headquarters

Ann Hill, long time service and efforts for community

PPS Revolving Fund, loan, technical and housing, preservation efforts in this community

Rosemary Milburn and Andy Barrett, 27 Sycamore Street restoration