Rep. Solomon Wins $7,500 for VOWS at Twin River Charity Blackjack Tournament

LINCOLN, RI — Rep. Joseph J. Solomon Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Warwick) placed second in a charity blackjack tournament at Twin River casino Thursday, winning $7,500 for Volunteers of Warwick Schools (VOWS).

VOWS is a non-profit corporation that was organized by a group of Warwick citizens and incorporated in 1975. As the Warwick Public Schools’ centrally-directed, district-wide school volunteer management system, VOWS recruits, trains and coordinates volunteers for teacher-requested, teacher-supervised educational activities that offer assistance to students.

Twin River Casino Hotel held its seventh annual Holiday Blackjack Tournament for Charity, donating a total of $60,000 to the designated charities of those who were invited to play.

“VOWS is a wonderful organization that provides so much help to the Warwick School System, particularly with community outreach,” said Representative Solomon. “I’m glad I was able to secure this money for them in Twin River’s annual holiday charity event.”

Representative Solomon joined a complement of legislators, including Speaker of the House Nicholas A. Mattiello (D-Dist. 15, Cranston), Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence), House Majority Leader K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick), Senate Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick), Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence), Rep. Justine A. Caldwell (D-Dist. 30, East Greenwich, West Greenwich), Rep. Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence), Sen. Thomas J. Paolino (R-Dist. 17, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield), Sen. Walter S. Felag Jr. (D-Dist. 10, Bristol, Tiverton, Warren), Sen. Frank S. Lombardo III (D-Dist. 25, Johnston), Sen. Elizabeth A. Crowley (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket), Sen. William J. Conley Jr. (D-Dist. 18, East Providence, Pawtucket), Sen. Erin Lynch Prata (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston), Rep. Michael A. Morin (D-Dist. 49, Woonsocket), Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence), Rep. Scott A. Slater (D-Dist. 10, Providence) and Rep. Patricia Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick).

Each player received $1,000 to donate to the charity of their choice.

McCaffrey came in fifth and received $2,500 for the Rhode Island Academic Decathlon. The money went to the following:

Speaker Mattiello, Cranston Animal Shelter; president Ruggerio, Saint Edward Food and Wellness Center; Leader Shekarchi, Friends of the Warwick Animal Shelter; Whip Goodwin, Mary House Food Pantry and Shelter; Senator Paolino, Alzheimer’s Association; Representative Caldwell, Cultural Organization of the Arts; Senator Crowley, Forand Manor Tenants Association; Representative Diaz, Multi-Service Center for All; Senator Felag, Neverland Children Theatre; Senator Lombardo, Operation Stand Down; Senator Conley, Plan International USA; Senator Lynch-Prata, Special Olympics of Rhode Island; Representative Morin, the Milk Fund; Representative O’Brien, the Veterans of Foreign Wars; Representative Slater, West End Community Center; and Representative Serpa, West Warwick Angels Caring for Animals.

Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.