Back to Press Releases

Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center to Support Local Causes with Community Blood and Coat Drives

January 06, 2010

NEWPORT, RI, January 6, 2010 – In an effort to start the New Year with its best foot (or skate!) forward, the Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center -- located at the Newport Yachting Center on America’s Cup Avenue in downtown Newport -- has scheduled a number of community activities this month to benefit local non-profits.

This Saturday, January 9 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., the Family Skating Center will host the Rhode Island Blood Center’s Annual Blood Drive. The organization’s Bloodmobile will be parked by the rink and all are asked to make a donation to this vital cause. Donors will receive a free skate pass, good for one free skate session, or one free pound of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. Please visit RIBC.org for more information.

For the entire month of January, the Family Skating Center will be teaming up with Amica Insurance once again to host the Amica Coat Drive benefiting the St. Joseph’s Soup Kitchen located on Broadway in downtown Newport. In order to take part, skaters are asked to donate one new or gently used coat at a drop off station at the Family Skating Center. Your donation not only will warm those in need but will earn you a two-for-one skating admission. Since 1983, St. Joseph’s Soup Kitchen has served approximately 8,000 meals per year. Doors are open each Monday from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. to those in need of a hot nourishing meal or warm clothing.

“As always, we’re looking to do our part to help those in the community who are in need and hope to beat last year’s total of 120 coats donated,” said Michele Maker Palmieri, General Manager of the Newport Yachting Center. “So, please stop by the rink with a spare coat or with your sleeve rolled up ready to give blood –- or both -- and let us reward you for your good deed!”

The Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center is also proud to host the "Skate For Joy" Program each Tuesday afternoon in January and February. “Skate For Joy” is a non-profit organization committed to helping groups of under-served children from all backgrounds discover the joy of ice skating with a basic skills program. The program consistently provides mentoring that will foster skills in goal-setting and teach the importance of physical fitness and respect for themselves and others. For more information, please visit skateforjoy.org.

The Learn to Skate Program for Beginner, Novice and Intermediate levels will start this week. Back by popular demand, and led by trained professionals, participants take part in a six-week session that runs for consecutive weeks on Tuesdays, January 5, 12, 19 and 26 and February 2 and 9 (Children: 6:30 – 7:15 p.m. and Adults/Teenagers: 7:30 – 8:15 p.m.) and Saturdays, January 9, 16, 23 and 30 and February 6 and 13 (Children: 8:30 – 9:15 a.m. or 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.). Children must be at least 4 years old to join in. To sign up for the session, simply go to skatenewport.com, download and complete the form and fax it to Erica Keating at (401) 619-4616. In the meantime, if you have any questions, feel free to call (401) 846-1600, ext. 227.

Looking for plans during the Winter Vacation? Enroll in The Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center Skate Camp for school vacation week, February 15 -19. To sign up for the camp, simply go to skatenewport.com, download and complete the form and fax it to Erica Keating at (401) 619-4616. If you have any questions, please call (401) 846-1600, ext. 227.

Admission to the Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and children between 3-11 years of age. However, there are nightly specials, including Free Skate Nights on Mondays courtesy of Sovereign Bank and Wednesdays courtesy of Cox Communications. Stop & Shop Night, sponsored by Stop & Shop Supermarkets, is on Tuesdays when admission is 2-for-1 and Thursday features Amica Family Fun Night complete with discounted admission and a free cup of hot chocolate. On the weekend, admission to the Adult Skate session is discounted on Friday and Saturday night while Sunday’s Rhody Night pays homage to the locals with discounted admission with a valid Rhode Island Resident ID.

The Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center features a 9,000 square foot skating surface large enough to accommodate up to 150 skaters at a time. FREE parking, skate rentals, hot beverages and comfort foods, lighting for night skating, regular admission discounts, a warming room and viewing spaces for the public are also featured at the rink. They can be purchased at the Family Skating Center. Skate sharpening is available for $5.

The skating center’s Standard Winter Session Schedule, which includes all days EXCEPT school vacations and holidays, is: Monday – Thursday, 5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.; Friday, 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. with an Adult Skate session from 9:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.; and weekend hours on Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. with an Adult Skate from 9:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on Saturday. Extended School Vacation Schedule hours will run from February 15 – 19. For more details on either of these Winter Session schedules, please visit skatenewport.com.

The Newport Yachting Center is a subsidiary of Newport Harbor Corporation, an ESOP (employee-owned) hospitality company located in Newport, Rhode Island. For more information about the Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center at the Newport Yachting Center and weather updates, call (401) 846-3018 or visit skatenewport.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

David Hughes, Dodge Associates, Inc.

(401) 273-7310

dave@dodgeadv.com