Social Enterprise Greenhouse Creates the ‘Evergreen Council’ to Honor Alumni Leadership

September 12, 2024 2 min read

For Immediate Release 

September 12, 2024

Social Enterprise Greenhouse Creates the ‘Evergreen Council’ to Honor Alumni Leadership

Groundbreaking Organization Celebrates More Than 25 Years of Impact and Celebrates the Accomplished, Resourceful Business Leaders Who Led It

PROVIDENCE, RI – The board and leadership of Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG), Rhode Island’s pioneering social impact network are proud to announce the creation of the “Evergreen Council,” an honorary group of the organization’s most esteemed board and founding alumni.  

“As SEG approaches its 20th anniversary, our potential to create transformational social impact is greater than ever,” said Julie Owens, CEO of SEG. “The members of the Evergreen Council have been instrumental in our founding, our growth and evolution and we’re grateful to have them by our side as we move into the future.” 

The Council members will include board members from the past two decades as well as many of the visionary leaders who founded SEG’s precursor organization, Social Venture Partners Rhode Island (SVPRI). Together SVPRI and SEG have a track record of more than 25 years of impact and achievement in Rhode Island and nationally. The inaugural chairs of the Evergreen Council will be Lorne Adrain, the founder of SVPRI/SEG and Kim Anderson, a recent board member.  

“The current board and leadership of SEG stand on the legacy and ambitious efforts of those who came before us,” said David Melançon, CEO and Managing Partner of the Ito Partnership, and SEG Board Chair. “We created the Evergreen Council to acknowledge but also to ensure that we tap their wisdom and counsel in our continued growth.”

As Evergreen Council members, these leaders will stay connected to the core of SEG’s mission:  the more than 2,300 social entrepreneurs and businesses who have leveraged SEG’s programming, network and capital since its founding. SEG has provided nearly $1 million in capital to social enterprises, including more than $260,000 in microgrants and $500,000 through its Loan Fund.

“The real value of this council is in witnessing the tangible impact we’re making,” said co-chair, Lorne Adrain, founder of Global Fellows in Courage. “Members of the Evergreen Council will not only help plan for the future but also see how the work is transforming lives and businesses.”

To mark the launch of the Evergreen Council, SEG and Council co-chair Kim Anderson hosted an inaugural event on September 3. Attendees included current board members, staff, and Evergreen Council members including:

Kim Anderson, owner and founder of Plant City, and one of the co-chairs of the Evergreen Council added, “I am honored to help lead this distinguished group. The Evergreen Council represents a bridge between SEG’s rich history and its exciting future. Together, we will leverage our collective experience to guide SEG’s continued success and growth.”

About Social Enterprise Greenhouse:
SEG accelerates impact by providing inclusive support and networks for entrepreneurs and businesses committed to positive societal and economic change. SEG fosters an ecosystem of diverse stakeholders who work to enable a more just, equitable, and resilient economy. SEG is based in Rhode Island and operates statewide virtually and from sites in Providence, Newport, Woonsocket, and Pawtucket/Central Falls. Its network of 2,000+ enterprises and 200+ business and community leaders contributes time, expertise, and funding to grow Rhode Island’s social impact ecosystem. To learn more, visit www.segreenhouse.org.

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Media Contact (For SEG)

Chelsea DeCesare, Half Street Strategic Consulting

401.286.9037 | Chelsea@halfstreetgroup.com

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