News & Events
Celebrating Our 50th Anniversary
Coming in November: Business After Hours
Hosted by the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce, Business After Hours offers an engaging opportunity to tour our facility, learn more about Wood River Health and connect with fellow professionals in a relaxed setting. These monthly events take place at rotating Chamber member locations across the region, giving attendees the chance to experience a variety of local businesses and organizations.
Guests can enjoy light refreshments, including food, beer and wine, while participating in informal networking. Raffle prizes add an extra layer of fun and excitement to the evening. Business After Hours is designed to foster meaningful connections, exchange ideas and build relationships that support local businesses and the broader community.
Whether you are looking to expand your professional network or simply learn more about the Chamber and its members, this event provides a welcoming space to engage. Visit the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce to learn more about membership opportunities.
Held monthly, Business After Hours take place at rotating Chamber member locations. They include food, beer and wine and raffle prizes. These events provide a perfect setting for making contacts and passing out business cards. Please visit the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce to learn how to join the Chamber.
Past Event: Founders Day Breakfast & Awards Ceremony
Wood River Health kicked off our 50th Anniversary celebration on March 20 with an inspiring Founders Day Breakfast & Awards Ceremony at the Ocean House. Read our press release about the event, watch our compelling 50th Anniversary Video and view event photos on our Facebook page.
We have more exciting events in store for 2026 – and we hope that you will join us in celebrating this critical milestone in our history!
To spotlight Wood River Health’s community partners at each of these events and throughout the year, we developed a 2026 Sponsor Benefits package, filled with impactful ways to promote partners! Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island has committed to serving as a Legacy Sponsor, and Professional Planning Group has pledged its support at the Jubilee level.
Sponsorships include tickets to the following events. To learn more about investing in a sponsorship, please visit our Sponsorships page.
Ticket sales will be announced in our newsletter "To Your Health", on our Facebook page and on our website.
Past Event: Comedy Night at the Granite
Wood River Health’s Comedy Night is a high‑energy fundraiser that turned laughter into lifesaving support for our patients! Hosted at the historic Granite Theatre in Westerly, the evening featured live stand‑up comedy and a 50/50 raffle, offering a fun and memorable way to make a positive difference to the members of our community.
Every ticket sold directly supports Wood River Health’s mission to provide high‑quality, affordable medical, dental and behavioral health services for our patients. Our Comedy Night event was a chance to invest in accessible care, reduce barriers to services and strengthen the health of our community, all while enjoying a great night out. We are grateful to our 50th Anniversary Sponsors whose support made this event possible.
Past Event: Our 50th Anniversary Gala
On September 18, 2026, Wood River Health proudly celebrated its 50th Anniversary Gala, bringing together friends, supporters, sponsors, partners, and community members for an extraordinary evening honoring five decades of accessible, high-quality care and community impact.
Guests enjoyed exceptional food, meaningful connections, and inspiring stories that highlighted the people, partnerships, and communities at the heart of Wood River Health's mission. The evening celebrated the milestones, achievements, and shared commitment that have shaped the organization's journey over the past 50 years.
More than a celebration, the gala was a powerful demonstration of community support for the future of local health care. Thanks to the generosity of attendees, sponsors, donors, and volunteers, the event raised critical funds to support essential medical, dental, and behavioral health services. These contributions help ensure that individuals and families throughout the region can continue to access the care they need, regardless of their ability to pay.
The success of the evening reflected the strength of the community's commitment to health, wellness, and equitable access to care, ensuring that Wood River Health can continue making a difference for generations to come.
Event Committees
We thank the following individuals for supporting Wood River Health's 50th and our vision to ensure every member of our community experiences physical, emotional and social well-being.
50th ANNIVERSARY HONORARY COMMITTEE
Jane Hayward, Health and Human Services Consultant
Francis X. Hopkins, RN, MBA, CMPE, Former Board Chair, Wood River Health
Michael Lichtenstein, President, Lichtenstein Associates, Inc.
Sheila Litty, President & CEO, Ocean Community YMCA
Peter Marino, President & CEO, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island
Lisa Menard-Manlove, MD, FAAFP, MHM, Family Medicine, Wood River Health
Elena Nicolella, President & CEO, Rhode Island Health Center Association
Chuck Royce, Founder, Royce Investment Partners
Nicholas Stahl and Mojie Friel, Friends of Wood River Health
Patrick Vivier, MD, PhD, Dean, College of Health Sciences, University of RI
Karl Wadensten, President & CEO, VIBCO
Stephen White, President & CEO, Westerly Credit Union, Retired
50th ANNIVERSARY PLANNING COMMITTEE
Amy Babcock, Principal, St. Michael School
Sarah Channing, Development & Communications Director, Wood River Health
Amy Clark, Director of Training, Westerly Community Credit Union
Alison Croke, President & CEO, Wood River Health
Dan Fitzgerald, Executive Director, Wellbeing Collaborative
Dayna Mendolia, Marketing & Events Coordinator, Wood River Health
Ruth Morgan, MBA, Committee Chair & Board Member
