When Maureen Kerrigan was recognized as a 2020 Invest in Others Volunteer of the Year Finalist for her work with the Star Kids Scholarship Program, the honor arrived during one of the most challenging periods nonprofits had faced in decades. Yet even amid uncertainty, the recognition, and accompanying $15,000 grant, gave Star Kids something invaluable: momentum.
Watch the Throwback Video from 2020
A Look at the Impact
Six years later, the impact of that moment is visible in classrooms, graduation ceremonies, college campuses, and family homes across the communities Star Kids serves.
Founded on the belief that education and consistent support can help children break cycles of poverty, substance abuse, and incarceration, Star Kids continues to provide tuition assistance, tutoring, mentoring, transportation, after-school and summer programming, and long-term encouragement to students facing significant barriers.
Since 2020, the organization has expanded dramatically. Star Kids now serves 153 students, up from approximately 100 at the time of Maureen’s recognition. The program’s high school graduation rate has climbed from 90% to 95%, and 92% of graduates now pursue post-secondary education. In 2024, Star Kids celebrated its 100th graduate. Today, that number has grown to 118, and notably, no Star Kids graduate has ever been incarcerated.
According to Karen Flanagan, Executive Director Newport/Fall River Star Kids Scholarship Program, the organization’s growth reflects both expanded resources and a deeper investment in wrap-around support systems that help students thrive long after the school day ends.
“Star Kids has grown substantially in scale, scope, and outcomes since 2020. Education program expenses have grown from $747,000 to more than $1.2 million, reflecting deeper investment across tuition aid, tutoring, mentoring, after-school and summer programs, transportation, college and career planning, and family engagement.”
That long-term impact is perhaps best illustrated through student stories like Duwuan’s.
A 2019 Star Kids graduate, Duwuan earned his degree from the University of Rhode Island and now works at Boys Town New England, supporting young people facing many of the same challenges he once experienced himself. Today, his younger sisters are also part of the Star Kids community, benefiting from the same network of support that helped shape his path.
“For Star Kids, this is what lasting impact looks like,” Flanagan explained. “One student finding his way forward, and that path continuing to widen for his family.”
For Maureen, the organization’s mission has become deeply personal over the years. Shortly after first learning about Star Kids while reviewing grant requests for the RBC Foundation in 2009, she joined the Board and became a longtime advocate, fundraiser, and child sponsor alongside her husband. Together, they have sponsored a student and witnessed firsthand how educational opportunities can transform an entire family.
Her longstanding commitment to both clients and community continues to earn recognition across the financial services industry. In 2026, Maureen was named #15 Best-In-State Wealth Advisor in Rhode Island and #3 Top Women Wealth Advisor Best-In-State in Rhode Island by Forbes, based on research conducted by SHOOK Research LLC. These recognitions reflect not only professional excellence, but also the values-driven leadership that has defined her work with Star Kids for more than a decade.
“When I first became involved with Star Kids, I would never have imagined the impact it would have on me, my family, my co-workers and friends,” Maureen shared. “The stories of the lives so many of these children have faced motivates me to spread the word and do more to help.”
That ripple effect now spans generations. Maureen’s daughter, Courtney Mahoney, and her husband now sponsor a student of their own and continue introducing new supporters to the organization through community events and advocacy efforts.
During the 2025–26 school year, Star Kids celebrated its 25th anniversary under the theme “Together We Shine,” a fitting reflection of how collective support compounds over time. The visibility generated through the Invest in Others Awards program helped elevate the organization nationally and strengthen its ability to grow locally.
Today, Star Kids is executing a multi-year strategic plan focused on expanding access, deepening emotional and academic support, and building sustainable funding to serve even more children in the years ahead.
To learn more about Maureen Kerrigan’s longstanding commitment to the Star Kids Scholarship Program and the impact of her volunteer leadership, be sure to check out her 2020 Invest in Others Awards finalist video.
About Star Kids Scholarship Program
Star Kids Scholarship Program was founded in 2000 by Dr. Timothy Flanigan to help children facing poverty and the effects of parental incarceration and/or substance abuse access educational opportunity and long-term support. Students typically enter the program between kindergarten and fourth grade and continue receiving support through high school graduation, helping create stronger futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Thank You RBC Global Asset Management
This May, we’re proud to recognize RBC Global Asset Management for their generous support of our Advisor Impact Update series. We are grateful to RBC Global Asset Management for their generous support of this content series and for setting a powerful example of what it means to lead with purpose.
