The First Star URI Academy offers many opportunities to get involved.

Funding/Donation Opportunities

We accept donated materials and all levels of contribution to our program. If you are interested in funding opportunities for the Academy,please contact Merry Caswell at 874-2168 or caswellm@uri.edu.

To make a donation to the program, please send checks to:
URI Foundation
79 Upper College Rd.
Kingston, RI 02881

Please make checks payable to “URI Foundation” and please designate “First Star” on the check.

Volunteer Opportunities

We are constantly looking for dedicated members to join our team and help shape the lives of our nation’s most vulnerable youth.  We hire summer staff, AmeriCorps members and interns on a regular basis, and we utilize volunteers, guest speakers, and mentors for our students.  For volunteer opportunities, please complete the volunteer application and submit it to Merry Caswell at caswellm@uri.edu.

Volunteer Application

College Mentor

Interested in being a college mentor for our summer residential program? Download the application below and submit it electronically to caswellm@uri.edu.  You can also print the application and deliver it to our URI office at Tyler Hall, Suite 202.

Employment Application – Revised 2015

Student Referrals

Our enrollment process takes place in the spring for the summer academy. We accept a new cohort of youth every year to participate in our program throughout their four years of high school. Applications are available for current eighth graders (entering ninth grade in the fall) who have been in foster care at least one day.