April 4, 2011

Last week I had the privilege of attending the Providence Business News Inaugural awards for Chief Financial Officers in Rhode Island.  The stories behind each of the annual honorees were impressive.  The “Lifetime Achievement Award” was reserved for someone with exceptional accomplishments, our very own Lee Grossi.

For over forty years, Lee has served the state of Rhode Island.  His work was critical in establishing many of the acclaimed programs that state currently delivers to its residents.  In addition to serving as the CFO for Rhode Island, his years of work have had him travelling through the Department of Children, Youth and Families, The Department of Human Services, and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.  And he is the recipient of the George A Bell Award which recognizes state budget personnel for outstanding contributions and service to public budgeting and management in state government.

 Lee joined the team at Children’s Friend just after the tremendous growth which more than doubled our size and his task has been to guide us through these fiscal times.  Lee offers more than just fiscal wisdom and stability.  He is an innovative thinker who is uncommonly dedicated to the work before him.  His wry sense of humor livens up many interactions and his passion for the work of Children’s Friend is at the forefront of all that he does.

 We are honored to have Lee Grossi as one of our own at Children’s Friend and join his family, friends and colleagues of the past four decades, in recognizing his tremendous contributions to Rhode Island.