NEWPORT, R.I. (December 19, 2008) - BankNewport today presented a $25,000 grant from its Rhode Island Foundation Charitable Fund to the non-profit organization Tall Ships Rhode Island, Inc (TSRI). The grant, presented by BankNewport President and CEO Thomas Kelly to TSRI Chairman Bart Dunbar, supports Phase I project development expenses for the new Ocean State-based sail training ship Oliver Hazard Perry.