Meet the

Lasallian Service Award

Honorees

Doreen Conway

For nearly 30 years, Doreen Conway has devoted her life’s work to children, young people, and families through the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families. From her early work caring for children with specialized needs to her years supporting families as a social caseworker, Doreen has brought compassion and understanding to people facing some of life’s hardest moments.

For more than two decades as a juvenile probation and parole officer, she helped young people recognize their strengths, build new skills, and see possibilities beyond their circumstances.

Her own experiences growing up in Providence helped shape the empathy she brought to that work. Doreen understood that a young person’s future should never be defined by their most difficult chapter.

At Ocean Tides, we are deeply grateful for people like Doreen, who give young people the support and encouragement to find their way forward. Her enduring commitment to their dignity and potential embodies the spirit of Lasallian service. We are honored to celebrate Doreen Conway with the 2026 Lasallian Service Award at Autumn Fest.

Brian Terry

For nearly four decades, Brian Terry has devoted his career to young people and families in Rhode Island. From his early days as a juvenile counselor to his leadership of the Rhode Island Training School, he has helped shape programs grounded in care, rehabilitation, and the belief that every young person has the capacity to grow.

Brian worked to strengthen the support surrounding each young person. He helped bring families into resident programming, introduced approaches centered on mediation and restorative justice, and mentored staff who shared in the daily work of guiding young people forward.

At every stage of his career, Brian understood that the care a young person receives today can influence the choices they make tomorrow. By helping them develop social skills, build relationships, and see new possibilities for
themselves, he contributed to a foundation they could carry into the future.

We are grateful for Brian’s years of service and the belief he has placed in young people. His dedication reflects the Lasallian commitment to their dignity and potential, and Ocean Tides is proud to honor him with the 2026 Lasallian Service Award.

Greg Bertles

For Greg, service has always meant showing up -with patience, generosity, and a belief in what others can achieve. Through years of tutoring, leadership, and hands-on projects, he has given the young men at Ocean Tides a meaningful gift: his time, his encouragement, and his belief in their potential.

A 1961 graduate of Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn, Greg’s connection to the Christian Brothers has remained strong throughout his life. After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics and enjoying a successful actuarial career with Aetna and Price Waterhouse, he retired in 1999. The following year, he began a new chapter at Ocean Tides as a volunteer math tutor.

His commitment grew to include service on the Board of Trustees and as Board Chair, yet the young men have always remained at the heart of his involvement. Together, they have built computers, a wooden skiff, and amplifiers – projects that nurture practical skills, perseverance, and the pride of creating something with their own hands. Along the way, Greg has offered a powerful message: you are capable, and you are worth the investment.

Greg and his wife, Midge, also became the basketball team’s “traveling parents,” bringing encouragement and a sense of family to away games. In 2017, he was recognized as an Affiliated Member of the Christian Brothers, honoring his enduring commitment to their mission.

Married for 59 years, Greg and Midge share two children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. With his characteristic humor, Greg says they are “playing in the two-minute warning, but comfortably in the lead”, a lovely reflection of a life filled with love and purpose.

Ocean Tides is deeply grateful to honor Greg with the 2026 Lasallian Service Award. His kindness and steady presence remind us that lasting service begins with simple acts: working alongside someone, helping them feel valued, and believing in the person they can become.

A Message from Our President and CEO

Dear Friends of Ocean Tides,

Every young person deserves a place where he feels supported, encouraged, and proud of what he can accomplish. At Ocean Tides, we see every day how the right opportunity – offered at the right moment – can build confidence, restore hope, and open a pathway toward a brighter future.

This year, proceeds from Autumn Fest will help renovate our gymnasium for our newly resurrected basketball team. The return of basketball has brought new energy to our campus and given our young men something meaningful to work toward together. On the court, they are learning far more than the game: they are learning perseverance, teamwork, responsibility, and the pride that comes from belonging to a team. A renovated gym will give them the safe, welcoming home court they deserve.

Your generosity will also help Ocean Tides stand beside the families in our care when unexpected challenges arise. Flexible support allows us to respond with compassion, ease immediate burdens, and help families remain focused on stability, healing, and moving forward together.

If you are unable to attend, you can still make a lasting difference by donating through our website or contributing a raffle prize, gift card, merchandise, or service. Every gift, no matter the size, is a reminder to our young men and their families that their community believes in them and that they do not have to
face their challenges alone.

On behalf of our staff, students, and families, thank you for helping us create moments of possibility, dignity, and hope. We would be honored to celebrate with you at Autumn Fest on October 23.

With gratitude,

Brian Sullivan
President & CEO