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The romance began on the Narragansett Town Beach boardwalk in 1938. When Harold Golden offered his future wife, Evelyn, a ride home, she politely declined. Undeterred, he returned moments later with a clever response: "It isn't very often that someone refuses a date!" Evelyn looked at him and replied, "Well, you didn't say you were asking me for a date!" That chance encounter sparked what would become 72 years of marriage and a family legacy of dance.

For Evelyn, one of Harold's most captivating qualities was his natural grace. When her mother once asked what she saw in Harold, Evelyn exclaimed, "Ma, he is such a fabulous dancer!" Her mother retorted, "Well Evie, you can't dance your way through life." Yet in many ways, that's exactly what Evelyn and Harold did – dancing together through the good times and pulling together through the challenges, raising three children: Arlene, Robert, and Alan.

Their daughter Arlene Golden Gilbert inherited her parents’ passion for dance. Beginning classical ballet at age six, she pursued her love of dance through high school and went on to study at the Boston Conservatory of Music as a dance major. What started as a small group of twelve students in her parents' basement in 1965 blossomed into the eventual founding of The Jasper School of Dance in Cumberland, and The JASPER Ballet (Just for AIDS Support, Perpetual care, Education and Research), a nonprofit organization which continues to thrive.  

"Ballet is what I love the most," Arlene reflects. "It has a place all its own – so disciplined, so beautiful." This deep appreciation for classical ballet led her to establish the Evelyn and Harold Golden Dance Fund for Ballet Education at the Rhode Island Foundation, supporting scholarships for young dancers to study at the Ocean State Ballet School.  

The fund honors not only the Goldens’ love of dance, but their devotion to helping others achieve their dreams. Through the Foundation, Arlene can ensure this legacy continues. "You start thinking as you age, 'I know that I won't be here forever,'" she says. "My relationship with the Rhode Island Foundation gave me trust – and this fund is in loving memory of my mom and dad. I’m able to see the success of the fund and the work of the school in my lifetime."

Throughout her career, Arlene's dedication extended beyond teaching dance steps. "My students were the most unbelievable kids," she says with pride. She was not only their teacher, but also their advocate, helping them find additional opportunities to advance their training. Arlene’s commitment to nurturing young talent has created a widening circle of encouragement - one that will continue to grow through her thoughtful investment and inspired generosity.