Today, Barnard is a business owner and philanthropist who serves on the board of Papitto Opportunity Connection, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School, and several other organizations. Thursday, she was the mistress of ceremonies of Carolyn Rafaelian long-awaited donation of the ancient Jewish temple to the Center for Southeast Asians.

The nonprofit plans to embark on a $16 million renovation project, which could take about five years, to transform it into a modern community center with senior day care, housing transition of at least 11 units and a common space, and a head office for part of the center’s programming.

Barnard, who also serves on the center’s board of directors, said the temple will become a space “for families like mine (who have) hope for the future.” This day is very monumental.

The property was built in 1911 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has been vacant since its official closure as a Jewish temple in 2006 and is in “deplorable condition.” For years he was named on most endangered property listsand has been the focus of previous mayors in efforts that were never fully realized, Mayor Brett Smiley said.

“It took a long time to find a permanent home and steward for this building,” said Smiley, who thanked Rafaelian “for not giving up on it.”

Rafaelian, founder and former executive of jewelry company Alex and Ani, first purchased the property in 2015. Rafaelian, who is no longer involved in the company she founded in 2004had previously attempted to find a use for the temple before considering donating the property to College Unbound, another nonprofit. These plans never came to fruition.

After Thursday’s ceremony, Rafaelian told the Globe that “patience paid off.”

“The right match happened,” said Rafaelian, now the owner of a new jewelry business. Metal Alchemist. “This place will now be reborn in the most magnificent way. »

While managing Alex and Ani, Rafaelian was known as a philanthropist through Charity by Design, a company effort that collected profits from sales to various organizations. The social impact branch of the company, who has gone through a series of financial challenges since leavinghas already raised more than $50 million to support breast cancer research, provide clean water and help animals in need, among other efforts.

“Charity by Design, this philanthropic state of mind will always live in my heart. It’s everywhere I go and it’s part of everything I do,” she said.

President K. Joseph Shekarchi said that Rafaelian’s “legacy of charitable giving is legendary.”

Channavy Chhay, executive director of the Center for Southeast Asians, said the center will build a commercial kitchen inside the temple so community members can prepare culturally relevant dishes. Once open, she said, all programs offered at the community center will be free.

The restoration project will also be complicated, Chhay told the Globe.

“It’s not safe to go inside,” she said. “The wood is fractured. The roof collapsed. And there are stained glass windows.

In the mid-1900s, the congregation moved to the East Side, said Sarah Mack, rabbi of Temple Beth El Congregation, now located on Orchard Ave in Providence. In 1954, the synagogue was sold to the newly formed Congregation of Shaare Zedek, which added a two-story brick and concrete addition. Efforts to revitalize the building began by a group of artists and neighborhood residents in 2012, which ultimately led to Rafaelian’s purchase.

“This historic building was once the headquarters of our congregation and a gathering place for our Jewish community,” Mack said. “Over the years, many members of our congregation have wondered what is happening with Temple Beth El Broad Street Synagogue, and now…it will once again be transformed into a vibrant community center.”

Chhay said the center received $500,000 from the National Park Service and requested $7.25 million in appropriations from U.S. Sen. Jack Reed’s office for 2025. The center plans to launch a fundraising campaign to secure a additional funding.

“If we get this $7 million, we can start right away,” she said. “My goal is to open in five years. It all depends on funding and support from people who also don’t want this building to disappear. So I’m going to stick my head out really far for that.

“So we cannot skimp on shortcuts,” Chhay added. “It’s going to be a transformation, it’s going to be a home.”

Alexa Gagosz can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow her @alexagagosz and on Instagram @AlexaGagosz.