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Viola Davis Image Credit: AP

Viola Davis has made an appearance at the groundbreaking of a new community health centre in her impoverished Rhode Island hometown.

The Emmy-winning star of ABC’s How to Get Away With Murder joined local dignitaries on Saturday in Central Falls for a ceremony featuring hard hats and shovels at the future site of a $15 million (Dh55 million) centre by Blackstone Valley Community Health Care.

Davis grew up and attended public schools in the city, Rhode Island’s smallest and poorest community.

The Providence Journal reports she has been one of Central Falls’ most prominent boosters in recent years, raising and donating money to the library, high school chess team, drama club and a local charter school.

Davis was also expected to participate in a free community health fair in the city.