Granite United Way Volunteers Announce Investments for 2019
Granite United Way’s annual campaign mobilizes more than 20,000 donors and corporate supporters to raise more than $9 million across the state of New Hampshire and Windsor County, Vermont. These investments will deliver nearly $12 Million in total community impact this year, while leveraging another $2 Million in support through initiatives.
Volunteers are mobilized from each local region in its footprint to review and vet proposals and make funding decisions based upon strict criteria that ensures investments are held to the highest standards and are producing the greatest, most cost-efficient impact. The campaign benefits more than 750 nonprofit agencies and programs.
“These investments leverage the incredible impact made by our local and statewide initiatives, including 211 NH, public health networks and volunteer income tax assistance to create the opportunity for our communities to learn, earn and be healthy,” said Patrick Tufts, President and CEO of Granite United Way.
“Our teams of volunteers continue to evaluate the needs of our community and leverage that information when making these complex decisions,” said Heather Staples Lavoie, President of Geneia, and Chair of Granite United Way’s Board of Directors. “We are making a direct, substantive impact in our community by raising and then investing more than $9 Million in critical programs and services. These strategic investments, combined with the generosity of thousands of donors, will reach nearly 400,000 individuals throughout New Hampshire and Windsor County, Vermont this year.”
Local volunteers on the Community Impact Committees are invested in the process.
“As a volunteer both in the Community Impact process and as a Board Member, I am impressed each year with the dedication that our local volunteers show when allocating Granite United Way donor funds,” said Beth Rattigan, Attorney and Director at Downs Rachlin Martin, PLLC, and Granite United Way Board Member. “United Way is an important part of our community, not only as a fundraising organization, but as a provider of services to help improve community conditions across New Hampshire and in the Upper Valley region of Vermont. I am proud to support this effort.”
“Volunteers reviewed proposals submitted by nonprofit partners to best understand the nonprofits’ goals, the impact of their work and their requests for critically needed financial support. The decisions were difficult, but volunteers learned about the many initiatives being developed by our nonprofit partners to meet those needs and the ability to support many of them by allocating dollars given by our generous United Way donors,“ said Pat Donahue, New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, Community Review Team Chair.
Agencies across New Hampshire and Windsor County, Vermont are working in strategic, collaborative ways to address community needs.
“Untreated mental illness often results in more intensive and costly care, burdening our communities with emergency hospitalizations and incarcerations,” said Maggie Pritchard, CEO, Lakes Region Mental Health Center. “Funding from Granite United Way demonstrates our shared value and understanding that we all benefit from early treatment and it can and should be accessible for those who are uninsured or under-insured and who don’t have the financial resources to pay for their care. We are very grateful for their continued support.”
“Funding from Granite United Way has helped The Family Place strengthen and sustain programs over many years. For the past three years, Granite United Way grants have provided critical support to our Families Learning Together program. Through this program, we partner with young parents to reach education and employment goals and help their children learn and thrive,” said Nancy Bloomfield, Executive Director.
“Willing Hands is proud to partner with Granite United Way. The support we receive allows Willing Hands to recover over 500,000 pounds of fresh perishable food each and make weekly deliveries to over 4,500 people.” said Gabe Zoerheide, Executive Director at Willing Hands in the Upper Valley.
Funded programs will receive notification this week.
To read the full press release on each of Granite United Way's six regions: