MANCHESTER, NH – The work being done in local Manchester schools was showcased on an international stage last week. Granite United Way was awarded the prestigious United Way Worldwide Common Good Award Honorable Mention for their work with community schools at the Community Leaders Conference on May 11, 2016 in Vancouver, Canada.
“We are extremely proud that this local, collaborative effort was recognized at an international conference. In addition to receiving the Honorable Mention, we were invited to present during the conference on the work being done through the Neighborhood Health Improvement Strategy,” said Patrick Tufts, President and CEO of Granite United Way. “We were one of three recipients in this category from across 1,800 United Ways worldwide. Our local agencies working together serve as a model for United Ways across the world; we are proud of that partnership.”
The award recognizes a specific United Way, from nearly 1,800 communities across more than 40 countries and territories, which best exemplifies United Way’s goal of building stronger communities through their work. This year, United Way Worldwide recognized excellence and effectiveness in three areas: Program Solution, Issue Initiative and Community Solution. Recipients were evaluated on the effectiveness of their programs, and their ability to foster meaningful change in their communities.
Last year more than 20 funding and agency partners came together and developed the concept for the Neighborhood Health Improvement Strategy (NHIS.) When school opened several initiatives of the strategy were implemented, including the “Leader in Me” program for elementary students and the Hi-Set program for adults to obtain their GED.
Granite United Way was honored in the category of Issue Initiative which recognizes excellence in aligning and coordinating existing programs and services within communities to maximize effectiveness and efficiency.
The Neighborhood Health Improvement Strategy is collective effort that works to create youth, adult and community capacities throughout targeted neighborhoods in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Nearly $2.8 million has been committed to the implementation of the plan, including $1.5 million dedicated over a 3 year period by Granite United Way’s locally volunteer-led Community Impact Committee. Additional funding sources include the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the Cogswell Benevolent Trust, the Endowment for Health, Elliot Health System, The Dartmouth Institute, the HNH Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Prevention Partnership Awards Program through the U.S. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.
To implement the action items in the plan, Granite United Way convened local non profits and public departments, including the Manchester Health Department, Manchester School District, Easter Seals New Hampshire, NeighborWorks Southern New Hampshire, Child and Family Services of New Hampshire, Manchester Community Health Center, Mental Center of Greater Manchester and Granite YMCA.
