MANCHESTER, NH – City Year New Hampshire hosted its annual Starry Starry Night Gala on April 15, 2017, honoring Dean Kamen, inventor, entrepreneur, and a tireless advocate for science and technology.
The event took place at the Wentworth by the Sea where Kamen received the Lifetime of Service Award for his significant and long-lasting contributions to our state and our nation.
“Thank you to City Year and to all of the sponsors of this year’s event for your important work to support some of our most vulnerable young people across New Hampshire,” said Senator Maggie Hassan at the event. “I also want to congratulate Dean Kamen on his Lifetime of Service Award, and thank Dean for his commitment to building a stronger, more innovative New Hampshire where all of our young people have the opportunity to get ahead and stay ahead.”
Kamen shared his remarks upon receiving the award with over 300 business and community leaders, and to City Year New AmeriCorps members.
“I’m honored to receive the Lifetime of Service Award from City Year for my past accomplishments, although I prefer to look forward to future challenges,” said Kamen. “City Year is the kind of quality organization like FIRST that thrives on community and corporate partnerships, and FIRST is excited to partner with City Year to expand STEM education to more students, especially under-served students. I look forward to what our organizations can do together in the future.”
“We’re grateful to be able to share in this celebration of our City Year AmeriCorps members serving in schools with individuals and companies committed to supporting students who benefit from individualized support in many ways,” said Pawn Nitichan, City Year New Hampshire’s Executive Director. “Our goal is to help Manchester’s struggling students stay in school and on-track to graduation, college and career ready.”
“Eastern Bank is committed to celebrating the good in our communities. We proudly support City Year and Starry Starry Night because we believe passionately in the impact City Year AmeriCorps members have on our schools and community. We see how City Year helps students succeed, while also developing AmeriCorps members into future civic-minded leaders,” said David Cassidy, Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking, Eastern Bank, one of the platinum sponsors of the event.
This year, 70 City Year New Hampshire AmeriCorps members serve in 8 Manchester elementary schools, partnering with principals and teachers to help them achieve their vision of excellence for their schools. Nationally, 3,100 AmeriCorps members serve more than 200,000 students in over 300 high-need schools in 28 U.S. cities. Working side-by-side with teachers, City Year New Hampshire uses research-based tools to improve students’ attendance, social-emotional development and course performance in math and English. City Year New Hampshire teams also lead afterschool programs and school-wide initiatives to improve school culture. A 2015 study found that schools that partner with City Year are two to three times more likely to improve on state student assessments in English and math compared to similar schools.
City Year New Hampshire’s Starry Starry Night was also supported locally by Martha Fuller Clark & Dr. Geoffrey Clark, Eastern Bank, Lyophilization Services of New England, and Perspecta Trust, among other committed donors.
City Year is dedicated to helping students and schools succeed. Diverse teams of City Year AmeriCorps members provide evidence-based student, classroom and school-wide supports to help students stay in school and on track to graduate from high school, ready for college and career success. A 2015 study shows that schools that partner with City Year were up to 2-3 times more likely to improve on math and English assessments. A proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network, City Year is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, local school districts, and private philanthropy from corporations, foundations and individuals. Learn more at www.cityyear.org, City Year’s Facebook page, on Twitter, and LinkedIn.
