May 28, 2019
Granite United Way Announce Community Investments ~ Delivering Impact Across the Southern Region
Southern Region volunteers announce funding for programs and services
(Manchester, New Hampshire) – 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.
Local volunteers on Granite United Way’s Community Impact Committee dedicated the last few months to evaluating program proposals and determining their investment decisions for the Southern Region. Together the volunteer Board of Directors and the Southern Region Community Impact Committee announced that the 2018 Campaign would deliver over $4.5 million in support during 2019 to the Greater Manchester/Salem/Derry area.
“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 and CEO 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.”
“These investments leverage the incredible impact made by our local and statewide initiatives, including 2-1-1 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.
Southern Region volunteers focused on strengthening the 18 towns it serves with investments in programs that support mental health, substance misuse prevention, basic needs and housing. Innovative collaborations like the Youth Enrichment Partnership include over a dozen nonprofits within the region, benefiting thousands of young people each year.
Additionally, over 1,200 households in the Southern Region utilized free tax preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, bringing nearly $1.4 Million in federal tax refunds to the community. The team at 2-1-1 NH answered nearly 9,000 calls from the Southern Region, connecting individuals to critical referrals to social services, including needs related to homelessness, legal supports, and utility assistance. The South Central Public Health Network, one of three public health networks statewide that are initiatives of Granite United Way, is invested in improving health conditions including distributing nearly 300 Narcan kits across the region.
Local volunteers lead the investment process.
“The 2019 Community Impact Grant Review process involved working with many volunteers from our local communities dedicated to helping United Way’s efforts to impact the Education, Financial Stability and Health of the people in our communities. 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.
Organizations across the region partner with Granite United Way to offer critical services and programs.
“We are thrilled to be a partner with Granite United Way. The support of the community is so important in helping make a difference in the lives of children across this region. With continued support of GUW we can provide services to our youngest community members.” said Kimberly McKenney, Director Easter Seals Child Development and Family Resource Center.
Funded programs will receive notification this week.
For more information about Granite United Way, visit www.graniteuw.org.
Granite United Way
Granite United Way is an experienced and trusted organization dedicated to leveraging the resources of investors and volunteers to create lasting change by addressing the underlying causes of our community’s most pressing needs. Granite United Way works with over 1,000 companies, 25,000 investors and thousands of volunteers every year to ensure access to program and services that help individuals and families learn, earn and be healthy. Granite United Way is highly rated by the nation’s most recognized experts on nonprofits, GuideStar and Charity Navigator.
Granite United Way serves the Southern (Manchester/Derry/Salem), Merrimack County, North Country, Central NH, Northern and Upper Valley Regions of NH and VT as well as Windsor County, VT. For more information, visit www.graniteuw.org.
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