Volunteers at Granite United Way know that the investment decisions stemming from the organization’s annual campaign are truly a community effort. Together, with the volunteer board of directors and community impact committees, they announced that more than $1.88 million in support will be delivered to the Merrimack County community during 2015.
Thirty-five volunteers from the area dedicated 3,200 hours on review teams over the past few months to ensure that every dollar raised in this region was spent as wisely as possible. Utilizing information culled from community conversations held during the past year and the strategic plan adopted by Granite United Way’s Board of Directors, they thoughtfully reviewed every proposal. Funded programs and initiatives focused on three main areas: education, income and health. There were two generous bequests donated to the region this year and volunteers chose to dedicate those funds to a specialized Request for Proposal that will come out later this year.
“We had a record breaking campaign in Merrimack County this year and our local volunteers are excited to work together in new ways that are proactively addressing critical needs before they become crisis situations,” said Patrick Tufts, president and CEO of Granite United Way. “We’re into our second year of our strategic plan at Granite United Way and our volunteers are embracing the opportunity to address needs in new ways. We’re building on the foundation that United Ways were created on and we’ve partnered with some of the strongest organizations to achieve even more.”
“The Boys & Girls Club are proud of the partnership we have with Granite United Way. We know how important it is to look at things in new ways and work collaboratively to make sure that at-risk youth in our communities have access to the critical programs they need,” said Chris Emond, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Concord.
Another group that embraces the collaborative spirit is the Penacook Community Center.
“Penacook Community Center directly impacts critical areas of need in the Merrimack County community. We amplify educational impact in our community by making investments in early childhood education and providing additional resources that help improve academic support systems for people of all ages. Together, Granite United Way and Penacook Community Center are removing barriers to participation and creating educational opportunities that change lives,” said Deb Cuddahy, executive director of Penacook Community Center.
For more information about Granite United Way, visit graniteuw.org.
