Concord - The Entrepreneurs Foundation of New Hampshire (EFNH), an initiative of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, presented grant awards to ABI Innovation Hub and the New Hampshire Food Bank through their AMP NH grant program at an event held in Manchester at Dyn, Inc. Each organization received $5,000 and will gain access to the broad expertise and intellectual capital of EFNH members, who include representatives from the software, web-based, food production, energy, advanced materials and venture capital companies.

Established this year, the AMP NH grant program was created to support innovative ideas to solve pressing problems facing New Hampshire. More than 25 applications were submitted and six finalists were selected. Each of the six finalists was given three minutes to pitch their idea to EFNH members who voted real time on who should receive the two $5,000 awards. In addition to ABI Innovation Hub and the New Hampshire Food Bank, the finalists included: the Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire, the Children's Alliance of New Hampshire, Granite State Independent Living, and More Than Wheels.

ABI Innovation Hub, of Manchester, will use their award to create a website that will serve as a virtual hub to help entrepreneurs connect with the resources, organizations, and events that will help them grow their businesses. The New Hampshire Food Bank, of Manchester, will use their grant to turn their professional kitchen facility into a revenue-producing, manufacturing and processing center. The Food Bank plans to partner with the N.H. Department of Corrections to train inmates in food manufacturing and mass production principles, providing inmates with valuable job skills.

EFNH strives to tap into the energy and resources of entrepreneurs, making philanthropy part of the DNA of doing business in New Hampshire. EFNH is designed to involve entrepreneurs, company management, employees, and investors in philanthropy as a way to support New Hampshire's quality of life and the health of our communities for the long term, ensuring that our state remains a great place to live, work and innovate. To learn more about EFNH, please visit www.efnewhampshire.com or contact Shari Landry, vice president of philanthropy, at 603-225-6641 ext.1265 or sl@nhcf.org.

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation manages a growing collection of charitable funds created by individuals, families and businesses, and awards approximately $30 million annually in grants and scholarships. It serves communities throughout New Hampshire, southeastern Maine and eastern Vermont. The Foundation is nonpartisan, frequently playing the role of convener and catalyst on a broad spectrum of issues. Based in Concord, the Foundation roots itself in the communities through regional advisory boards. More information is available at www.nhcf.org or 603-225-6641.