Concord - Keryn Bernard-Kriegl of Dover was appointed Executive Director of the New Hampshire Children’s Trust Fund (NHCTF). Bernard-Kriegl has over 20 years experience working on behalf of children and families in New Hampshire. Most recently she was the program director at Families First Health and Support Center in Portsmouth, a NHCTF partner in child abuse prevention.
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Concord – The New Hampshire Women's Alliance (NHWA) and the NH Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), both located in Concord, NH, is hosting the first annual Girls Day at the Statehouse on April 30th, 2009.  This educational event will bring together over 50 girls from programs throughout New Hampshire with legislators, to inspire future female leaders. Governor Lynch has proclaimed the day “Girls Day at the Statehouse” and will read the proclamation to the girls.
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Concord - Lewis M. Feldstein announced on Wednesday April 22nd that he will retire as president of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation in June 2010. Feldstein, 67, has held the position since 1986. The Board of Directors has appointed a search committee to identify his successor.

Under Feldstein’s leadership, the Charitable Foundation has become the largest funder of nonprofit organizations in northern New England, with assets growing from $25 million in 1986 to $375 million at the end of 2008. Feldstein has also positioned the foundation as a significant catalyst in public policy, community building, civic engagement, and charitable giving.
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Manchester, N.H. - Citizens Bank New Hampshire and WMUR-TV have named the Laconia Area Community Land Trust as their 2009 second quarter Champion in Action® in the area of housing. As part of the award, the organization will receive a $25,000 grant, media coverage, and extensive promotional and volunteer support for its dedication to assisting low- and moderate-income families in the Lakes Region achieve economic self-sufficiency through the development of permanently affordable housing opportunities.
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The Spirit of New Hampshire awards program recognizes outstanding contributions to volunteerism and expands on the many local and regional volunteer recognition events that occur throughout New Hampshire each year. The program provides a timely “snapshot” of the many different ways citizens and organizations from all regions of the state contribute to life in New Hampshire.

Nominations for Spirit of New Hampshire awards are accepted year-round in two broad categories:  Volunteer Service Awards and Volunteer Program Champion Awards.  Just visit the Volunteer NH! website for detailed guidelines and nomination forms.  Volunteer Service Nominations in the Youth, Adult and Senior categories are also eligible for a New Hampshire Volunteer of the Month Award.
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New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility is pleased to announce that Kate Luczko has joined the organization as Program Director. In her new role, Kate will be responsible for all aspects of planning and delivery of NHBSR programs and services. "We are truly excited to have someone with Kate's talents and enthusiasm to help lead NHBSR in the next phase of its development," said NHBSR Executive Director, Molly Hodgson Smith.

Concord, NH – Four community partnerships were selected to receive the first ever Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Community Grant Program awards. Each partnership will implement three-year HEAL projects aimed at decreasing obesity and improving the health and quality of life of the residents they serve.

The HEAL projects will serve a total of 47 New Hampshire cities and towns. The Caring Community Network of Twin Rivers' (CCNTR) Healthy Heart of Life, Make the Move! Project represents Franklin and 12 surrounding towns. The HEAL for Cheshire County Healthiest Community Initiative represents Keene and 22 surrounding towns. The Lakes Region Physical Activity and Nutrition Coalition represents Laconia and 8 surrounding towns. Upper Valley HEAL represents Lebanon and 5 surrounding towns.
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The National Endowment for the Arts has announced $19.8 million in one-time grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) to the state arts agencies and regional arts organizations to support the arts sector of the economy.  In our region, these grants go to NH State Council on the Arts and New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA). Visit their websites for more details.
NH State Council on the Arts: www.nh.gov/nharts/recovery/nhrecovery_arra_nhscaguidelines.html   
NEFA: www.nefa.org/grantprog/recovery.html
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Bedford, NH - Veronica Van Loan has joined the board of the Animal Rescue League. The Bedford woman is a researcher for the New Hampshire Legislature. The league actively serves the towns of Amherst, Auburn, Bedford, Brookline, Candia, Dunbarton, Francestown, Goffstown, Hollis, Hooksett, Litchfield, Londonderry, Lyndeborough, Manchester, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, New Boston, Peterborough, Wilton and Windham.

Keene, NH – Monadnock Family Services has received $56,275 as a one-year grant from the Jessie B. Cox Charitable Lead Trust. The funds will be used to support the expansion of MFS’s “In SHAPE” program to mental health centers throughout New England.
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Concord, NH – Imagine a way for students to talk with people who have experienced first hand the topics that they are researching, such as the Civil Rights movement or World War II.  Denise Dunlap, Grade 5 Teacher, Inter-Lakes School District, did just that. Now, for her idea, she is the recipient of the 2009 Christa McAuliffe Sabbatical, awarded by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. Ms. Dunlap received the award for her proposed project 'Connecting the Generations,' to help New Hampshire elementary and high school students connect with senior citizens in their own communities as well as from around the country.
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Avis Goodwin Community Health Center (AGCHC), a well-known nonprofit organization with healthcare sites in Dover and Rochester was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation to help fund the “Smiles for Strafford County” dental program.
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Manchester, N.H. – Citizens Bank recognized Bill Marcello, chief executive officer of Southwestern Community Services, and Mary Ellen Jackson, executive director of the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, with “Good Citizens” awards at the bank’s 13th annual community relations celebration held Tuesday at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord. The bank presented the “Good Citizens” Awards to Marcello and Jackson for their leadership, vision, and commitment to New Hampshire communities.
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Manchester, N.H. – Citizens Bank New Hampshire and WMUR-TV have announced that 2009 Champions in Action® applications for the third and fourth quarters are available for New Hampshire nonprofits in the areas of financial literacy, and hunger.

Financial literacy is the focus for the third quarter of 2009 and a nonprofit organization that provides support in this area will be recognized beginning in July. A nonprofit organization focused on hunger will be chosen for the fourth quarter of 2009 and will be announced in October. The application deadline for both categories is Friday, April 24, 2009 at 5 p.m.
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