Concord, NH – Recent college graduate Kraig Lamper put his education to good use helping students reach their full potential academically, socially and personally through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers in the Manchester School District.

Lamper is an AmeriCorps*VISTA member, sponsored by PlusTime NH. Thanks to a recent $25,000 operating grant to PlusTime NH from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, members like Kraig will continue to help offer safe, supported and inspiring after-school programs next year.

“Right now nearly one in four K-12 youth in New Hampshire takes care of themselves during out-of-school hours. For working parents, it is when they are most concerned about their child’s safety,” said Cynthia Billings, PlusTime NH president and CEO. “Youth who participate in after-school programs are much less likely to get involved in risky behavior.” PlusTime NH provides consulting, financial and human resources to 104 after-school programs serving over 25,000 youth in New Hampshire.

Through its sponsorship of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps*VISTA, PlusTime NH served more than 3,540 children and teens in 59 New Hampshire after-school programs last year.

“Quality after-school programs are essential for working families, especially in an economic recession,” said Deborah Schachter, senior program officer at the Charitable Foundation.

The PlusTime NH grant was one of 49 new awards totaling $844,065 to statewide and Concord-based organizations. Grants from the competitive spring grant application cycle, including regions, totaled 165 awards and nearly $2 million.

Grants were made from a mix of funding sources within the foundation, including unrestricted funds, donor advised funds, and field-of-interest funds. Grant recipients included organizations working in the arts, education, the environment, health care and social services. 

A selection of grants included: 

Child and Family Services of NH, $25,000 to increase prenatal home visits with young, at-risk women

NH Association of Conservation Commissions, $20,000 for new commissioner training and support

NH Legal Assistance, $25,000 for legal services for people living in poverty

NH Parent Information Resource Center, $25,000 for community volunteers working on early childhood literacy

UNH Cooperative Extension, $25,000 to support kids’ gardening programs for healthy food

A complete grant listing is available at www.nhcf.org.

The Charitable Foundation makes more than 3000 grants to nonprofits annually. Application deadlines for the next competitive cycle will be Tuesday, September 1, 2009 for requests up to $5,000 and Thursday, October 1, 2009 for requests over $5,000.

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation serves communities throughout New Hampshire, southeastern Maine, and eastern Vermont. The Charitable Foundation manages a growing collection of charitable funds created by individuals, families, and corporations, and awarded more than $34 million in grants and scholarships in 2008. The Charitable Foundation is non-partisan, frequently playing the role of convener and catalyst on a broad spectrum of issues. Based in Concord, the Charitable Foundation roots itself in the communities through seven regional advisory boards. More information is available at www.nhcf.org, or by calling 603-225-6641.