Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation's Nashua Region announced grants of $118,682 to local nonprofit organizations through its most recent competitive application grant program.  The grants were awarded to 14 nonprofit organizations throughout the Region's service area of 13 Nashua-area communities. 

Programs receiving grants included housing, youth development, services for the elderly and disabled, local culture and heritage preservation, and arts organizations.  "As always, we received a number of excellent proposals to support agencies providing a wide range of important services to the Nashua region" said Peter Tamposi, the chair of the Nashua Region's Advisory Board. "Unfortunately we were unable to fund all the requests, but we are proud to be supporting organizations doing such fantastic work in the Greater Nashua area."

A $15,000 grant to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua will be used to implement a program of targeted outreach and programming to divert youth from joining gangs or becoming involved in gang-like criminal activities.  Boys and Girls Club staff will collaborate with local police, juvenile justice and other youth serving agencies to identify youth at risk and involve them in the safe, positive youth development programs offered at the Club both after school and during the summer. Staff will provide mentoring and intensive, targeted services to these youth with the goal of supporting both their academic and personal development. 

Grant awards were made to the following organizations and programs:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Nashua was awarded $5,000 to expand the Mentoring Children of Prisoners program, a program to provide one-on-one, community based mentoring of children of incarcerated parents.

The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua received $15,000 to implement a program of targeted outreach and programming to divert youth from joining gangs or becoming involved in gang-like criminal activities.

City Year New Hampshire received $10,000 to begin the implementation of the Young Heroes program for middle school students in Nashua.

Community Music School received $10,000 to fund additional administrative staff time to support the school's recent growth.

Greater Nashua Interfaith Hospitality Network was awarded $14,040 to hire part time administrative staff to increase the level of services offered to homeless families.

Humane Society of Grater Nashua received $5,000 to develop a strategic plan to guide organizational development over the next three to five years.

Hunt Memorial Building received$5,000 to support a range of heritage and children's programs.

Marguerite's Place received$11,460 to update the agency's current strategic plan and provide training to staff and Board to meet the changing needs of the organization.

Mason Historical Society was awarded $5,000to complete and dedicate a bronze statue of Bode, an enslaved African and the first resident of Mason.

MY TURN received$10,000to support its program of workforce development for out-of-school youth in Nashua.

The Nashua Center for the Multiply Handicapped received $15,000 for support of staff training and client transportation services for the elderly and disabled receiving services from the agency's CLASSIC In Home Care program.

Nashua Police Athletic League received$5,000 for general operating support for its afterschool academic and enrichment programs for youth at the Ash Street Youth Safe Haven.

Saint Joseph Community Services received$3,182to replace thermal bags for the Meals on Wheels program.

Souhegan Valley Boys and Girls Club was awarded$5,000 to provide youth theater arts programs in the Souhegan Valley of southern NH.

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation has been working to improve the quality of life in our communities since 1962.  It builds and manages a collection of funds, totaling nearly than $490 million, created by individuals, families and corporations for charitable purposes. In 2007, the Foundation awarded more than $33 million in grants to nonprofits and scholarship funds to students. In the past five years alone, the Foundation has granted a total of more than $125 million. Based in Concord, the Foundation roots itself in communities across the state through seven regions including Lakes, Manchester, Monadnock, Nashua, North Country, Piscataqua and Upper Valley.  For more information about the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, visit www.nhcf.org or call (603) 225-6641.