The Upper Room honored for exemplary support of families

The Upper Room was honored with a $15,000 check Monday night at special ceremony in Concord underwritten by Sovereign Bank and attended by 150 guests.

The Derry-based family resource center was selected as the 2008 recipient of the Smith Award for Excellence in Service to Families. A total of 16 organizations were considered for the honor this year.

The Smith Award is given by the New Hampshire Children’s Trust Fund to an exemplary nonprofit family support agency demonstrating exceptional practices and standards. It can be used for any purpose agency deems necessary. Lou and Lutza Smith, the founders of Rockingham Park, were New Hampshire philanthropists and had a special interest in children and families. 

“This was the most competitive year we've ever had, with the most number of applications from very fine organizations” said Karen Carpenter, executive director of the NH Children’s Trust Fund.  “The Upper Room truly stands out. Both its staff and board are strategic and thoughtful about how they strengthen families.”

The award was presented to Upper Room Executive Director Kimberly Bavaro by Leonard Wilson, executive vice president of Sovereign Bank.

“We are thrilled by this recognition,” said Bavaro. “We have a dream team working here. Everyone, including our families, does things for the right reason and the results just seem to follow.”

The Upper Room is in its twenty-second year of operation providing prevention and early intervention services to children youth and families in Southern New Hampshire.  Its goal is to make a difference in the lives of families. In 2007 it provided parent education programs and support services to more than 8, 800 people. 

Its staff includes New Hampshire certified prevention specialists, Masters degree level educators and experienced child care providers. The Smith Award judging panel was impressed with the fact that, over the last five years, the agency increased its services to individuals by 41% with only a 15% increase in its operating budget. 

Its programs get results.

• 84% of parents enrolled in parent education report improved family communication.
• 87% of youth taking the “Challenge Course” increased their factual knowledge of the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
• 100% of youth in the agency’s juvenile justice diversion program have stayed out of trouble with the law.