Police Departments Pump Gas to Raise Money for Special Olympics

(photo courtesy of specialolympics.org)

MANCHESTER -

Circle K, Irving Oil, and Special Olympics are teaming up to support more than 2,600 athletes in New Hampshire through the 2012 Fueling Dreams promotion. The annual fundraiser started on July 9 and will run through August 5 at Circle K stores and Irving dealer locations across the state. Throughout the three-week promotion, Circle K stores will sell window clings to their customers as a way to raise money for Special Olympics.

“Our continued partnership with Circle K and Irving, in addition to providing great awareness of our Movement, allows Special Olympics New Hampshire to continue to live out our mission through the dollars raised from their support,” said Mary Conroy, Special Olympics New Hampshire president.

In addition to the sale of window clings, local law enforcement officers will partner with local Special Olympics Programs and Circle K and Irving employees on Saturday, July 28 for “To Serve and Protect Day.” This day-long event partners law enforcement officers with Special Olympics athletes who pump gas and wash windows for donations at locations around the state.

The three-week promotion is the largest U.S. fundraiser for Circle K and Irving. The partnership with Special Olympics began in 1999 to benefit the Law Enforcement Torch Run, the largest fundraiser worldwide for Special Olympics. Since then, the event has grown throughout New England and has raised more than $2 million which supports over 28,000 Special Olympics athletes in New England each year.

Last year this partnership raised $297,632 for Special Olympics programs in New England with $131,343 of that raised in New Hampshire. The support of Circle K and Irving during this promotion and throughout the year helps Special Olympics New Hampshire provide year-round sport training and competition in twenty sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. In addition to sports programs Special Olympics New Hampshire also provides leadership training to their athletes, works with partners like the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association to help provide more inclusive school environments for all high school students, and every year Special Olympics New Hampshire offers free health screenings for their athletes at their annual Summer Games in Durham.

“Throughout the year Special Olympics New Hampshire unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sport and because of these two great corporate partners we are able to hold more than 20 competitions a year for 2,669 Special Olympics athletes in our state, said Conroy.

Special Olympics New Hampshire is an accredited program of Special Olympics International (SOI) and is part of an international global movement that changes lives by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect worldwide. It was founded in 1970 with the first State Summer Games at Phillips Exeter Academy.

Red Sox Join Pease Greeters

(image courtesy of peasegreeters.org)

PORTSMOUTH -

The Boston Red Sox and the Red Sox Foundation announced that July is “Acts of Kindness” month, when the team and its philanthropic arm will embark on a month-long series of charitable initiatives as part of the “100 Acts of Kindness.” The program recognizes and supports the work of charitable organizations throughout New England during Fenway Park’s 100th anniversary season. Through volunteer service and donations, the two organizations will look to complete a total of 26 acts by the end of the month.

On Monday July 30, Red Sox staff members will be at Pease International Airport in Portsmouth at 11 a.m. to help support the Pease Greeters,  a Portsmouth-based organization who welcomes the men and women of our military that pass through Pease on their way to or from the War on Terrorism. Pease Greeters have been meeting flights from May, 2005.

Red Sox Staff have collected and will distribute calling cards for the troops and toys for their children.

Harbor Homes Awarded $1 Million Grant to Combat Homelessness among Veterans

NASHUA –

Harbor Homes in Nashua has been awarded a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S Department of Labor as part of the Supportive Services for Veterans Families Program, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) announced. The funding will allow Harbor Homes to provide employment, housing and VA benefits assistance to approximately 300 New Hampshire veterans and their families. Shaheen wrote a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki this past February in support of Harbor Homes’ grant application.


“Harbor Homes has a 32-year history of excellent service to New Hampshire’s homeless veterans, helping them find good jobs, fight substance abuse and get back on their feet,” said Shaheen. “Their wide presence in the state and strong connections to veterans service providers make Harbor Homes a terrific recipient for this grant. The organization has made an impact on the lives of so many Granite State veterans and I’m glad that they will have the opportunity to help so many more.”

“Harbor Homes is thrilled for all of the veteran families in NH who will benefit from this much-needed initiative,” said Peter Kelleher, CEO of Harbor Homes, Inc. “Many veterans have unique challenges to overcome as a result of hardships experienced during their military service that make it more difficult to reintegrate into New Hampshire’s communities without targeted interventions and supportive services. The Supportive Service for Veteran Families program will prevent or end homelessness amongst up to 300 low-income veteran households, and help the state achieve its goal to be the first state in the country to effectively end veteran homelessness.”

In 2004, Harbor Homes launched the Veterans First initiative to provide housing and support services to homeless New Hampshire veterans, and 175 households have since transitioned from this program into independent living.  Harbor Homes has also worked with the VA to help 168 veterans obtain employment through the Homeless Veterans Reintegration program.

According to the Government Accountability Office, between 423 and 600 homeless veteran households are located in New Hampshire and an additional 7,175 such households in our state are at risk of homelessness.  New Hampshire also has the third highest percentage in the nation of low-income veteran renter households with moderate to severe housing affordability problems.