Strafford County Board of Realtors’ community service committee selects Waypoint as charitable partner

ROCHESTER — Strafford County Board of Realtors’ community service committee has chosen Waypoint as one of its charitable partners in 2022. Through a series of community events throughout the year, SCBR will support Waypoint’s array of services for Tri-City area families, with a specific focus on the Agency’s expansion of services to youth experiencing homelessness in Rochester.

“When the SCBR Community Service Committee met in January to discuss our choices for the charities that we would support for the 2022 year, it was immediately apparent, the correlation between what we do for a living and Waypoint’s overall goals,” says Virginia Frost, co-chair of the SCBR Community Service Committee. “We help people find homes for their families and Waypoint gives young people a place to call home and helps keep them safe.”

In New Hampshire, Waypoint is currently the sole provider of comprehensive services for youth who are housing insecure or enduring active homelessness. The agency puts boots on the ground through its Street Outreach program to serve as a lifeline to youth on the streets and offers a safe space and supportive services at its Youth Resource (drop-in) Centers. In addition, the agency offers Transitional Living and Rapid Rehousing programs, as well as Runaway and Homeless Youth prevention services within schools and the community.

In 2022, Waypoint will open a new Youth Resource Center in Rochester at 3 Wallace Street. There, youth will be able to access basic needs relief such as food, clothing, showers, and laundry facilities, and gain educational support, job and life skills training, housing, access to mental health and addiction treatment services, and more, to contribute to their long-term stability and self-sufficiency.

“We are honored and thrilled to be a partner with Strafford County Board of Realtors, and a beneficiary of their 2022 community events,” says Borja Alvarez de Toledo, president and CEO of Waypoint. “As we expand our services to young people experiencing homelessness in the Tri-City region, these public activities will help raise interest in our cause and provide a way for concerned citizens to support life-changing services for those who live here. We can’t thank SCBR enough for their philanthropic ingenuity.”

“We love seeing more support in Strafford County,” says Frost. “We are overjoyed to support Waypoint’s newest project in Rochester. They are a great partner for us this year!”

Strafford County Board of Realtors kicked off its partnership with Waypoint in the agency’s March 25 SleepOut event to raise awareness and funds toward ending youth homelessness in New Hampshire. Throughout the rest of the year, SCBR will produce a series of community events, including mini-golf, a cornhole competition, a bowling tournament, and more, and hopes to raise another $20,000 to benefit its 2022 charitable partners, Waypoint and Gather. (Dates and locations to be announced.)

For more information on the Strafford County Board of Realtors and their upcoming events, visit www.scbr.org. To learn more about Waypoint, visit www.waypointnh.org.

NH Center for NonProfits honors Seacoast Science Center’s Allan Waterfield

CONCORD — The NH Center for Nonprofits celebrated its 2022 Nonprofit Impact Award recipients at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord on April 20. Allan Waterfield, past board chair at Seacoast Science Center in Rye, was presented with a Board Impact Award for his nine year contribution to the Center.

Allan served on the Board of Directors at Seacoast Science Center since 2014, including three years as vice chair and four years as chair. Allan retired in 2013, returned to N.H., and was at the Seacoast Science Center to volunteer within 60 minutes of the closing on his home. Allan calls SSC his “happy place” bringing his wealth of knowledge in education, marine sciences, and leadership to the growing institution.

Allan served as an officer in the US Navy, taught at UNH for 17 years where he developed the scientific diving program. He served as interim Associate Director of the UNH Marine Program before becoming an academic dean at the University of Delaware. An authority on saturation diving, he led multiple projects for NOAA’s Manned Undersea Science and Technology office and developed courses in underwater research methods for the University of New Hampshire and the Shoals Marine Lab.

During his tenure at Seacoast Science Center, Allan worked tirelessly with staff, Board, and community to advance the institution toward the success it enjoys today. Under Allan’s leadership the Board implemented initiatives to improve its professionalism and diversity. Allan also guided the Board through development of an updated vision for Seacoast Science Center’s future, one that includes expanded educational programs for children and families, expanded services to the community, and a reinvestment in the visitor experience.

In 2022, Allan led the effort to extend and revise Seacoast Science Center’s agreement with its longest standing partner, NH Division of Parks and Recreation. Thanks to Allan, NH Parks, and the NH Executive Council, there is a pathway in place for SSC to be providing educational programming on behalf of NH Parks, in Odiorne through 2062. Allan is also an active Center docent, a teacher of marine science programs and the leader of countless Odiorne Point State Park history walks. His hands-on engagement with SSC has been exemplary and his leadership has been transformative; an inspiration for all of us.

Today, Seacoast Science Center hosts over 90,000 visitors annually (pre-Covid) for an extensive array of formal and informal environmental programs, camps, concerts, and other activities. During Covid when center operations had to be curtailed, Allan supported the pivot to enhanced virtual programming so that people in N.H. and beyond could continue to benefit from SSC programming. In the past two years more than 100,000 viewers have benefited from SSC’s enhanced digital resources. At the same time, Allan led the board through a series of exercises that helped to ensure that the Center would remain financially stable and, more importantly, that it would be positioned to quickly return to its normal multi-faceted range of operations.

Allan continues to volunteer at Seacoast Science Center to help advance its science-based, interactive education and recreational experiences in Odiorne Point State Park in partnership with New Hampshire State Parks. Allan and his wife Ruthe live in Greenland, N.H.

Partners Bank Donates $10,000 to the Sanford/Springvale YMCA Annual Giving Campaign

SANFORD, Maine—Partners Bank announced its recent donation of $10,000 to the Sanford/Springvale YMCA to go towards their Annual Giving Campaign. This donation will help to ensure that the Sanford/Springvale YMCA will continue to offer vital programs to support the community.

For over 80 years, the Sanford-Springvale YMCA has provided a place for children, families, and individuals to connect. Through the years, people of all ages have found a sense of belonging and built lifelong friendships. As we all face uncertainty, the YMCA has been here to help keep families strong, healthy, and smiling ... even behind masks!

“It is with great pleasure that we make this donation to help the YMCA in their mission,” said Partners Bank President & CEO Blaine Boudreau. “We support their commitment to strengthen individuals and communities with opportunities to improve health and well being, support young people, and help build a stronger community.”

For more information on Sanford/Springvale YMCA and the programs they provide, go to sanfordymca.org.

The Gove Group hosts its Annual Spring Home Hunt

STRATHAM — The Gove Group Real Estate, LLC, is hosting its annual Spring Home Hunt this weekend: Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1. This year, The Gove Group is putting a twist on Spring Home Hunt with a Home and Food Tour being held on Saturday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Join the Home and Food Tour and visit staged model homes, new communities and premier amenities while sampling popular local food items from restaurants in the area. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., this is your exclusive opportunity to view a selection of the Seacoast’s premier communities and homes!

Select existing homes will also be on display Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1! Explore homes for sale in Hampton Falls and Manchester, N.H., and Kittery, Maine.

Anyone who visits at least three Spring Home Hunt open houses will be eligible to win a $250 gift card bundle to local restaurants in the town of their choosing! For more information and to view the Tour’s featured properties visit SpringHomeHunt.com.

For more information regarding The Gove Group and their new home communities around the Seacoast and Southern Maine, contact The Gove Group Real Estate at 603-778-6400 or visit TheGoveGroup.com.

NeighborWorks Southern New Hampshire receives $6,000 donation from MVSB

PORTSMOUTH — Meredith Village Savings Bank once again supports NeighborWorks Southern New Hampshire with a $6,000 donation. The funds will be used to support the organization’s homeownership education and counseling services.

“We appreciate this renewed contribution from MVSB in support of HOMEteam,” said Paul McLaughlin, HomeOwnership Director. “Support from partners like MVSB ensures financial resources needed to deliver our programs and services - including seminar delivery, one-on-one counseling, client materials, and technology support – all with the goal of helping local individuals and families make confident and informed decisions.”

“Education and support from the HOMEteam’s programming gives first time home buyers and those looking to transition from renting a leg up in the home buying process, and their support has been especially critical in the current market with limited affordable and fast-moving inventory,” said Denise Hubbard, MVSB Mortgage Loan Program Specialist, NMLS #47515. “I have had the pleasure collaborating with NeighborWorks to support local home buyers for many years and we are truly proud to support the work that they do.”

NeighborWorks Southern New Hampshire has helped thousands of people break the cycle of poverty and improve their financial stability through either home ownership or providing quality affordable rental housing. The HOMEteam program is led by NeighborWorks Southern New Hampshire and includes Lakes Region Community Developers and CATCH Neighborhood Housing Services as collaborators. HOMEteam helps to ensure that first-time homebuyers purchase a home in strong position, one that they are able to maintain and sustain. Go to nwsnh.org to learn more about the program.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Spring Home Hunt, charitable donations and recognition: Seacoast business news