BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SOUHEGAN VALLEY BEGINS CONSTRUCTION

MILFORD, NH –The Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley has begun construction to expand its facility with a new gym and teen center, and recently installed a ceremonial beam signed by youth members, staff, and board members. This beam will be visible even after the gym is completed, leaving a lasting legacy honoring the youth members the club serves today, and the staff and volunteers who are helping expand the Club to serve more youth members in the future.

“It was exciting having some of our Boys & Girls Club alums back to sign the beam,” stated Susan Taylor, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley. “Many of these alums were members 11 years ago when we moved into our current facility, and never thought our dream of a gym would become a reality. Now their names are next to our Early Education members who will grow up using the new gym and teen center.”

A topping-off ceremony was held on May 23^rd to raise the ceremonial beam in place with a tree and American flag. John Siemienowicz, building committee chair and Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley board member, told those gathered about the significance of tree. “The tree is associated with the raising of a building's highest beam,” stated Siemienowiz. “This tree symbolizes the celebration of the birth of a new structure and offers good luck to future occupants. We expect that this building will be life-changing for our youth and our community.”

The Boys & Girls Club continues to fundraise to meet its $3 million capital campaign goal. Currently an anonymous donor is matching all donations through June 30^th or up to $100,000. “We have started our construction because we are confident the community will step up and support our fundraising efforts,” stated Taylor. “We need the support from all members of the community to make sure this matching opportunity is fully realized and ensure we reach our fundraising goals.” A successful end to the capital campaign will mean that the Club will have the funds needed to fully execute the expansion and facility renovations to increase program impact and security.

For more information about the planned expansion and how you can make a donation visit www.svbgc.org. To learn more about the expansion email Susan Taylor, Executive Director, at staylor@svbgc.org.

For over 20 years, the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley (the Club) has been in the forefront of youth development in our community with a particular focus on providing opportunities for young people from disadvantaged economic, social, and family circumstances. Its mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to be great today and reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens tomorrow.  

Photo Credit: Kevin Salemi

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF SOUHEGAN VALLEY RECEIVES $420,000 IN GRANTS FOR EXPANSION

MILFORD, NH - The Boys and Girls Club of Souhegan Valley has been awarded $420,000 from twelve foundations to support its capital campaign to build a new gym and teen center to target at-risk children.  

Grants have been made from following foundations: the Bean Foundation, Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation, Cogswell Benevolent Trust, Demoulas Foundation, Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, Kaley Foundation, Arthur L. Keyes Memorial Trust, Milford Rotary Foundation, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation -Nashua Region, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation - Stuart Draper Fund, and the Putnam Foundation.

With support from individuals, businesses and foundations, the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley has raised over $2.3 million, more than three quarters of its $3 million capital campaign goal to support the expansion of its Milford, NH facility. The purpose of the expansion is to increase the Club’s capacity to serve more young people by adding a gymnasium and new teen center to its facility.  The Club will also redesign existing program space to increase program impact and improve security.  

John Morison, Chair of Hitchiner Manufacturing and Capital Campaign Chair, asked for the community’s support to reach the remaining $700,000 needed to end the campaign successfully. “A successful end to the capital campaign will mean that the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley will have the funds needed to fully execute the expansion and renovations,” Morison said. “We are excited to be at this point in the campaign.  We now ask the community to join those companies, foundations and individuals that got us to this point, and move us to the final goal.” 

In support fundraising efforts, the Boys & Girls Club recently announced an anonymous donor who will match donations up to $100,000 or through June 30th. For more information about the planned expansion and capital campaign, visit www.svbgc.org/buildingforthefuture.  

About the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley: For over 20 years, the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley (the Club) has been in the forefront of youth development in our community with a particular focus on providing opportunities for young people from disadvantaged economic, social, and family circumstances. Its mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to be great today and reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens tomorrow. 

ANONYMOUS DONOR TO MATCH CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SOUHEGAN VALLEY DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR UP TO $100,000

MILFORD, NH –An anonymous donor has taken the lead to ensure the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley (the Club) reaches its $3 million capital campaign goal by offering to match donations through the end of June or up to $100,000.

“Over the past year, the Boys & Girls Club has raised over $2.3 million, or 75% of its $3 million capital campaign goal to support the expansion of its Milford, NH facility,” stated Susan Taylor, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley. “As we work to conclude our fundraising campaign we need help from everyone in the community; this generous offer to match donations is a great boost to our optimism and confidence about our ability to successfully complete this campaign in a timely fashion”.

Eleven years ago the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley built its current facility around the former home of the American Stage Festival. Today the Club serves over 850 young people from Amherst, Milford, Mont Vernon, and other Souhegan Valley communities each year, offering before school, after school, vacation time and performing arts programs. As a result of the expansion and renovations, the Club’s program offerings will increase in quantity and quality. The new gym will provide the space needed to provide more sports and recreational activities for youth of all ages. The Teen Center, with a separate entrance and more contained space, will offer high school aged members a place to gather for social and recreational activities, leadership opportunities, and community involvement. Renovations to the current facility will improve access to academic, STEM-based programs, and performing arts programs, as well as increase building security.

For more information about the planned expansion and how you can support the capital campaign, visit www.svbgc.org/BuildingfortheFuture or email Susan Taylor, Executive Director, at staylor@svbgc.org.