Dear Friends of MUW,
We have enjoyed learning all about MUW and its important programs this year and we are proud to advocate for MUW’s work. We wanted to make sure you knew about an exciting campaign coming up in May to benefit MUW’s Impact Monadnock initiative.
Join us for the Start Small, Think Big campaign from May 10 through June 11. All gifts given on The Local Crowd’s crowdfunding platform during this time will benefit Monadnock United Way’s signature early childhood program Impact Monadnock (IM) which seeks to improve outcomes for all children in the Monadnock Region from birth to age eight and their families.
Poverty, adverse experiences, and limited access to quality child care negatively affect a child’s ability to grow to his or her fullest potential. Unfortunately, children in the Monadnock Region are affected by these factors more than most children in the state:
- Nearly 15% of children in Cheshire County were living in poverty in 2016, the second highest level in the state
- Cheshire County has the third highest rate of child abuse and neglect in NH
- The Monadnock Region has funding for just 16% of children eligible for Head Start, which serves children living at or below the poverty line
- Many working families who do not qualify for state assistance experience challenges paying for quality child care
Your gift to the Start Small, Think Big campaign will support IM programs that help to address these issues:
- Monadnock Alliance for Families supports families with children prenatal to age five, ensuring that families learn to appropriately care for children and have the supports they need
- Tuition Assistance increases access to high-quality child care programs for children from families that do not qualify for Head Start or state assistance but struggle to afford care
- Impact Monadnock Business Ambassadors (IMBA) promotes child- and family-friendly practices in the workplace
- The Pyramid Model is an evidence-based national program that gives early childhood teachers the tools needed to identify, address, and resolve behavioral problems before they escalate to an unacceptable level
The most important investment we can make—focusing on the welfare of children from birth to age eight—creates a strong foundation for their future health and happiness. And this in turn leads to more stability and prosperity for the communities where they live.
Our goal is to raise a total of $20,000. Your gifts will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000 due to the generosity of Bridget and Peter Hansel, Kristen and Dick Hill, Jeff Miller and Carol MacKinnon, Katie Schwerin and Bill Whyte, and Barbara and Tony Tremblay.
This is our last week as Better Together General Campaign Co-Chairs. It has been an honor and privilege to serve MUW and our community. Stay tuned for next week’s President’s Letter for the “Big Reveal”—the announcement of the 2021 campaign theme, goal, and General Campaign Co-Chairs!
Sincerely,
Laura Gingras, Ted McGreer, Alan Stroshine
Better Together, General Campaign Co-Chairs
