The New Hampshire Relief for Ukraine fundraising effort has reached its first milestone, surpassing 25% of the $1 million goal with more than $293,000 raised thanks to the generosity of more than 1,800 donors.
The Common Man family of restaurants and their owner Alex Ray, along with former New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch, WMUR-TV, iHeart Media, Granite United Way and the Rotary Clubs of both Plymouth, NH and Warsaw, Poland joined forces in a partnership and enhanced PSA campaign to help raise money for much-needed humanitarian aid and resources for people living in war-torn Ukraine and for refugees who fled to safety in Poland.
Donations made to the fund are already supporting critical programs such as a Bloodmobile to serve field hospitals in Ukraine, a day care and trauma counseling center for Ukrainian refugee children in Poland, the purchase and distribution of more than 100 tons of food in Ukraine, and an orphanage/safe housing for children in Ukraine. The Common Man Family will match every donation, dollar-for-dollar, up to $1 million raised. The funds are distributed by Rotary International’s District #2331 in Poland for secure and reliable control that ensures funds go to their intended purposes.
“These are life-saving funds that our generous donors are contributing,” said Common Man owner and founder Alex Ray. “We receive weekly reports, photos and videos about the thousands of pounds of food and critical supplies that are being delivered by Rotary members in Ukraine and Poland thanks to donations made to NH Relief for Ukraine. Please contribute if you can.”
A member of the Plymouth, NH Rotary Club, Ray and friends spent a week meeting and traveling with Rotarians in Warsaw and Zamosc, Poland. They crossed the border into Ukraine and were met by Ukrainian Rotarians as they delivered food supplies to an orphanage and visited refugee centers. The group visited a convention center that was converted into a shelter, a Soviet-era military barracks converted into a refugee center, a proposed children’s day care and trauma counseling center, and a warehouse coordinating emergency food deliveries into eastern Ukraine. The team also crossed the border into Lviv, Ukraine to deliver food supplies. Ray was able to provide small but immediate assistance on-site for the food program and for the children’s trauma center thanks to donations made thus far.
“Everywhere I go, from Main Street in Concord to Elm Street in Manchester, New Hampshire residents ask me how they can help,” said former New Hampshire Governor John Lynch. “Our hearts are collectively broken for the people of Ukraine. Donating to this humanitarian relief effort ensures that funds will go directly to Ukrainian refugees and those still living in Ukraine.”
As the war escalates in Ukraine, this important fundraiser continues. The New Hampshire Fisher Cats baseball team has set a benefit night at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester for Wednesday, Aug. 3 at 7:05 p.m. The team is donating 50% of all individual ticket sales to the NH Relief for Ukraine Fund and The Common Man will match them.
“We are proud to partner with The Common Man to help support the NH Relief for Ukraine Fund,” said Fisher Cats President Mike Ramshaw. “The money we raise at our game on August 3 at Delta Dental Stadium will directly benefit the people of Ukraine who are suffering during this difficult time.”
Among the activities planned during the game are a 50/50 raffle, music, raffle prizes awarded every inning, and the chance to send Ray plunging into the chilly water of a dunk tank. Individual tickets can be purchased at www.nhfishercats.com. Group and corporate ticket sales can also benefit the fund by contacting Nate Newcombe at the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at nnewcombe@nhfishercats.com and mentioning NH Relief for Ukraine.
Donations to NH Relief for Ukraine can be made online at www.graniteuw.org, www.thecman.com, or by texting NH4UKRAINE to 41444. The Common Man has partnered with Granite United Way as fiscal agent for the fund, providing a convenient way for supporters to make tax-deductible donations online via credit card or by mailing a check. Checks made out to Granite United Way with NH Relief for Ukraine in the memo line can be mailed to: Granite United Way, 22 Concord St., Manchester, NH 03101.
“To date, this has really been a people’s campaign,” said Patrick Tufts, President and CEO of Granite United Way. “Donations have come from individuals from all corners of New Hampshire, many with touching notes about how important it is to support the people of Ukraine.”
To learn more about the NH Relief for Ukraine Fund, visit www.graniteuw.org or www.thecman.com.
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