North Country Communities Receive Nearly $300K

Colebrook, one of the North Country communities benefiting from the NH Charitable Foundation's donation. Photo by Brian Whitaker/Flickr Creative Commons

The NH Charitable Foundation in Concord granted $386,352 to 19 organizations in NH, Vermont and Canada through its Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund, with 12 NH organizations receiving $274,222.

Established in 2006, the Tillotson Fund is one of the largest permanent rural philanthropies in the country, distributing nearly $3 million in grants annually to support projects that focus on community revitalization. Grants are awarded to municipal, educational and nonprofit organizations throughout northern NH and bordering communities in Vermont and southern Quebec.

The 12 grants made to NH organizations are:

Area churches working together in Colebrook received a three-year, $45,000 grant to support general operations, including the Colebrook Food Pantry.

Coös County Family Health Services in Berlin received $3,222 for its Reach Out and Read program, which distributes books during well-child medical visits for children ages six months to five years.

Episcopal Diocese of NH in Berlin received $15,000 to provide 4,000 meals in Berlin, Groveton and Woodsville.

The Harry Gregg Foundation in Greenfield, established by the Crotched Mountain Foundation to support low- and moderate-income NH residents with disabilities, received a two-year, $20,000 grant to fund programming in the area, with a specific focus on Berlin and Colebrook. 

Jean’s Playhouse in Lincoln received $4,000 to fund free weekly professional children’s theatre performances at the Rialto Theatre in Lancaster during the summer of 2016.

New Hampshire Lakes Association in Colebrook received $15,000 to support six Colebrook students’ participation in a summer program combining environmental education and workforce development.

NH-JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates) in Manchester received $14,000 to offer paid summer internships focused on environmental stewardship for 20 teens from Berlin and Woodsville, in partnership with the Appalachian Mountain Club.

North Country Chamber of Commerce (North Country Leadership and Commerce Alliance) in Colebrook received $12,000 to support the 25th North Country Moose Festival.

North Country Education Services in Gorham received a two-year, $100,000 grant to support general operations.

Pittsburg Area Community Services in Pittsburg received $20,000 to purchase food and update technology and refrigeration equipment for a new food pantry serving Pittsburg and Clarksville.

The Town of Jefferson received $6,500 to complete the final phases of developing a town park, including a baseball field and playground.

Trout Unlimited in Littleton, which focuses on water conservation projects, received $19,500 to work with local partners to address invasive plant spread in the Upper Connecticut River watershed.