Start Small, Think Big to Benefit Impact Monadnock

The Monadnock United Way and The Local Crowd launched the Start Small, Think Big campaign from May 10 through June 11. All gifts given on TLC’s crowdfunding platform during this time will benefit Monadnock United Way’s signature early childhood initiative Impact Monadnock (IM), which seeks to improve outcomes for all children in the Monadnock Region from birth to age eight and their families. 

“Impact Monadnock is all about giving children the best possible start in life so that they can lead healthy, happy lives and become productive members of our community.” said Katie Gardella, Director of Resource Development and Community Engagement. “A gift in any amount to this campaign is a gift to the future success of our community.”

Poverty, adverse experiences, and limited access to quality child care negatively affect a child’s ability to grow to their fullest potential. Unfortunately, children in the Monadnock Region are affected by these factors more than most children in the state:  

• Just under 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.  

A gift to the Start Small, Think Big campaign will support IM programs that address these issues through home visiting programs, parent education and support, access to high quality child care, promotion of family friendly business practices, and social emotional supports for children and their teachers.

Thanks to generous matching funds from Peter and Bridget Hansel, Kristen and Dick Hill, Jeff Miller and Carol MacKinnon, Katie Schwerin and Bill Whyte, and Barbara and Tony Tremblay,

all gifts to the campaign will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000!  And, thanks to the generosity of the Monadnock Food Co-op, throughout the campaign donors will be entered into a raffle to receive $10 gift cards. For more information and to donate, visit  https://bit.ly/3ee53u1 or visit www.muw.org/impact