Amherst Foundation Passes The Million Dollar Mark

The Amherst Community Foundation has announced that it has surpassed the million dollar mark in life-to-date fundraising efforts. After a successful 2021 campaign, the ACF has now raised over one million dollars on behalf of the town since it was founded in 2014. The ACF is an entirely volunteer based organization that focuses on supporting projects and people that can improve quality of life in Amherst. 

After a string of failed warrant articles ten years ago, the need for alternate approaches to projects in town became clear. Taxpayers at the time were making it  clear they were unwilling to fund “nice-to-have” initiatives in town.   As a result a group began work behind the scenes to create new options. Nancy McMillian (Recreation Director at the time) started raising awareness. McMillian and community member Travis Warren attended a workshop in Massachusetts, ultimately taking what they learned and starting the Amherst Community Foundation. 

In March of 2014, the ACF officially registered with the New Hampshire Charitable Trust Division, and filed for tax exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code. After the paperwork and registration were complete, the focus shifted to building a board and defining the mission of the foundation. Led by Alec Bucannan, Mia Balsama, Anegla Hornor, Rick Katzenberg and a few others, the team plotted their next steps. While the Foundation may have been founded with a focus on recreation in town, it quickly shifted to building a “bigger tent” and on improving the overall quality of life in Amherst, not just recreation.

The Amherst Foundation’s largest project to date has been the Souhegan High School artificial turf project. The foundation was able to help take advantage of a generous matching donation by the Calvetti Family and fund new artificial turf at Souhegan High School. Around the same time, the ACF partnered with the Amherst Land Trust to help fund the Joshua’s Playground project; a playground, community garden, and walking space right in the heart of Amherst. 

On top of numerous recreation projects, the Amherst Foundation has begun to tackle projects outside of the parks and rec realm. Their most recent endeavor, the Meetinghouse Campaign, was focused on preserving the historic Amherst Meetinghouse. The Meetinghouse is in the center of town, used by countless groups in Amherst, and is in desperate need of repair and preservation. Another recent venture the Amherst Foundation has started is their own scholarship for a graduating senior at Souhegan High School. The scholarship is awarded to a student the ACF feels upholds their mission and values, and the foundation will be awarding this scholarship for the third time this spring. 

As the foundation looks toward the future, they’re always looking for those interested in joining the board or getting involved with the foundation in other ways. Anybody interested should email info@amherstfoundation.org for more information.

Amherst Community Foundation Announces 2022 Scholarship Winner

Amherst, NH, May 26, 2022— The Amherst Community Foundation is pleased to announce our  2022 scholarship recipient, Jack Benner. The ACF scholarship is awarded to a Souhegan senior who has an outstanding record of community service in Amherst and plan to continue their education after graduation. Jack was chosen from over a dozen applicants. 

Our scholarship application asks students to tell us why they think Amherst is a special community and what they have done to contribute to our community. 

Jack Benner wrote about growing up in town and all the ways we pull together to support each other. Specifically people sharing supplies and food during the pandemic as well as all the pride people show around the holidays. Jack has been very active in Scouting and has participated in many community service projects over the years. Most notably he recently led the building of a Kayak Launch on the Souhegan River. In addition to giving back to the community Jack has also contributed on the turf as well as a member of the Souhegan Lacrosse team. Congratulations Jack on graduating and thank-you for being such an outstanding member of our community.

Previous Scholarship Recipients:
2021: Bailey Burke and Rachel Mazur
2020:  Alec Reitter and Lydia Tesconi
2019:  Ian Lewis and Lucy Stover

The Amherst Foundation was started by residents in 2014 seeking to improve the quality of life in Amherst by raising and providing funding for programs that benefit our community. The foundation provides ways for individuals, organizations, and corporations to channel their philanthropic giving for educational, cultural, environmental or health and wellness initiatives within our town.   For more information contact us at info@amherstfoundation.org.

Amherst Community Foundation Announces 2021 Scholarship Winners

Amherst, NH, May 10, 2021— The Amherst Community Foundation is pleased to announce our  2021 scholarship recipients, Bailey Burke and Rachel Mazur. The ACF scholarships are awarded to Souhegan seniors who have an outstanding record of community service in Amherst and plan to continue their education after graduation. These recipients were chosen from over a dozen applicants. 

Our scholarship application asks students to tell us why they think Amherst is a special community and what they have done to contribute to our community. 

Bailey Burke wrote about the special ways our community comes together on the town green for special celebrations such as Halloween, the Christmas Tree Lighting, and the 4th of July. She has volunteered with many groups in town including the Amherst Town Library, the Garden Club, and as a Girl Scout, she designed and built a storybook trail at the Peabody Mills Environmental Center. She states, “I wanted to encourage kids to get outside and use these great trails in town more and I thought that it would be a great way to get kids to become engaged with nature and the outdoors”. 

Rachel Mazur believes Amherst is a special community because of the many opportunities to come together and connect, such as the Amherst Town Library summer reading program, the Amherst pet show, and ice cream socials held at the Congregational Church. She has been involved in Girl Scouts since kindergarten, participating in many volunteer projects throughout town over the years.  In addition to Girl Scouts, she has been involved with the PTA Holiday Story Nights and PTA Plays.  Her Girl Scout Gold Award project was creating an educational and inspirational video for the Amherst Conservation Commission. It is a three minute video explaining activities available on conservation trails around Amherst. According to Jared Hardner of the ACC, “Rachel not only delivered on her commitments as a volunteer, but she exceeded our expectations and made a genuine contribution to our community”. Rachel’s video can be found on the Amherst Conservation Commission’s (ACC) website. 

Both Bailey and Rachel have outstanding records of community service and we wish the best of luck to them in all their future endeavors. We are confident they will continue their contributions to any community that they are a part of. 

Previous Scholarship Recipients:
2020:  Alec Reitter and Lydia Tesconi
2019:  Ian Lewis and Lucy Stover

The Amherst Foundation was started by residents in 2014 seeking to improve the quality of life in Amherst by raising and providing funding for programs that benefit our community. The foundation provides ways for individuals, organizations, and corporations to channel their philanthropic giving for educational, cultural, environmental or health and wellness initiatives within our town.   For more information contact us at info@amherstfoundation.org.

Joshua’s Park Campaign Hits Goal Early

Amherst, NH, April 26, 2021—Less than a month after its launch, the “Going Undercover” campaign broke through its $20,000 goal. Travis Warren, president of the Amherst Community Foundation, announced today that the campaign tally had hit $20,800.

Right to left, Travis Warren, Sheila Steele, Sally Wilkins, Craig Farley.

Sheila Steele, longtime Amherst resident and campaign chair, praised the generosity of those who jumped at the chance to support the effort. “The people of Amherst, together as a community, once again delivered,” she said.

The campaign hit its goal six weeks early. Construction planning will start immediately. Craig Fraley, Recreation Department director, will be managing the project, which includes building three new shade structures for the park, as well as planting the new trees.

Two of the three shade shelters will go up alongside the park’s playground, matching in materials and color the playground equipment. A third structure, a cantilevered wooden pergola, will shade granite benches now placed by the park’s brick patio. Picnic tables and benches will go under the playground structures.

“You can’t find a better example of a grass-roots effort in Amherst,” said Warren. “This is just the kind of project the Amherst Community Foundation likes to support—in this case helping Sheila Steele’s amazing fundraising team close their campaign in record time.”

The campaign benefited from a number of large donations. Among them was $2,500 from the Milford Rotary Club Foundation and $6,600 from the Amherst Land Trust and its trustees, who built the park in 2016. 

The campaign anticipates work on structures and plantings will be completed by midsummer. Additional donations will be used for more tree planting. Questions about the campaign can be directed to info@amherstfoundation.org.

Joshua’s Park Campaign Set to Hit $20K Goal

Amherst, NH, April 18, 2021—Travis Warren, president of the Amherst Community Foundation, announced today that the “Going Undercover” campaign is set to hit its $20,000 goal within days. The rapid response by donors to buying and installing new shade structures and trees has propelled the campaign to near-certain victory in just two weeks.

“We’re astonished by the generous, lightning-fast support for the project,” said Warren. “Building so quickly on our past successes shows how community-mind are the people of Amherst.”

The “Going Undercover” campaign, led by longtime resident Sheila Steele, will fund two shade structures by the park’s playground, each outfitted with fabric canopies and picnic tables. It will also pay for a wooden pergola to shade granite benches on the park’s brick patio, as well as five to seven sizable new shade trees.

The campaign got off to a fast start with several large gifts, including those by the Amherst Land Trust, the Milford Rotary Club Foundation, and several private individuals, including gifts by the entire campaign committee. 

“We can’t begin to say how pleased we are that so many people jumped at the chance to make Joshua’s Park even better,” said Steele. “With the fast action by so many donors, we’ll be able to end our campaign within days.”

Steele notes that, with the money in hand, the campaign has initiated the purchase of materials for the park shelters. More spending will follow. Work for all planned park improvements will likely finish by midsummer, directed by the Amherst Recreation Department.

Donors to the campaign with questions should contact info@amherstfoundation.org.

Foundation Champions New Facilities at Joshua’s Park

Amherst, NH—Residents of Amherst have once again joined in a fundraising drive to improve the town’s parkland facilities. On the drawing board are welcome plans to build three new shade structures, with seating and plantings, at Joshua’s Park, in the center of Amherst. 

Led by longtime resident Sheila Steele, the campaign aims to raise $20,000. The funds will pay for two shade structures by the park’s playground, each outfitted with fabric canopies and picnic tables. They will also pay for a wooden pergola to shade granite benches on the park’s brick patio, as well as five to seven sizable new shade trees.

The campaign committee is working hand in hand with the Amherst Community Foundation  on this project. The committee will provide the boots on the ground to help ensure the project is successful while the Foundation will play the role of fiduciary. As a tax-exempt organization, the ACF can help facilitate corporate matching, as well as make it easy for individuals donating to the project to maximize the tax benefit of their generosity.

All of this is happening with the cooperation of the Amherst Land Trust, the park founder, and the Amherst Recreation Department. The Recreation Department will install the shade structures and build the pergola and picnic tables at no cost to the campaign. 

“As parents and grandparents know,” says Steele, “the park needs some shade from the hot summer sun. We know that the people of Amherst will step up to give everyone cool rest spots—not to mention fun gathering places to socialize.”

Foundation president Travis Warren adds, “We’re delighted to pitch in again and make this a reality. We played a small role initially in Joshua’s park and are pleased to see development at this site continue. ”

Donations to the campaign can be made here or by check, payable to the Amherst Community Foundation. Mail checks to The Going Undercover Campaign at Joshua’s Park, Amherst Community Foundation, P.O. Box 256, Amherst, NH. Any questions or concerns about contributing can be sent to info@amherstfoundation.org.

Foundation takes lead role in "community" portion of Meetinghouse Campaign

The Board of Trustees of the Amherst Community Foundation has voted to support and assist the efforts of the Congregational Church of Amherst in raising funds for the renovation and restoration of the historic church meetinghouse and parsonage on the Village Green. The Foundation and the church have formed a partnership, led by longtime residents Travis Warren and Paul Spiess, to raise funds from the community in support of maintaining and preserving this historic structure. Built in 1774 by the Town, the buildings form the centerpiece of the Historic District. The Foundation will act as fiscal agent for receipt of funds from the public. All donations will be tax exempt.

“One of the primary objectives of the Community Foundation is to bring important community projects to the attention of our residents,” stated Warren, Foundation treasurer. “There is no building or structure in the town that more truly represents our community heritage and history than the church meetinghouse. We are pleased to have been asked to facilitate and participate in this worthy undertaking.”

Speaking on behalf of the church, Spiess stated “The congregation is reaching out to the community because of the rising legacy costs of maintaining and safeguarding these historic structures. In our mind, there is no more beautiful example in New Hampshireof the combined architectural style and grace of the original meetinghouse.” A primary focus of the church meetinghouse project is to replace an aging fire suppression system and to update old wiring and electrical services. The historic original windows in the sanctuary will be rebuilt by an historic preservationist. A new kitchen will be installed to support community functions. Work in the historic parsonage will focus on the windows, and the electrical and plumbing systems.

The total projected cost of the project is $850,000 and to-date over $500,000 has been raised from church members and grants. The church buildings are used by numerous civic organizations, including the Preschool in the Village, the Historical Society of Amherst, Amherst Junior Women’s Club, Friends of the Library, numerous Scout troops, community suppers and more. For almost 250 years, the meetinghouse has been the site of weddings, memorial services, baptisms, civic activities and other life events of community residents.

For further information, visit the Community Foundation website (www.amherstfoundation.org) or the church web site (http://www.ccamherst.org/) and click on Community Campaign, or call (603) 785-4290.

Donations may be made online or by check, payable to the Amherst Community Foundation and mailed to Community Meetinghouse Capital Campaign, PO Box 256, Amherst, NH 03031.