The room was filled with holiday spirit on Thursday as New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu and Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig joined Speedway Children's Charities New Hampshire Chapter at its 10th annual grant distribution ceremony at The Palace Theatre in Manchester, N.H. Grants were handed out to 55 local nonprofits totaling $75,190 in front of the festive backdrop from "A Christmas Carol."
"I couldn't be prouder of this team today," said David McGrath, executive vice president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway. "We all get caught up in the everyday hustle and bustle, but it's days like this that really show us what's important and make you feel good."
The 55 Nonprofits That Received Grants Today Include:
New Hampshire
Belknap House
Best Buddies New Hampshire
Boys & Girls Club of Central New Hampshire
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua
Capital Region Food Program
Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD)
Children's Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD) - Injury Prevention Center
Concord Family YMCA
Concord Hospital Trust
Cornucopia Project
Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire
David's House
Easterseals New Hampshire
Future In Sight
Gateways Community Services
Girls at Work
Granite State Children's Alliance - Belknap County
Granite State Children's Alliance - Hillsborough County
Granite YMCA
Manchester Community Music School
Manchester Police Athletic League
The Mayhew Program
Monadnock Region Child Advocacy Center
New Hampshire Catholic Charities dba New Hampshire Food Bank
On Belay Inc.
Ossipee Children's Fund
The Palace Theatre
Queen City Bicycle Collective
SHARE Fund, Inc.
Spaulding Youth Center
The Special Needs Support Center
Waypoint (formerly Child & Family Services of New Hampshire)
The Webster House
YMCA of Greater Nashua
Connecticut
Almada Lodge - Times Farm Camp DBA The Channel 3 Kids Camp
Maine
Camp Sunshine
The Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness
Massachusetts
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Billerica
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell
Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence
Boys & Girls Club of Metrowest
Circle Program
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dream Day on Cape Cod Inc.
Dreams for Emily
Family Services of the Merrimack Valley
The Kennek Foundation (Trouble the Dog)
Lazarus House, Inc.
Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Inc.
The Sports Museum of New England
Thrive Support & Advocacy
Rhode Island
Beat The Streets Providence
Vermont
Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro
Easterseals Vermont
Race to Read
Since its inception in 2009, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and SCC have distributed more than $1.7 million, supporting more than 749,000 children in the local community.
"I am just overwhelmed with joy," said Hillarie Scott, director of Speedway Children's Charities New Hampshire Chapter. "To see everyone from all of the organizations come together after another year of hard work and dedication from our board and volunteers is so heartwarming, knowing how many kids are being helped. It certainly makes it all worth it and the setting just really helped to put everyone in the holiday mood."
Funds raised through the New Hampshire Chapter includes events such as a comedy show, the Dale Jr. Foundation Safe Kids 301, a motorcycle ride, Laps for Charity, Ricky Craven's "One for the Kids" Golf Tournament, Champions Breakfast, the Wicked Good Live Auction, helicopter rides, Track Walk Presented by PPG, the Red Bucket Brigade by PPG, the Charity Clay Shoot, Full Throttle Fall Weekend, 24 Hours of Lemons, Yule Light Up The Night Run/Walk and Gift of Lights.
Both Craig and Sununu expressed how important it is to support the organizations, not only in Manchester and throughout New Hampshire, but across New England that work every day to improve the lives of children.
"During the season of giving, we're coming together with many thanks to New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Speedway Children's Charities," said Craig. "The nonprofits here today are among many wonderful organizations in Manchester and throughout our state that truly make a difference in the lives of children in need. I am so proud to be here to recognize the outstanding work they do."
"This event really defines not just what the season is all about, but what New Hampshire is all about," said Sununu. "To be able to spend a little one-on-one time as opposed to just mailing a check really makes it special at this time of year. It was great to be here and great to be part of something that really brings out the best of everyone at this time of year."
The New Hampshire Chapter is one of eight chapters around the country, and combined, Speedway Children's Charities raised more than $3 million nationally this year, bringing the total distributed to $55,300,000 since it was founded in 1982. The money raised comes in large part thanks to the fundraising efforts of Speedway Motorsports, Inc.'s eight facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway.
Fundraising continues during the Gift of Lights presented by Eastern Propane and Oil, where a portion of all proceeds benefits SCC. Yule Light Up The Night, a 2.1-mile run with Millennium Running, will give visitors a unique view of the lights on Dec. 9 and will also benefit SCCNH (Gift of Lights will have a delayed opening for the run). The 2.5-mile drive-thru light show is open 4:30 - 9:00 p.m., and admission is $20.00 per car through Dec. 14 and $25.00 per car Dec. 15 - Dec. 31. Be sure to check the schedule for days of operation when planning your trip.