WASHINGTON (PRESS RELEASE) – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Council on Foundations (COF) today announced that the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is among 10 foundations to receive the 2017 HUD Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. Awardees also include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Kresge Foundation and JP Morgan Chase Foundation.
The Charitable Foundation received the award for its partnership with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services to reduce substance use among New Hampshire’s youth. The Charitable Foundation has committed $12 million over 10 years — and significant statewide leadership — to the joint effort.
“In New Hampshire, we understand the power of public-private partnerships. The state is small enough, and our politics are less polarized than in other parts of the country — which means we can get people together to solve problems,” said Richard Ober, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. “We want to thank our public sector partners, including Gov. Chris Sununu, former Gov. Maggie Hassan, Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeffrey Meyers and key legislative leaders, for their continued partnership to help turn the tide on New Hampshire’s high rates of youth substance use. At five years into our partnership, we’re seeing positive results with significant declines in all rates of youth substance use.”
Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeffrey Meyers said the partnership with the Charitable Foundation has helped the state combat substance misuse.
“I wish to applaud HUD and the Council for recognizing the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s positive impact on the lives of so many,” Meyers said. “At a time when the lives of so many people are ravaged by opioid misuse, the work of the Charitable Foundation, and our public-private partnership, is helping to reduce youth substance use. The Department is proud of this partnership and we congratulate the Charitable Foundation on this well-deserved honor.”
The award was presented to the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation at the Council on Foundations’ Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas. The award honors innovative and effective cross-sector initiatives that have increased the quality of life for low- and moderate-income Americans living in urban, suburban, and rural communities.
“I want to congratulate each of our winners for their extraordinary efforts to bridge the gap between philanthropy, government, and nonprofits,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. These awards, Carson said, “celebrate the power of partnership, and honor exceptional organizations that are laying a strong foundation for more Americans to succeed and to thrive.”
“The 10 initiatives being honored are an inspiring reminder that when philanthropy and government work together and lead together in cross-sector partnerships, their collaborations can achieve incredible results for the communities we collectively serve,” said Council President and CEO Vikki Spruill. “On behalf of the Council, I congratulate each of the outstanding foundations being recognized.”
Ten awards were given to place-based funders for completed or ongoing projects that are done in partnership with a local, regional, or federal government agency. The winners include:
Foundation | Location | Project Name |
The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation | Tulsa, OK | Alleviating and Preventing Homelessness/Building Tulsa, Building Lives |
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation | King and Pierce Counties, WA | Public Housing Authority-School District Partnerships Initiative |
Capital One Foundation | New York, NY | Y-PLAN (Youth – Plan, Learn, Act, Now) |
Community Foundation of the Lowcountry | Hilton Head Island, SC | Project SAFE (Sewer Access for Everyone) |
The JP Morgan Chase Foundation | Ohio, Florida, Colorado, California | PRO Neighborhoods: ReFresh Initiative |
The Kresge Foundation | Detroit, MI | Detroit Home Mortgage |
Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Summer Night Lights (SNL) |
The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation | New Hampshire | Collective Action, Collective Impact |
Nusenda Foundation | Albuquerque, NM | Albuquerque Living Cities Integration Initiative |
The Skillman Foundation | Detroit, MI | Grow Detroit’s Young Talent (GDYT) |
HUD’s Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation and the COF have co-hosted the Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships since 2012. The winners were selected by a panel of 12 judges — six from HUD and six from the Council on Foundations — following an open call for nominations issued in February. Further information on each of the winners can be found at HUD’s website: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/about/Pub_Phil_Intro.html.
About the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is New Hampshire’s statewide community foundation, founded in 1962 by and for the people of New Hampshire. The Foundation manages a growing collection of more than 1,800 funds created by generous individuals, families and businesses, and awards nearly $40 million in grants and scholarships every year. The Foundation works with generous and visionary citizens to maximize the power of their giving, supports great work happening in our communities and leads and collaborates on high-impact initiatives. For more information, please visit www.nhcf.org or call 603-225-6641.