Amid the doldrums and the angst that gripped the region

following the Patriots loss in Super Bowl XLII, the boys

and girls of Nashua Children’s Home continued to perform

like champions.

Hardly the beneficiaries of an undefeated season in the game

of life, these young people pursue their goal of a productive

adulthood with the tenacity and courage demonstrated by

the Cinderella New York Giants during the recent Super

Bowl. They overcome tremendous odds, incredible adversity,

unspeakable abuse, and more heartbreak, rejection and

abandonment at tender ages than most of us will experience

over the course of a lifetime.

These youngsters rooted unabashedly for their home team.

Fifteen-year old Angel left me this note on Monday, December

10th, the day after the Patriots had run their record to 13-0,

beating my hometown Pittsburgh Steelers.

Sadly, Angel did not see the Patriots match the Super Bowl

perfection of the Steelers or the San Francisco 49ers during

their dynastic decades. But Angel did transition to public

school in February, did wake up and attend every day in a

setting that was unfamiliar and daunting. He tries as hard

as he can, day after day after day, to be successful in his

new school.

We often reference the achievements of athletes and sports

teams to inspire our children, to offer them direction and hope.

In fact, this newsletter contains the story of Leon Powe of

the Boston Celtics, sharing his life circumstances

with the boys and girls of Nashua Children’s Home.

Sometimes though, it’s the children themselves

that offer inspiration to others, who give the more

fortunate the wherewithal to carry on during difficult

times. We are so inspired, so moved, on a daily basis

by the young people of Nashua Children’s Home.

The Patriots will be back. They will undoubtedly contend for

their 4th Super Bowl Championship next season. The boys

and girls of Nashua Children’s Home….they’re champions

every single day.           

Ballfield Makeover

The Ballfield at Nashua Children’s Home, in use daily other

than when under snow cover, is due for a “makeover”

this Spring. With respective grants from the Cogswell

Benevolent Trust ($5,000), Conway Arena ($3,000) and

The Agnes M. Lindsay Trust ($2,500), the Ballfield will

receive new sod, a sprinkler system, and fencing.

The Ballfield is a vital component of programming at Nashua

Children’s Home, providing our boys and girls a recreational

and athletic outlet, as well as a setting where they can build

on relationship skills that will serve them throughout life.

The assistance of our community partners in making this

project possible is very much appreciated.

Major Gifts Assist Nashua Children’s Home

Additional major gifts have been received since the distribution of our Summer ’07 Newsletter:

The Dennis M. Drake Memorial Foundation: $5,000 to assist with the

operation of the Transitional Living Program.

Mr. & Mrs. Ronald L. Roberts: $5,000 in unrestricted operating support.

Mr . & Mr s . Ke v i n Ke l l y : $ 2 , 5 0 0
i n u n r e s t r i c t e d operating support

Maguel Estrado: $2,500 in unrestricted operating support

Gate City HOG: $2,143 in unrestricted operating support

Eileen Beckhardt Freedman: $2,000 in unrestricted operating

support

Greater Manchester/Nashua Board of Realtors: $1,750 in unrestricted operating support

Nashua Fireman’s Relief Association: $1,520 in unrestricted operating support

Rotary Club of Nashua West: $1,500 to assist with Summer

Programming

Passaconaway Country Club: $1,320 in unrestricted operating

support

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Stoddart: $1,228 in unrestricted operating

support

Radiant Software: $1,222 in unrestricted operating support

Pragmatech Software Social Club: $1,220 in unrestricted operating support

Milford Rotary Club: $1,000 to assist with the operation of the

Transitional Living Program

Frank Gabron, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Petzold, Anheuser Busch, Sam’s

Club, Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Dowst, Mark Piekarski, Advanced Polymers

and Mrs. & Mrs. Dan Roberts all contributed $1,000 in unrestricted operating support.

The NCH School would also like to convey thanks for continuing support from its Trucker Buddies, Walt & “Sandpaper.”

OOPS!!

The following generous donors were either omitted or incorrectly listed

from our “Honor Roll: 2007” in our recent Annual Report

Mr. & Mrs. Mark Prolman: Honorary Parent (Gift of $1,000-$2,499)

Ms. Alison Gionet: Children’s Advocate (Gift of $250-$499)

Sorry for our error…and thank you for your ongoing goodwill.

In Memorium: Mark S. Rowland

The memory of Mark S. Rowland was memorialized through

the gift of a bench by his wife, Lynette. Mark, a Family

Counselor with Nashua Children’s Home, was murdered in

the course of carrying out his duties on August 20th, 1999.

The bench, inscribed with the words to “Jesus Loves You”

is located in a prime shady area on the grounds of Nashua

Children’s Home:

All Day Power Play

“If you want something done…ask a hockey player.”

Civic-minded hockey players from the Nashua area will

organize and participate in the All Day Power Play this

summer to benefit the boys and girls of Nashua Children’s

Home.

This 24-hour pickup hockey marathon will be held at Cyclones

Arena in Hudson, beginning on Saturday, July 26th, 9:00am,

and running through Sunday morning, July 27th, at 9:00am.

Hockey players will solicit pledges in advance of the event.

Cuts & Such

Lynn Arndt, a hair stylist of 25 years, currently employed at Drapoel

Salon in Merrimack, has been coming to Nashua Children’s Home every

Friday since October, and converting one of our dining rooms into a

salon. The mother of three daughters, a 19 year-old-twins and 7-year-old, Lynn is a

longtime contributor of gifts during the Holiday season, and her current efforts certainly help us in defraying expenses.

Holiday Drive

This year’s Holiday Appeal was once again a resounding

success, with the community coming together and sharing

their holiday goodwill with the boys and girls of Nashua

Children’s Home. This year’s appeal yielded $72,123 by

way of 414 individual gifts. There were 16 gifts of $1,000 or

more, with an additional 12 gifts of $500 and above.

Annual Meeting

The 105th Annual Meeting of Nashua Children’s Home will

be held on Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 at 125 Amherst Street,

7:00pm.

The keynote address, “Prodigal Sons & Daughters” will be

delivered by Dr. Larry Brendtro, Senior Editor of “Reclaiming

Children and Youth,” and the author of numerous books on

advocacy for at-risk youth, including the co-authoring of

The Other 23 Hours, which has informed best practices for

residential work with children and youth for upwards of 40

years. Dr. Brendtro’s keynote address will run from 7:30pm-

9:00pm. The 9th Annual Mark S. Rowland Exemplary Service

Citation will be awarded to a deserving member of the Nashua

Children’s Home Staff.

The public is invited to attend. Please RSVP to Bron at 883-3851.

Celtic visits with Ronald McDonald House

In celebration of last year’s grant of $9,000 toward an outdoor

basketball court , Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern

New England arranged a visit with the boys and girls of Nashua

Children’s Home by Boston Celtics Forward Leon Powe. Mr. Powe

spoke with the children about his upbringing in the foster

care system, took questions and then spent the balance

of the afternoon shooting hoops and signing autographs.

Go Leon! Go Celtics! Go Ronald McDonald House!