New Hampshire Tomorrow Report

NEW HAMPSHIRE TOMORROW INCREASING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR KIDS All of New Hampshire’s kids deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential. But right now, only some get that chance. Together, we can do something about this. Paiwei Wei Paiwei The Foundation has always been committed to effective action for the next generation. But given the demographic and social trends facing our state, we have redoubled those efforts. We have made increasing opportunity for those furthest from opportunity a top priority. For our kids. In 2016, the Foundation committed to investing at least $100 million over 10 years in New Hampshire Tomorrow, a comprehensive partnership bringing together hundreds of organizations and businesses toward a single goal: increasing opportunities so that more young people can reach their potential and grow into thriving adults who will sustain For New Hampshire New Hampshire’s communities and economy. The response has exceeded our expectations. We are making strategic grants, building and supporting multisector coalitions and advancing tomorrow. sensible public policy to achieve that goal. Because no child, regardless of how much her family struggles, or where she lives, or the color of her skin, should be shut out of opportunity in the land of opportunity. Please join us. Together, we can make New Hampshire a place where all children have the chance to thrive, and belong, and reach their full potential. Together, we can build a stronger New Hampshire Tomorrow. Richard Ober President & CEO New Hampshire Charitable Foundation NEW HAMPSHIRE TOMORROW 1 The Foundation is investing $100 million over 10 years in four proven focus areas to increase opportunity for New Hampshire’s kids — from cradle to career: EARLY FAMILY SUBSTANCE USE EDUCATION CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTS AND RECOVERY PATHWAYS All kids receive All kids have All kids live All kids get the education high-quality early strong families healthy lives free and skills they need to care and education and role models of substance use thrive in the workforce NEW HAMPSHIRE TOMORROW INCREASING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR KIDS Brandon Pierre (center) of the Mayhew Program with mentees Jayson (left) and Arandea. income of $25,750 is considered to be in poverty.) And To achieve the goals of New Hampshire Tomorrow, Strong, thriving kids grow into thriving trends. This is not only a social obligation — it is an 43,000 of our kids, or 27 percent, are eligible for free and the Foundation has made a commitment to invest reduced-price school lunch. In some districts, more than at least $100 million over a decade in grants and adults who contribute to prosperous and economic imperative. Vastly unequal access to opportunity threatens half of all kids qualify. scholarships, to build and support multisector coalitions healthy communities. New Hampshire’s long-term economic and social Our kids struggle in other areas, too: New and to advance sensible public policy. But right now, too many of our kids well-being. Income inequality in the U.S. has reached Hampshire’s young people have among the highest And — because the resources, partnerships and action never have that chance. its highest levels in more than five decades, and New rates of substance use in the country, and our college needed to make lasting change are far greater than one Contrary to our cherished myths about social mobility, Hampshire is among the states where disparities are students graduate with the nation’s highest debt load. community foundation could provide — those funds and if you are born poor in the United States, you are growing the fastest. But there are proven solutions. We know that when kids efforts are being multiplied with additional resources increasingly likely to stay poor. For children of color If we are to maintain our status as one of the best have access to a range of opportunities throughout their from local and national partners. who are born poor, the likelihood of staying poor is states in the country for children and families, all of our lives, they are able to thrive and to become adults who even greater. This is not how the American Dream is kids must have the chance to reach their full potential. sustain their communities. LET’S WORK TOGETHER supposed to work. Together, we can make that happen. Working together, we can increase opportunities Thousands of kids from struggling families lack access Overall, New Hampshire does very well by our kids. TAKING ACTION for New Hampshire’s kids. New Hampshire has the to everything from high-quality early childhood care and But too frequently, the ZIP code a child lives in — or To increase youth opportunity, the Foundation is resources, the relationships and the long tradition education to advanced placement classes in high school the education of her parents, the color of her skin, investing in four proven areas: early childhood of bipartisan cooperation needed to narrow the and enrichment activities. They are less likely to go to the structure of her family — plays an outsized role development; family and youth supports; substance opportunity gap and increase mobility from poverty. college, less able to get good jobs and less ready to in predicting her success. And New Hampshire’s use prevention, treatment and recovery; and education Please join us with your best ideas, your energy, contribute to communities. opportunity gap is widening. The U.S. Census Bureau and career pathways. Each area of investment aligns commitment, voices and resources to make sure This is the trend that world-renowned sociologist reports that 11 percent of kids in New Hampshire (or with work being done by the public sector, nonprofits, that every one of our children has access to the Robert Putnam has labeled the “opportunity gap.” 27,000) are living in poverty — up from 6 percent in education and business. Each area of this important opportunities they need to thrive. For our kids. Together, we can — and we must — reverse these 2000. (Under federal guidelines, a family of four with an work needs generous donor support. For New Hampshire tomorrow. ■ 2 NEW HAMPSHIRE TOMORROW NEW HAMPSHIRE TOMORROW 3 financial literacy — that will help them to raise STRATEGIES AND PROGESS TO thriving kids. INCREASE OPPORTUNITY: By third grade, children from low-income The Foundation is working to increase the quality households in New Hampshire have already fallen of early childhood programs serving children from behind their better-off peers in math and reading. And struggling families and improve state policies and they risk staying behind. funding to support early care and education. But solutions are at hand, with proven strategies Significant progress has been made to that change that trajectory for kids. date, including: ■ A generous grant from the Couch Family Every dollar invested in early Foundation to support the position of Director of Early Childhood and Family Initiatives at the childhood development nets an Charitable Foundation has provided support for average $7 return in productivity the leadership driving progress in these areas. and saved societal costs. ■ Thanks in part to the work of advocates trained EARLY CHILDHOOD through New Futures, funding was added to the state budget in 2018 for child care scholarships, DEVELOPMENT Community investment during the early childhood full-day kindergarten and for home visiting years translates to school readiness, success in and child protection. high school, higher levels of educational attainment, ■ Children with access to high-quality early childhood programs — like this little girl from Lancaster — are more likely to Foundation support was instrumental in economic security, productivity and civic engagement succeed in school and relationships, to become adults who thrive and contribute to their communities. helping the state secure a $3.8 million — and savings in everything from special education federal preschool development grant — an GOAL: All kids receive high-quality early care and education costs to rehabilitation programs and prison costs. unprecedented opportunity to coordinate Every dollar invested in early childhood development and strengthen early childhood programs nets an average $7 return in productivity and saved while increasing collaboration and WHY IT MATTERS This baby in Lancaster is fortunate — because she societal costs — from savings in costly interventions alignment of federal, state, local and At an early childhood development center in Lancaster, is in a high-quality early learning center, she is more later to gains in future productivity. Studies have non-governmental resources. an infant coos and squeaks, smiling at her teacher. likely to succeed in school and relationships, to thrive in shown that when disadvantaged children have ■ With Foundation leadership, the state is Her teacher makes eye contact, smiles back and says her community and in her career. But too many of our increased quality early learning experiences, their developing a more robust system to measure “Well, good morning!” children are not getting that opportunity. earnings in adulthood are boosted by 25 percent. the quality of child care centers, and the Those people were not just passing the time. That Many of the 27,000 New Hampshire kids who live Investing in our kids is an economic imperative. Foundation is funding the University of baby’s brain just grew. in poverty lack access to high-quality early childhood Kids who are supported by their communities New Hampshire’s Child Study and Research in pediatric neurology is conclusive: development programs. Parents need access to other today become adults who will contribute to those Development Center to help centers Healthy brain development and growth depend on critical supports — parenting education, job training, communities tomorrow. Like that baby in Lancaster, undertake necessary improvements. positive social interaction early in life. A strong all of our kids deserve the early start that will help ■ The Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund continues foundation in the preschool years is critical to all them thrive.

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