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$3.8 million. 584 Nonprofits. 14,342 Donors.

$3.8 million. 584 nonprofits receiving donations. 14,342 donors

This June, NH Gives held a 24-hour fundraiser for literally hundreds of nonprofit organizations in our state. The idea is to get everyone to pick one window of time for maximum awareness to the various local causes.

I had the remarkable opportunity to co-host the kickoff and close of this momentous event with iHeart Radio morning show host extraordinaire Greg Kretschmar, of Greg and the Morning Buzz fame. I’ve known him and considered him a friend for 20 years, but this was the first chance that we had to actually work on a project together.

There’s something to be said for trust, chemistry, and friendship when it comes to live broadcast. The ease with which we moved through various updates and live interview segments is a testament to the fantastic organization of the NH Gives team, led by Kristen Oliveri and Mary Jo Brown, but it showcased that the right ingredients, the right plan, the right time can lead to magic.

$3.8 million dollars was raised in 24 hours, a record for the six-year-old event. Greg and I take zero credit for that success, it belongs to every one of the 14-thousand people who donated.

It was a career highlight for me to be a part of a wild success alongside a group of truly special and gifted individuals. Greg and I had a blast and are already talking about next year.

For all who gave, my deepest appreciation. You reinforce what is truly wonderful about our state. Thanks for supporting nonprofit organizational causes in our state. Thank you for letting me share in the fun!

469 Days and Back to Full Capacity

469 days ago, Governor Chris Sununu announced a stay-at-home order for all of New Hampshire, warning all of us to brace and prepare for an unpredictable time in our history and our collective public health.

62 weeks ago, our separation began. It required discipline and patience. We focused on staying healthy and keeping our livelihoods. We adjusted to zoom meetings and to feel disconnected. We were tested unlike ever before.

Now, that patience and perseverance (along with a WHOLE BUNCH of vaccinations in our region) have paid off. We are opening up again. We are stepping back outside and reconnecting in ways we took for granted not too long ago.

It feels like forever, but the finish line, or maybe the starting line, is finally here. At New Hampshire Motor Speedway, GM David McGrath, Governor Chris Sununu, and BEA Commissioner Taylor Caswell gathered to mark the official start to the summer racing season. We are (choose your favorite racing cliche here) full throttle, pedal to the medal, green flag racing, revving up our economic engines… we are OPEN.

Full capacity. Full schedule. We are back to business. We couldn’t have done it without the partnership and spirit of kinship with the Governor and the state’s leaders. And we couldn’t have done it without our fans, who came out mid-pandemic for a 2020 summer race that was a life preserver of sorts, but a restricted access event that just felt different even as it felt good.

This summer… we go from asking people to make decisions based on the love of their families’ health to making decisions based on the health and well-being of their favorite activities, events, places, and things to do. All that pent-up energy, all those nights wishing it was over, all that time waiting… is over.

NHMS is back, and we’d love it if you came to visit!99

The Dichotomy of Internet Crimes and a Golden Retriever Pup

He’s impossible not to love. Niko, the two year old golden who works full time for the NH Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Enter any room he’s in and Niko will greet you with enthusiasm, a wet puppy nose, that unmistakable puppy breath and perhaps he’ll start to jump up for kisses unless his person, Matt Fleming sees it all unfolding and gently commands him to stay down.

Niko looks and acts like any other golden you’ve ever met. But this boy has a special skill. Niko can sniff out electronics… like REALLY sniff out electronics. Sure, he’d be handy if you tend to misplace your cell phone, but in the hands of a well-trained law enforcement agency, he’s a powerful weapon for justice.

The fact he is so cute is the dichotomy because he works deep in the dark and ugly bowels of our society. He literally sniffs out the evidence which leads to the prosecution of people who peddle in child rape and other abhorrent and unspeakable acts against young people. Images of people doing inhumane, unimaginable, stomach-churning things to children are currency of a dark trade that is happening way too often in New Hampshire.

It’s everywhere. That’s the truth of it. NH ICAC is busy, every single day. Niko is an adorable mascot of a terrible battle to protect our children from monsters. ICAC tends to be a bit of a well-kept secret. I hope to help change that. I hope that by shining a bright light on the activities of ICAC and the successes of Niko and the incredible team of investigators, we will collectively root out the dark and dangerous world of child sexual assault and abuse.

I recently rode with the NH ICAC team on a field operation targeting a possible child predator. The Spradling Group brought our camera crew to capture Niko on the raid of a home and search for evidence of criminal activity. We intend to spend time highlighting their work, their advice, and of course, Niko.

Check them out on Facebook and Instagram… say hi to Niko… and let him know he’s doing a fantastic job.

Making Do With What’s Available

Watching the national debates unfold in this campaign cycle reminds me how unique and special New Hampshire is regarding the tone, tenor and content of our political dialogue. Our unique New England DNA and our history of gathering together as a community to discuss and decide issues that effect our lives and wallets has created a landscape that protects an elevated and informative debate focused on issues that matter to local voters.

Fortunately, not even COVID could change this for 2020. Technology can never replace in-person interaction, but while the risk to public health remains, we make do with what we have available. And my experience has been overwhelmingly positive in this regard.

I was honored to be able to moderate a number of different virtual town halls and debates in this election cycle. Even though we were not in the same room, the same rules applied to the conversation and it was evident during each session I attended that within a few minutes of adjusting to the new normal, the debates would refocus on issues and the free exchange of ideas.

Don’t get me wrong, I am ready for the vaccine to inject some close proximity back into our daily lives, but for this cycle, everyone has adapted beautifully.

I moderated town hall meetings for Early Learning NH in the race for Governor, and both candidates did a terrific job of sharing their ideas and platforms, explaining what they wish to do as Governor and even finding ways to make personal connections with the audience despite the technical distance. I am optimistic we will all double down on that connection once we can all be in the same room together.

As a statewide community having to decide who will represent us at all levels of government, we have adapted and managed to protect what’s unique about our state despite the distancing. 2020 is one for the books. I, for one, am ready to turn the page.

COVID Means Doing More With Less

Perfect conditions, exciting racing and another Full Throttle Fall weekend of events at NHMS went smoothly. COVID means doing more with less. Though we had to scale back some of the normal pomp and circumstance, and keep fans spread out in the stands with social distancing, the races were exciting and the fans turned out in great numbers. It was an honor to help NHMS team members to host Whelen Modified and ACT drivers for a perfect day of action on the track. Always a joy and always a great show!

Londonderry Educators Getting It Done

The last day for students in the Londonderry School District is June 10th, but as we all know, there is little fanfare or celebration for students to finish the 2020 school year. Proms, graduation parties, class celebrations and field trips have all been canceled or muted to match the public health needs of COVID-19. It has been a difficult time. Yet within the struggles of our day to day there have been many bright spots. Teachers seamlessly transitioned to an online teaching approach and students showed great resilience in changing their approach to learning.

In Londonderry, planning for Fall is well underway. It won’t feel like a typical summer break for the leadership of Londonderry School District and Superintendent Scott Laliberte. He and his group have to develop a plan that essentially predicts the future, something not easy to accomplish in this terribly uncertain time. Some parents are anxious to get their children back to class, others are worried about health impacts and will want a home-based online learning option. Teachers will need guidance on how to straddle the line between students in front of them and those still at home. Protocols have to be developed before staff and students can return to the same building and social distancing creates new challenges regarding classroom space.

Superintendent Laliberte leads an outstanding group of educators who are working with the school board and town leadership to develop the best possible blueprint for September, understanding that a shift in public health circumstances could require them to shred the plan and start over again. The Spradling Group is honored to be at the table with this outstanding team of teachers, parents, residents and educators to prepare for the next school year.

One thing is certain, if anyone can get this done, it’s our teachers… talk about a teachable moment and the value of taking what you’ve learned and applying it to the future! Here’s hoping we can all welcome back students in person in a few months. If that’s not possible, know that our educators will have a plan for the school year and we will figure it out together.

If It’s Good Enough for the New England Patriots….

There is some exciting and truly groundbreaking work happening in New Hampshire with regards to making the public safer from the spread of the types of unseen biological enemies that has forced such a dramatic change in our everyday lives. In Portsmouth, the people at Fuze have developed a new treatment system for various surfaces like counters, doors, phones, computers, even clothes, that will provide a unique layer of protection for people. Fuze is an environmentally safe, topical treatment that permanently binds to any surface, protecting against microorganisms, bacteria, mold and infectious diseases for months at a time.

This is all about the science, and it’s an all-natural approach. Fuze works at the molecular level, attacking microorganisms as soon as it comes in contact with the surface. Tests show a 99.9% kill rate for mold, fungus and harmful pathogens for over 6 months after being applied. More testing is being done and the product is now under review by the federal government.

With what is happening in the world at this moment, companies are making it a number one priority to protect their employees, customers and families and keep them safe and healthy. Fuze is desirable for that reason. Several local companies including The Kane Company, Colwen Hotel Management and Wilcox Industries have had Fuze spray their office buildings, hotels and manufacturing facilities. The New England Patriots have been protecting their players with Fuze for two years.

The fact this type of work is happening right here in New Hampshire shows the spirit of innovation we have among Granite Staters. It is a promising and exciting development and I am proud to be working with this company to raise awareness about solutions for businesses preparing to re-open their doors and for all of us as we make plans to return to society in the near future.

Stay tuned… more is coming with Fuze.

REFLECTIONS OF HELPING THOSE IN NEED

How we treat those in need among us is a reflection of our community values. In the last few months, the herculean efforts of Families In Transition – New Horizons has been nothing short of inspiring. As a client, I have witnessed first hand the work being done to serve the homeless community and various participants and clients under the care of FIT-NH.

Health protocols in place for every day operations weren’t even on the extreme edge of consideration just a few months ago. Everything this non-profit does is being developed from scratch, EXCEPT for the daily dose of compassionate care the women and men of this agency deliver to clients.

It takes a unique sort to work in the world of non-profits. Ingredients include but are not limited to an enormous heart, boundless energy, a desire to help others and give back, a sensitivity to the plight and struggle of fellow families, and often, a personal story of challenge or setback that fuels the motivations to help others.

In just a few short weeks, FIT-NH has opened multiple facilities to promote social distancing, created a food delivery program seven days a week, adjusted protocols for safe interaction for staff and still found time to raise resources through annual events such as the FIT-NH Walk Against Hunger.

At some point, the crisis management will settle into a new normal of operations. Things will be different. Rules and protocols will have to change, but the spirit of outreach of organizations like FIT-NH should give us all optimism about our future.

A Picture Tells 90,000+ Stories

For a few months now we have gone through every emotion possible. From fear to anger to sadness and uncertainty. We’ve also felt happiness, witnessed triumphs and seen the best of people who donated their time, their money or their expertise.

Yesterday I was struck with all of those emotions after seeing one picture. Amy Coveno of WMUR-TV shared a story of a Manchester family who lost their father from COVID-19. The picture is of two CMC nurses posting two signs in a window. One read, “He is at Peace” and the other sign read, “We Are Sorry”.

This picture has now gone viral. Why? More than 90,000 Americans have lost their lives to this pandemic and this one picture summarized all of their stories. The compassion shown by these two CMC nurses who sat by their patient’s side as he took his last breath is both heartbreaking and heroically commendable. I deeply appreciate all of the first responders and medical professionals who are risking their own lives everyday to try and save a life or comfort a patient in their last moments. I can’t thank you all enough. And to the two CMC nurses, know how you have shared your love and compassion with more than one family; you’ve touched us all.

I am proud today and each day to say that CMC is my client. But today, those CMC nurses are more than a client, they are a symbol of humanity, courage and strength during these difficult times. To the Johnson family and the 90,000 + families in America and the 320,000+ families world-wide who lost a loved one to COVID-19, I am sorry for your loss and I pray your loved one received the kind of compassion our two CMC nurses gave when they were needed the most.

It’s an Honor.

I was honored to moderate a political debate yesterday for AARP. Both of our Gubernatorial candidates are fine men and it was a pleasure working with them both. Click here for the full story from the Concord Monitor.

Gubernatorial candidates Chris Sununu (left) and Colin Van Ostern (right) participated in a forum hosted by the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce and AARP New Hampshire and moderated by Chris Spradling (center) at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff)