Pictured from left: Finlay Foundation Secretary David Lazar, Finlay Foundation President Karin Finlay, NH Leadership Series program coordinator Beth Dixon, NH Leadership Series graduate Tamara Le, and Institute on Disabilities Executive Director Mary Schuh.

Tuesday’s matching grant is in keeping with the Foundation’s continued focus on families and children in need and with an incentive-based approach to giving. This past spring, the Foundation issued six such challenges to local and statewide organizations totaling more than $51,000. The Institute on Disability was the first to successfully complete its challenge.  Each year, the series provides leadership and advocacy training for 35 participants, creating a corps of mobilized parents and advocates who help to strengthen families and communities statewide.

Among the awards were a $25,000 grant to the Child Advocacy Center of Hillsborough County, a Nashua-based nonprofit that provides counseling and pursues justice on behalf of child and family victims of sexual abuse; and a $6,672 grant to the Peterborough Wave Swim Club, matching the amount the youth club was able to collect in private donations during its February Wave-A-Thon fundraiser.

Additionally, the Foundation awarded four $10,000 challenge grants to:
• The Concord-based Institute on Disability for its Leadership Series which provides children and families with disabilities with invaluable advocacy and life skills;
• The Plymouth-based Pemi Youth Center, a safe haven for children offering after-school programming, counseling and activities at no charge;
• The century-plus-old Wilton Public & Gregg Free Library, which is undergoing a full-scale renovation and restoration to its third floor Historical Society Rooms; and
• The Family Center of Peterborough, which offers education, enrichment and employment opportunities for families in need across the Monadnock region.

The Foundation would also offer a $5,000 challenge grant to the Hancock-based Harris Center for Conservation Education to support its ongoing environmental outreach programs for local schools. In the case of each challenge grant, the Foundation has pledged to match all individual and business donations those institutions are able to raise from now through December 31, 2010 up to the specified amounts.

“We have always believed in achieving results through incentives,” Finlay Foundation President Karin Finlay says. “We believe and have found that communities have an eagerness to support local institutions and that, when engaged, will respond favorably, take pride and become invested. Each of these institutions provides a remarkable source of education, stability and enrichment for its community and for families across New Hampshire. They are also blessed to have dynamic leadership. We know these leaders and their communities will embrace this challenge, and we look forward to seeing the approach they take in the months ahead.”

Since 2006, The Finlay Foundation has committed itself by assisting children and families in need and promoting an array of forward-thinking cultural and educational initiatives. The Foundation was created by businessman Robert J. Finlay and his wife Karin to offer future generations opportunities to succeed and to spark a renewed commitment statewide to cultural, civic and community involvement.

The Foundation since its inception has embraced an incentive-based approach to awarding grants, issuing most prominently a statewide Library, Museum and Historical Society Challenge in 2007 that encouraged local institutions to design innovative approaches for attracting new members to their rolls. One hundred institutions took part in that challenge, bringing in more than 31,000 new members statewide, and winning nearly $100,000 in awards from the Foundation.  Last year, the Foundation awarded nearly $300,000 in grants to charities and nonprofits statewide.

The award goes to an organization, in Webster House, that in 2009 marked 125 years serving children, ages 8-18, through some of their most difficult times – from abuse and neglect to separated families and discipline issues. The goal has always been two-fold: to provide a caring, stable setting for kids to receive critical life skills, and to also teach how to give back to the community. The center houses roughly 18 students at a time, providing independent living courses, homework help and counseling sessions, as well as an active recreation and volunteer program.

“The tireless work the staff at Webster House performs each day on behalf of children and families in difficulty across the city could not be more important, deeper reaching, or more appreciated,” Finlay Foundation President Karin Finlay said. “We are pleased to assist them with a pressing need and to help give these students access to some incredible educational and recreational opportunities.”

The donation, which will purchase a 2009 Econoline van from Manchester’s Autofair Ford, comes from a foundation that last year awarded nearly $300,000 to Granite State nonprofits focused on improving the quality of life for children and families. The Finlay Foundation was created by businessman Robert J. Finlay and his wife Karin to offer future generations opportunities to succeed and to spark a renewed commitment statewide to cultural, civic and community involvement.

“The Finlay Foundation came through in a very big way,” Webster House Director Lou Catano said. “We are blessed to receive the 2009 Ford van and we are greatly appreciative of their support that will be measured in many miles and smiles down the road.”

New York, NY—Milford, NH businessman and philanthropist Robert Finlay was selected by CNN as the inaugural example of “Conscious Capitalism”, a regular series of video reports launched by CNNMoney.com that profile successful entrepreneurs who choose to give back to society in the form of philanthropy.

Mr. Finlay’s was chosen for his philanthropic efforts through the Finlay Foundation, a New Hampshire-based nonprofit devoted to improving the quality of life for Granite State residents by assisting children and families in need and promoting an array of forward-thinking cultural and educational initiatives. The foundation was created by businessman Robert J. Finlay and his wife Karin to offer future generations opportunities to succeed and to spark a renewed commitment statewide to cultural, civic and community involvement.

In a statement regarding “Conscious Capitalism”, CNNMoney.com states, “We want to feature prominent business leaders who spearhead large foundations and support multiple non-profit organizations. We are looking for people who are truly passionate about improving the lives of people in the U.S. and around the world, people with a vision who are actively involved in its realization. Mr. Finlay is a great example of such a leader and philanthropist and we are honored to profile him for the launch of our series.”

CNNMoney.com is the world’s largest business website, averaging 20 million page views/month, and nearly 200 million video streams last year. The site is the online home of FORTUNE, MONEY, and FORTUNE Small Business magazine, and serves as CNN.com’s exclusive business site.

New Hampshire businessman has made a fortune investing, and now he is sharing his success with local families in need.

Click here to visit CNNMoney.com

New Hampshire businessman and philanthropist Robert Finlay, who along with his wife Karin, issued this challenge one year ago, presented the awards. Mr. Finlay was joined by Dr. Anne-Imelda Radice, Director of the Institute of Museum & Library Services in Washington, D.C., NH State Librarian Michael York and Bill Veillette, Executive Director of the NH Historical Society.

Overall category winners receiving a $25,000 check for their efforts were: the Goffstown Public Library which attracted 1,519 new members during the challenge, an increase of 45%; the Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society, increasing membership by 811, or a remarkable 624%; and the Laconia Historical & Museum Society, which saw an increase of 501 members, or 217%.

“Over these last 12 months, it has been an inspiration to review the submissions and hear administrators across the state enthusiastically describe how they have attracted new visitors and members to their institutions. My hope is that these unique ideas, approaches and experiences may serve as examples of how to succeed, across the state and beyond,” says Robert Finlay.

Finlay adds, “So much of the legacy we leave to future generations will depend on the hard work and imagination of local libraries, museums and historical societies to recruit and retain learners. It is my hope that this initiative has energized the cultural workforce, sparked new interest in these facilities, inspired education and brought our communities closer together.”

“It is an honor to join Rob and Karin Finlay, who care deeply about culture, and therefore, people, in the spirit of this important challenge,” says Dr. Anne-Imelda Radice. “I am pleased to witness this special recognition for libraries, museums, and historical societies in New Hampshire.”

The libraries, museums and historical societies involved in the challenge generated an increase of nearly 32,000 members from the period of November 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

After the winning organizations described their efforts to increase membership, Mr. Finlay made a surprising announcement. Rather than a winner-take-all finish, Mr. Finlay decided to award an additional $5,000 to each of the runners-up, and an additional $2,500 to each third place finisher in the library, museum and historical society categories.

“The Finlay Foundation Challenge to New Hampshire cultural organizations has created real excitement in the library community,” says Michael York.  “Many libraries in New Hampshire have seen a dramatic increase in library use because Robert Finlay and his challenge have brought forth new, innovative ideas about how to serve the public.”

Click Here to download the library and museum challenge review white paper.

The Finlay Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) organization, is a New Hampshire-based nonprofit devoted to improving the quality of life for Granite State residents by assisting children and families in need and promoting an array of forward-thinking cultural and educational initiatives. The foundation was created by businessman Robert J. Finlay and his wife Karin to offer future generations opportunities to succeed and to spark a renewed commitment statewide to cultural, civic and community involvement.

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The Finlay Foundation is proud to support the efforts of a wide-variety of local organizations.  If your organization is making a positive difference in the community, and you would like to tell us about it, feel free to Contact Us or apply for a grant through our Grant Process page.

First published by the state in 1931, the original New Hampshire Troubadour was a celebration of the scenic mountain ranges, the covered bridges, the apple orchards, the foliage, the farmers, the fierce community pride and independence that has always made New Hampshire unique. For nearly 20 years, this magazine sparked the imagination and earned the loyalty of readers with eye-catching, original pictures, prose and even poetry. It was a New Hampshire original.

“It is my belief that there is a need and a desire for such a publication today – a digest to help New Hampshire residents feel good about themselves and their communities; something that will be both entertaining and educational,” says publisher Robert Finlay.

With a reverent nod to the past, and an energized eye to the future, the new NH Troubadour will be a unique monthly, full-color publication. It will be a collection of original human interest stories, poetry, photography, anecdotes and regular features about New Hampshire’s history and one-of-a-kind towns. The Finlay Foundation will publish and distribute The NH Troubadour statewide, free of advertisements and free of charge.

“This is a project of passion and pride. There is no monetary incentive, sponsorship or endorsement in the digest. It is simply a gift to the citizens of NH, showcasing some of the wonderful history, heritage, people and places in the Granite State, “ Finlay remarks.

The NH Troubadour will feature a monthly circulation of more than 70,000. The magazine will be available through at-home mail delivery, at all town offices and public libraries in the state, and electronically at www.nhtroubadour.com. Award-winning television broadcaster Mike DeBlasi and former Union Leader correspondent David Lazar will serve as the magazine’s editors. Spectrum Marketing Companies of Manchester will handle all printing and distribution.

The NH Troubadour will also be offered to educators and students. “As parents ourselves of four school-age children, my wife Karin and I have set a goal to create something that can be of use and interest to educators and students. We are very aware that the state’s 4th grade curriculum incorporates a substantial New Hampshire history component.  With that in mind, we have designed The NH Troubadour to fit comfortably as a supplement that teachers can use or distribute to students. Each month we will designate enough copies so that every 4th grader in the state will receive one, if his or her school so wishes,” Finlay says.