Friends of Aine Named Bank of America 2023 Neighborhood Champion® in New Hampshire

Nonprofit Will Receive $50,000 in Grant Support and Virtual Leadership Training to Advance Economic Mobility in N.H.
 
MANCHESTER, N.H. (December 15, 2023) — Bank of America has selected Manchester-based Friends of Aine as its 2023 Neighborhood Champion® in New Hampshire. Friends of Aine will receive a $50,000 grant...

as well as the opportunity to participate in virtual leadership training delivered by experts in the nonprofit sector on topics such as human capital management, increasing financial sustainability and storytelling.
 
As one of the state’s only centers for grieving children and families, Friends of Aine contributes significantly to the resiliency of New Hampshire families experiencing grief and reducing the stigma around death. It does this by providing peer to peer support programs, delivering education and resources to child and family support systems within local schools and communities, and advocating for recognition of child bereavement as an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE).
 
Friends of Aine was founded in 2013 by Christine and David Phillips. The Phillips’ daughter, Aine (Ahn-ya) Marie Phillips, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on August 10, 2010, at eight years old. Friends of Aine provides support for families and children who are grieving the loss of a loved one to ensure that no child grieves alone. The work is peer-to-peer, meaning that often help comes from individuals who have shared experience. The organization relies solely on the generosity of donors to sustain and grow its programs and services.
 
Neighborhood Champions is part of Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders program, one of the largest philanthropic investments in nonprofit leadership development in the nation. Neighborhood Champions provides funding and leadership training to nonprofits that are advancing economic mobility and building up underserved neighborhoods. The invitation-only program is highly competitive, and nonprofits are selected by a committee comprised of community leaders and past awardees.
 
The Phillipses, who started the organization without prior nonprofit leadership experience, believe the Neighborhood Champions grant and leadership training will be transformational and go a long way toward advancing the organization’s expansion goals. Through continued fundraising and support from donors like Bank of America, Friends of Aine hopes to establish satellite centers and outreach programs in farther reaches of New Hampshire, so more families have access to in-person child bereavement support within their local communities.


“This will help us bring care and support for families with children who are grieving. With one in 12 children experiencing the death of a parent or sibling by 18, this issue is at the forefront of our minds,” said Christine Phillips. “When you think of your typical school classroom, that works out to be one child in every class, or even multiple children.”
 
“Nonprofits are vital to solving social challenges, improving communities and promoting economic advancement," said Ken Sheldon, president, Bank of America New Hampshire. “Providing these nonprofits with flexible funding and leadership training not only positions these nonprofits for sustainable, long-term success, but demonstrates our commitment to creating real change in the places where we live and work.”
 
Since 2004, Bank of America has invested more than $300 million in nearly 100 communities across the U.S., partnered with more than 1,600 nonprofits, and helped more than 3,000 nonprofit leaders strengthen their leadership skills through the Neighborhood Builders and Champions program.
 
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