GoFundMe Effort Launched to Raise $100,000 for Renovation of Inner-City Youth Center

Building on Hope launches GoFundMe effort, offers CDFA tax credits, seeks volunteers to support renovation of MPAL’s Briggs Center

Manchester, NH – In an effort to complete a one million dollar renovation, a New Hampshire volunteer group and local law enforcement are turning to the community to help raise $100,000. Building on Hope and the Manchester Police Athletic League (MPAL) have launched a GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/Manchester-police to raise funds for the renovation of the Michael Briggs Community Center, an inner-city youth center named in memory of a local fallen hero. They are also reaching out to the business community for support in the form of donated materials, and offering Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) tax credits for businesses interested in making a financial donation.

“Every two years, Building on Hope selects a New Hampshire nonprofit to receive improvements and repairs completed by volunteers,” said Jonathan Halle, co-chair of Building on Hope. “The renovation of MPAL’s Michael Briggs Community Center is our largest undertaking to-date and will require enormous community support and multiple funding sources in order to accomplish our goal. We are appealing directly to the community via this GoFundMe effort. Every dollar helps and no amount is too small, so please visit https://www.gofundme.com/Manchester-police to contribute and share the page with others.”

Over 8,600 at-risk youth live within one mile of the Michael Briggs Community Center which was named after Mike, a Manchester police officer who was gunned-down in the line of duty in 2006. The center provides a safe and positive afterschool environment for Manchester’s inner-city youth, offering an alternative to at-risk behavior and encouraging positive relationships between law enforcement and young people. The building is in need of major renovations from the roof all the way down to the floor tiles, and with less than four months until the jam-packed week of upgrades and the big reveal, there are multiple opportunities for individuals and business to offer support including donations through CDFA tax credits.

Businesses that donate to CDFA-approved projects can receive at least 75% of that contribution back in the form of a state business tax credit. For example, a donor making a $10,000 donation to CDFA on behalf of MPAL will receive a state tax credit in the amount of at least $7,500. The tax credit may be applied against the donating company’s business profits tax, business enterprise tax and/or the insurance premium tax. The donation may also be eligible for treatment as a state and federals charitable contribution. The contributing company may carry forward the credit for up to five years. The company can select which business tax and how much of their credit to apply towards their taxes in any given year. To take advantage of this opportunity, letters of support must be received prior to April 30, 2016.

In addition to financial support, materials and skilled labor volunteers are still needed in the form of carpenters, electricians, painters, framers, flooring and countertop installers, site managers for an extended period of time (full day or more), kitchen equipment, exercise equipment, office and common area furniture, doors, hardware, casings, t-shirts and more. Individuals with such skills and/or physical material available for donation, or are interested in finding out how your skills could be of assistance should contact Volunteer Coordinator Sue Bee at sueannbee22@gmail.com.

“The relationship between police officers and young people, especially vulnerable populations, is so imperative for any community, especially given recent national events,” said MPAL Executive Director and Manchester Police Lieutenant Brian O’Keefe. “Volunteers from the Manchester Police Department have shown their dedication to the city’s youth and now more than ever we’re calling on communities far and wide who understand the benefits of programs like these designed for at-risk youth to lend a helping hand.”

A full team of local designers, electricians, plumbers and more will completely renovate every inch of the building. As of now, the 16,500 square foot space consists of one large room on each floor with additional closed-off rooms being taken up by old equipment, broken furniture, etc. The goal is to create a space that flows from one area to the next, encouraging openness and a community feel while giving students and volunteers designated areas to participate in their activities.

The space currently used for the boxing ring is run down with drab, peeling walls and floors that will be replaced with new material and inspirational quotes and graphics on the wall. The furnishings will complete the positive, cohesive design. The community room upstairs is separated by columns, a stage, judo/wrestling mat and storage. Renovations in that area include ripping down the stage, replacing the wall and dividing the space into a homework room with docking stations, a game room with TVs and gaming systems and expanding the kitchen to provide healthy meals. Located in the center of the building, the new room will feature an artistic space showcasing community, trust, and movement, with the ability to seat over 250 people for group meals, movie nights, wrestling competitions and more. In addition to the individual rooms upstairs, both floors will have new offices for coaches to work and meet with their students, and new men’s and women’s bathrooms/locker rooms and new judo, wrestling, cross training and aikido equipment will be installed.

“Since announcing the project in June we’ve received a tremendous amount of support and our volunteer base grows each week. Thus far we have over 100 companies committed,” said Karen Van Der Beken, co-chair of Building on Hope. “The first phase of the project required a demolition team which EnviroVantage stepped up to own. Next we needed a major HVAC skills and material donation which Granite State Plumbing has been generous with providing. Along the way we’ve also heard from Cardoza Flooring which committed nearly $20,000 worth of material, Sherman Williams which will fulfill all of our paint needs and many, many more. There’s been great headway that we’re extremely grateful for but our efforts to attract more support is far from done.”

For more information, please visit https://buildingonhope.com/. Individuals interested in volunteering time, skilled labor, materials or financial donations can visit the volunteer page for more information at https://buildingonhope.com/get-involved/.