Our Vision

All families in the Monadnock Region receive the support needed for young children to attain optimal early development.

Our Mission

To support families with young children who experience or are at risk for developmental delays or disabilities and to be a resource and advocate for inclusive early childhood systems throughout the Monadnock Region.

About Rise for baby and family

Rise is a small non-profit agency that began in 1981 as an add-on program of the Monadnock Children’s Center. In operation since 1966, the Children’s Center was responsible for starting some of the first special education programs in the Region.

With the advent of the Individuals with Disabilities Act, school systems began providing special education programs to children age three and up. The agency’s name then began its evolution to Rise for baby and family. It is commonly known as Rise.

Rise has been a part of New Hampshire’s Developmental Service System since the beginning. We are a vendor agency for Monadnock Developmental Services. The growth of Rise has been rapid, expanding from serving 40 infants and toddlers in 1981 to serving 491 children in 2024.

Virtually all Rise early supports and services are delivered to families in their most natural and relaxed environments. These settings generally include the child’s home, child care program, or in community settings such as parks, libraries, and the Cheshire Children’s Museum.

Two key ingredients of Rise for baby and family’s success are the growth and retention of qualified staff and the support of our community.

Annual Report

FY24 Annual Report: FY24 Annual Report
FY23 Annual Report: FY23 Annual Report
FY21 Annual Report: FY21 Annual Report

Strategic Plan

FY23-FY25 Strategic plan goals: Rise for baby and family Strategic Planning Goals FY23

Ways to Help 

As a non-profit serving young children and their families all around the Monadnock Region, Rise for baby and family depends on support from the community, both individuals and businesses.  

We welcome donations of many kinds: 

Individual Financial Donations 

No matter how large or small, financial donations support the work of Rise for baby and family and directly impacts the services provided to children and families. To donate, click here.

The donations we receive support our Early Supports and Services program, ensuring we can provide the full ranges of services needed. While some of our work is reimbursed through the NH children’s health insurance program and private insurance, some is not, so we must fundraise to ensure we can provide the full range of services needed. Donations also support our child care program, including scholarships for families in need. 

For example:  

• $15 provides a child with oral sensory materials 
• $50 allows a child with disabilities to participate in our child care playgroup program for two hours a week 
• $75 pays for additional early intervention services not covered by insurance to support a child with complex needs (i.e. Autism, genetic disorder, etc.) 
• $100 covers the gap between what a parent pays for child care and the actual costs of providing child care (approximately $100 / week per child)
  

Corporate Gifts and Sponsorships 

We have event sponsorship opportunities for local businesses! Our most popular sponsorship event is our annual Tastes of the Season, held in late June. We also welcome donations to our silent auction, held with “The Taste.” 

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact our outreach coordinator, Pat Payne, at ppayne@riseforbabyandfamily.org or 603-218-2336. 

Gifts of Time and Talent 

We always welcome volunteers at Rise! Opportunities to help include: 

• Help out with garden maintenance (in the spring and summer), routine cleaning projects, and building maintenance 
• Help at Rise events, including Tastes of the Season and Toddlerfest 
• Hold babies and play with young children in our child care program 
• Assist with mailings and other projects
  

For more information about volunteer opportunities, please contact our outreach coordinator, Pat Payne, at ppayne@riseforbabyandfamily.org or 603-218-2336.

In-Kind Donations 

We welcome gifts for our annual silent auction fundraiser, including products and gift cards as well as the donation of services. We also welcome donors who would like to be part of our holiday giving program, which provides gifts for children and families in need.  

Matching Gifts 

Many companies offer a matching gift program, allowing you to double the impact of your donation! Contact your employer to see if there is a matching gift program offered. 

Gifts in Honor or in Memory of a Special Person 

Making a donation to Rise in honor or in memory of someone special is a wonderful tribute that supports children and families. We are happy to send a card on your behalf to the honoree or their family. 

IRA Required Minimum Distribution 

The IRS requires you to begin taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from your IRA and workplace retirement accounts every year, starting at age 73. You can use your RMD to make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD), a gift to the nonprofit of your choice. A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from your IRA trustee to a qualified charity. 

In addition to the benefits of giving to charity, a QCD excludes the amount donated from taxable income, unlike regular withdrawals from an IRA. The IRS allows you to exclude up to $100,000 in IRA withdrawals (if paid directly to a qualified charity) from income each year as long as certain requirements are met. Contact your plan administrator to make a charitable donation via your IRA as your administrator must transfer the money on your behalf.  

Remember Rise in your Will or Trust 

We welcome bequests to Rise for baby and family, made through your will or trust. Your gift will be used to continue your support for local families for decades to come.  

If you would like to remember Rise in this way, you can share the following information with your attorney: 

Rise for baby and family
147 Washington St.
Keene, NH 03431
EIN: 02-0270147 

In addition to leaving a specific bequest, you can also name Rise as the beneficiary for an IRA, employer retirement fund, or life insurance policy. You simply need to notify the custodian of fund or policy that you want all or part of a particular fund to pass to your designated charity or charities.

Board of Directors

Amy Noyes
Member-at-large
Amy is vice president of Noyes Volkswagen and lives in Chesterfield with her husband Rob. They are fortunate to have all 4 kids and 9 grandkids living locally. She is passionate about her work with Rise because she believes all children deserve the best possible start in life.

Jeanne Pride
Member-at-large
Jeanne has lived in the Keene area for 44 years. She has taught for more than 30 years, at both the high school and community college level. She is passionate about Rise’s mission because it provides such strong support for young children and their families all around the Monadnock Region. She also serves on the NH Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force and New Hampshire Traffic Free. 

Lisa Steadman
Member-at-Large
Lisa lives in Troy with her family and is a licensed insurance agent. She has a son with Down Syndrome which was Lisa’s inspiration to become involved in the world of developmental disabilities. She also serves on the Monadnock Regional School District Board, the Region V Monadnock Family Council, and facilitates the See the Able, Not the Label group. 

Barbara Tremblay
Member-at-large
Barbara is a Keene native and current resident. Now retired, she served the Keene School District and SAU29 for eighteen years as a principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent and also served as superintendent of the Mascoma Valley Regional School District for seven years. She currently serves on the boards of Monadnock United Way and the Ladies’ Charitable Society. She serves on Rise’s board because of her love of children and her belief in the importance of addressing disabilities and developmental delays as early as possible, while supporting the whole family.  

Pam Wilson
Member-at-large
Pam has been in the banking industry since 1992 when she started as a part-time teller at Cheshire County Savings. Currently she works at Savings Bank of Walpole as a Branch & Business Development Manager at the Marlboro St office.  She has lived in Nelson for the past 33 years, has two grown children and two beautiful grandbabies.