Granite VNA recently held its annual Passion for Caring fundraising event at The Barn at Bull Meadow in Concord. The event is Granite VNA’s largest fundraiser, and this year’s event generated more than $52,000, which will directly support the agency’s home, health, and hospice care services across 82 New Hampshire communities.

“We are so grateful to our generous sponsors, and businesses and individuals who gave to the campaign, and who donated some outstanding items and experiences to this year’s silent auction,” said Beth Slepian, MBA, PT, Granite VNA President/CEO. “The financial support our agency receives from Passion for Caring and other fundraising is critical to helping our agency meet the home health and hospice care and wellness needs of the communities we serve.”

More than 125 Passion for Caring attendees enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, and entered bids in the annual silent auction, which featured Boston Red Sox tickets, a luxurious stay at The Hotel Concord, a zipline tour at Gunstock Mountain Resort, a narrated cruise aboard the M/S Mount Washington on Lake Winnipesaukee, a six-day/six-night African safari, and much more. A seven-day stay at a Bahamas resort with a $500 gift card for travel brought the most auction bids.

Kay Sidway Award
Now in its 26^th year, the Kay Sidway Award is presented annually at the Passion for Caring event to an individual who has devoted himself or herself to the education, nurturing, and well-being of families in any one of the communities served by Granite VNA. This year, Granite VNA honored Boys and Girls Club CEO Chris Emond with the 2023 Kay Sidway Award.

Emond was nominated by his colleagues for his exceptional efforts to ensure that affordable childcare was available during and since the pandemic, while raising the bar for training, benefits, and continuing education for childcare providers. He has expanded the Club’s early childhood education offerings and extended school age programming into more rural communities throughout Central New Hampshire.

Granite VNA President and CEO Beth Slepian presented the award to Emond, who was unable to attend Passion For Caring, at the Boys & Girls Club in Concord on Tuesday, April 25.

The Kay Sidway Award was initially presented in 1998 to longtime Concord area educator Kay Sidway to honor her extraordinary dedication to the children of the Concord community. Emond joins an impressive group of Sidway Award recipients that includes the late New Hampshire State Representative Mary Stuart Gile, Amanda Grady Sexton, The Honorable Kathleen McGuire and others.

Granite VNA extends special thanks to Cambridge Trust Company of New Hampshire, for its key role in the success of Passion for Caring through its leadership sponsorship.

Since 1899, Granite VNA has been caring for people in their homes and leading the way in population health. The agency provides hospice services throughout the 82 communities it serves in patients’ homes, in skilled nursing settings, and at Hospice House on Pleasant Street in Concord, which was the first facility of its kind in New Hampshire.