As part of its mission to support the development of resilient, thriving communities, the Lincoln Financial Foundation will continue its longstanding funding of Campus Compact for New Hampshire’s AmeriCorps VISTA program. Through the program, one of the state’s most well-established VISTA initiatives, CCNH places volunteers in communities throughout the state to help low-income students prepare for success in school, college, and careers.

“We are pleased to continue our support of CCNH’s VISTA program, which has helped thousands of New Hampshire’s students overcome barriers to academic success,” says Nancy Rogers, SVP, Corporate Responsibility, and President, Lincoln Financial Foundation. “The power of this program can be seen in schools and communities across the state.”

AmeriCorps VISTA is a federal program that supports volunteers working to combat poverty on a wide range of fronts. CCNH’s VISTA program focuses on expanding education access and success and improving workforce readiness among low-income and first-generation students. CCNH VISTAs provide outreach, tutoring, mentoring, and resources to help students advance in school and understand their postsecondary options.

The Lincoln Financial Foundation has supported CCNH’s VISTA program for the past eight years. This long-term support has allowed the creation of structures to ensure that VISTAs both get and give maximum value through the program, says CCNH Executive Director Debby Scire.

“VISTAs serve a one-year term, so these structures are essential for building on the prior year’s work,” Scire notes. “The Lincoln Financial Foundation’s support has led to a cycle of success. In addition to providing direct aid to thousands of students, our VISTAs are creating new systems and outreach channels, which are making a lasting difference in their communities.”

Cleora Ohar, Serving at Nashua Community College, is one of the CCNH AmeriCorps VISTAs working to increase student success with funding from Lincoln Financial Foundation.