From Fear to Confidence: How Your Support Helped A Little Girl Thrive

The impact of a donation is never just a number; it’s the confidence in a child’s eyes, the support provided to a working parent, and the opportunity for a community to thrive. For twenty years, the Turtle Ridge Foundation (TRF) has stood behind the Boys & Girls Club of Central and Northern New Hampshire, ensuring that these vital moments of transformation happen every day.

This is the story of one such moment, proving that sometimes, the biggest leap of faith happens in the smallest of splashes.

Clinging to the Wall

For many kids in New Hampshire’s rural North Country, the Boys & Girls Club is a safe place to belong. But during the summer, it offers something truly unique for this area: a lifeline skill—swimming.

For one eight-year-old girl, the club’s partnership with Evergreen Sports Center to offer swim lessons was terrifying. On her very first day, she was completely overwhelmed. The sheer volume of the space, the sight of the water, the nervous splashing of other children—it was too much.

She clung to the wall, nervous and afraid, unable to take the first step toward the water.

In a region where access to pools is limited, and swimming is a crucial life skill, her fear was understandable. It was a barrier that stood between her and a world of safety and confidence.

The Patience of a Partnership

Thanks to the consistent support from donors and partners like TRF and other like-minded organizations, the club can hire dedicated staff and patient coaches. They were ready for her fear.

The coaches worked with infinite patience, offering steady encouragement. They didn’t rush her. Slowly, they introduced the water using “bunny rings,” a simple tool that allows the kids to reach in and play without having to go under the water. They break down the overwhelming environment into small, manageable victories, like “bunny hops” at the edge of the pool.

She came twice a week, every week, all summer long.

By the end of the season, her fear hadn’t just faded—it had been replaced with confidence. She was getting into the water, comfortable and capable, having gained a tremendous sense of self-belief that will follow her long after the summer ends.

A Legacy of Lasting Impact

While a child learning to swim is a victory in itself, this program’s success—and the countless other programs the Boys & Girls Club offers, from homework help to mentoring—is powered by reliable, long-term partnerships.

For two decades, TRF has been a pillar of support for the club. Whether sponsoring key fundraising events like Casino Night and golf tournaments, or directly supporting programs that fund everything from sports to technology, this relationship ensures the club can meet the evolving needs of the community.

As the club’s Development Director, Erin is focused on ensuring every dollar spent aligns with their mission.  And when a partnership spans twenty years, like it does with TRF and Boys & Girls Club, it becomes a lifetime of possibility.

Building for the Future

The club’s work is constantly evolving to lift up working families. They currently serve kids after school in their 18,000 square foot facility, which includes a gym, kitchen, technology loft, and more. But the community recently identified a critical, devastating need: childcare.

In their entire region, there are only 11 infant childcare spots available, forcing many women out of the workforce.

To meet this crisis head-on, the club is renovating half of its clubhouse to open a new early childhood center this spring. This renovation will create approximately 56 spots for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, offering essential full-time care and allowing parents to return to work, knowing their children are safe.

Another crucial need they are meeting is through the kitchen, which saw a renovation thanks to community members rallying together. Now fully licensed, the club is partnering with the NH Food Bank this spring to provide hot meals. Kids can either eat dinner at the Club or take the meals home, alleviating a major burden on working families and ensuring no child goes hungry.

Your Support is the Foundation

When you support the Turtle Ridge Foundation, you are supporting this powerful foundation. You are supporting the staff who patiently taught a girl to swim, the construction workers who are creating childcare spots, and the hot meals that will keep a family strong.

You are ensuring that the Boys & Girls Club of the North Country can continue to offer a safe place to belong, caring mentors, and enrichment activities that transform lives every day.