Bi-Wise Market Partnership with AG New England Provides
Generous Gift to Local Center for Troubled Boys

Bi-Wise Market in Allenstown, New Hampshire, in collaboration with AG New England’s Neighbor 2 Neighbor Program, is giving back to their community in a big way. The program rewards member retailers with matching funds for local charities based on their Shurfine purchases and has, to date, matched independent retailer donations for a combined total of over $450,000 distributed to charitable organizations throughout New England. Friday, the cluster of tan brick buildings nestled in a quiet stand of pines in Allenstown, known as Pine Haven Boys Center, received a $5,000 contribution from Bi-Wise Market.

Independent Retail Grocers have long understood that giving back to the local community is not only the right thing to do, it’s good for business. “We have been supporting Pine Haven Boys Center for over ten years now and are very pleased to be able to assist Father John Vitali and Executive Director Father Paul Riva once again to achieve the center’s mission,” commented a longtime Bi-Wise employee. “With so much negative behavior reinforcement these days, it’s nice to be able to support a group in line with the long-standing Bi-Wise philosophy of seeking out and encouraging a more positive outlook.”

Pine Haven is a private, non-profit, non-sectarian residential facility for troubled boys aged 6-14. The center was founded in 1963 when a group of Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and Jewish citizens met with Somascan Fathers to provide a home for troubled boys. The center operates with some funding from the state, but relies heavily on individual and corporate contributions. Today the center serves 20 boys with behavioral, relational, emotional, and academic problems with a variety of programs ranging from counseling and limit-setting to the teaching of daily living as well as leisure skills such as art, music, and physical education. Through positive experiences, success-based activities, and the inclusion of family in all major decisions, the center strives to meet its ultimate goal of returning youngsters to their families, schools, and communities.

photo: Representatives of Bi-Wise Market, Allenstown, New Hampshire; AG New England, Pembroke, New Hampshire; and Pine Haven Boys Center, Allenstown, meet at the market as the center accepts a check for $5,000. The donation was made possible by AG New England’s Neighbor 2 Neighbor Program.