Southern NH Ukulele Group Receives New Hampshire “Volunteer Champion” Award

The Southern NH Ukulele Group (SNHUG) was honored with the 'Volunteer Champion' award at the recent Spirit of New Hampshire Awards, hosted by VolunteerNH. This prestigious event took place on October 21 at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, with WMUR's Erin Fehlau and Sean McDonald as emcees.

Since 2003, the Spirit of New Hampshire Awards have recognized outstanding volunteerism throughout the state, celebrating individuals and groups who go 'above and beyond' in their service. The awards honor New Hampshire's unsung heroes in the presence of their families, friends, and the broader community.

Jenny Stuart and Keith MacFadgen, SNHUG organizers and instructors, accepted the award on the group's behalf. SNHUG also performed at the entrance of the event, earning enthusiastic praise for their lively performance from attendees and guests.

Since 2012, SNHUG has been committed to giving back to the community. In partnership with the Ukulele Kids Club, a 501(c)(3) organization, SNHUG helps bring the healing power of music therapy and instruments to hospitalized children locally and nationwide. The group also offers free beginner ukulele workshops and provides a 'ukulele library' that travels to libraries and community spaces across New Hampshire. Additionally, SNHUG performs at fairs, festivals, nursing homes, and veterans’ homes throughout the state and beyond as part of their mission to give back to the community.
 
SNHUG was organized twelve years ago and meets every other Friday in Brentwood or Exeter. They are open to players of all levels.  Meetings include classes, workshops, jam sessions, and open mics.  To date, SNHUG has raised over $108,000 for charity.   For information contact snhug@outlook.com or visit  www.facebook/snhug

The UKC is affiliated with hospitals throughout the world including several here in New England.  To date, the UKC has provided over 16,000 ukuleles as well as music therapy sessions to children in need of a smile, as well as their families and caregivers. Studies have shown that the therapeutic power of music is an effective clinical tool for physical, cognitive and emotional rehabilitation in children. For more information, visit https://theukc.org.