Congressman to be honored for grant

U.S. Rep Paul Hodes, D-N.H., will be honored by the Nashua Police Athletic League on Friday for his efforts to obtain a $150,000 grant for the PAL Youth Safe Haven.

Hodes is scheduled to visit the Youth Safe Haven at 52 Ash St., from 4-5 p.m., where Mayor Donnalee Lozeau and several members of the Board of Aldermen will present a plaque of appreciation to be displayed at the center.

Located in the Tree Streets neighborhood, the Nashua PAL Youth Safe Haven provides an after-school program at no charge to at-risk children in the downtown area. Services include tutoring, homework assistance, athletics, crafts and other enrichment programs.

The program was initially funded by the Milton Eisenhower Foundation, but by early 2008 continued funding from that source appeared unlikely. “That’s where Congressman Hodes stepped in, and he and his support staff worked with us to obtain alternative funding,” said J. Daniel Marr, chairman of the board of directors for the Nashua Police Athletic League.

Hodes eventually arranged for the $150,000 funding request to be placed into the House Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriation’s bill for FY 2009.

Nashua Police Athletic League is a private, charitable organization working closely with local government, police and schools on issues affecting the wellbeing of local children.