Waltham Nonprofit Named Nonprofit Excellence Award Finalist

May 8, 2014- The Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (MNN) is pleased to announce that Junior Achievement of Northern New England in Waltham, which serves at risk youth, has been selected as a finalist for the 2014 Nonprofit Excellence Awards for their success in board leadership. The Excellence Awards will be presented on Nonprofit Awareness Day, a statewide holiday on June 9 that celebrates the work of the nonprofit sector and raises awareness of causes throughout Massachusetts.

“Nonprofit Awareness Day was created to recognize the impact and importance of the more than 33,000 nonprofits and almost half a million nonprofit employees that provide invaluable services and are the cornerstones of our communities,” said Rick Jakious, CEO of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network. “Excellence Award finalists truly exemplify the most innovative, creative, and effective work being done throughout the Commonwealth.” 

Excellence Award finalists are nominated by community members and peers and are selected by an independent panel of nonprofit leaders. This year, MNN received a record 209 Nonprofit Excellence Award nominations. Finalists will be recognized and winners will be announced at the Nonprofit Awareness Day celebration at the State House on June 9, presented by MNN and Citizens Bank.

Junior Achievement of Northern New England, Inc. (JANNE) teaches financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship to students in kindergarten through high school. Over the 2012-2013 school year they served more than 38,000 youth.  Under the Board’s leadership, the organization successfully navigated a major leadership transition and has almost doubled operating surplus, dramatically increased student impact, boosted the number of trained volunteers by 47%, and almost doubled the amount of staff.

“I am proud to work with such a committed, passionate Board of Directors at Junior Achievement of Northern New England. Their dedication, both in terms of hours served and dollars raised for JANNE’s mission, is exemplary. They could not be more deserving of this award,” said Emily A. Neill, President of Junior Achievement of Northern New England.

Nonprofits across the state will also be engaging in a social media campaign on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram leading up to June 9 and will use the hashtag #nonprofitsmakesense to highlight their unique contributions to their communities. Details are available here.

About the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network

The Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (MNN) is the voice of the entire nonprofit sector in Massachusetts. MNN was launched in 2007 and is the only statewide organization dedicated to strengthening communities by serving nonprofit organizations through advocacy, public awareness, and capacity building. MNN has more than 625 member organizations, representing nonprofits in every part of Massachusetts, from the Berkshires to the Cape and Islands. For more information about the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, visit www.massnonprofitnet.org

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