MANCHESTER — Swim With A Mission (SWAM) recently presented Liberty House with a check for $30,000 to help support homeless and struggling veterans in New Hampshire.

Liberty House is known as a safe haven that provides substance-free housing and assistance around everyday needs to help veterans get back on their feet, regain their independence and build stable futures.

Liberty House, a program of Catholic Charities, serves two groups of veterans: veterans who are in recovery and community veterans. The sober transitional living program serves male veterans in recovery who are either homeless or face insecure housing; many of whom experience PTS, mental health challenges, unemployment and other significant barriers, and do not have access to traditional veteran benefits. Through Liberty House’s four-step program, they walk alongside each veteran resident and support their self-directed plan for independence.

Another large part of the Liberty House program is to connect veterans to community resources to both help them achieve immediate goals and to ensure sustainable success. Since 2004, they have helped over 370 resident veterans through the transitional living program. They also regularly work with struggling or homeless veterans from the community, male and female, many of whom are on fixed incomes, providing them with assistance such as food, clothing, transportation (gas cards, bus passes), camping gear and community referrals.

SWAM is on a mission to make sure that every homeless and struggling veteran gets the help that they need. This money will go a long way to help our veterans to lead healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives. If you or someone you know is a veteran and looking for a safe haven to help build a stable future, please go to https://libertyhousenh.org or call 603-669-0761.

BEDFORD, NH – Swim With A Mission (SWAM) has added Mark J. Aquilino, President and CEO of Outdoor Pride Landscape and Snow Management, to the nonprofits board of directors.

“SWAM is an organization that my company and my family has supported for many years and it’s an honor to be elected as a new board member,” said Mark Aquilino, President, Outdoor Pride Landscape & Snow Management. “Joining the board of directors allows for me to establish a better understanding of ways to continue supporting those who have served our country and I am extremely excited to put my time, heart and energy into this amazing organization.”

Mark will join Phil Taub (Co-Founder and Chair), Kelly Ayotte, Andy Crews, Joe Graham, Jeff Hiatt, Steve Talarico, Angelo Mazzella, Mark Prestipino and Rick Brenner on the board. SWAM was started because of the concern and frustration about how our veterans were being treated and we felt the need to do something. Our Veterans and their families have given so much and for some, have made the ultimate sacrifice. Since being founded in 2017, SWAM has given almost $10 million to service and support organizations that provide critical services to Veterans. “We are very happy that Mark Aquilino has agreed to join the Swim With A Mission Board,” said Phil Taub, Co-Founder and Board Chair of SWAM. “Mark’s energy, enthusiasm, leadership and commitment to Veterans is remarkable and makes him an excellent addition to our Board. Our Veterans will be the big winners here.”

Outdoor Pride is the Northeast’s leading snow and landscape management provider. Mark J. Aquilino assumed the role of president in 2016 and has grown the company by nearly 290% (7 million to 24 million). He gained national recognition as a “Forbes Small Giant,” several national industry awards, one of the best places to work in snow and ice management and most recently the 2022 Business Excellence winner for the Real Estate & Construction category for a large company.

Mark also founded the Aquilino Family Foundation in 2019 to support local nonprofits, donating more than $250,000 since. SWAM is honored to have another business and community leader on the board to help promote the mission of serving the veteran community here in New Hampshire and beyond.

CBS News Boston- Mike Uva

MANCHESTER, NH – They may own an NFL record, but each one of the Patriots six Super Bowl titles have a special spot in the hearts of New England fans. But for Lou Imbriano, he’s hoping to create a new memory with one of them.

The former New England Patriots VP and Chief Marketing Officer is auctioning off his official Super Bowl XXXVIII ring that he earned with the Pats for the 2003 season. The Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in that game.

“Everybody remembers, if you’re a New England Patriots fan, where you were when they won the first Super Bowl, when they won the second Super Bowl, and when they won their third Super Bowl,” said Imbriano. “I don’t put the second ring on, hardly ever, maybe we should do something with that ring, and it just dawned on me.”

The proceeds from each raffle ticket purchased will be going to Swim With a Mission. An organization for veterans. The origin of their name comes from their first event, which was a swimming event.

“Every dollar will go help buy service dogs, pay for our therapy programs, recreational retreats,” said Phil Taub, who is the co-founder of SWAM. “All the kind of things that are going to help reduce suicide amongst our veterans amongst our veterans.”

“My grandfather always used to say to me, ‘you’re not really generous unless it hurts a little,'” said Imbriano. “So, what you want to do is give until it hurts a little. We felt like this was a little extra than just giving some money or some time.”

To enter the auction all you need to do is visit Go.RallyUp.com/SWAM. But don’t hesitate because they’re only selling 1,000 tickets or until the end of the Super Bowl. With the price of each ticket selling for $100.

“Now when you can have folks who have never been involved or have touched the organization to be able to give $100 to charity,” said Imbriano. “I think we’ve widened the net of people who now know about the organization and how important it is to donate to the veterans.”

“If we could hold fun, exciting, and unique events we could inspire people to do something,” said Taub. “Lou and (his wife Patricia) are a great example of inspiring somebody in the community to help.”

As far as where Imbriano’s two other Super Bowl rings will go? He plans on handing them down to his son Antonio and daughter Victoria.