2024….This Could Be….

Karen and Jay share the belief that 2024 has the potential to be the start of something big, something important, something great – especially if we approach the new year with positive energy and a belief in the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.

The ‘Start of Something Big!’  Bounding into the New Year – with optimism and energy – Especially excited about taking the Sunshine Initiative to an entirely new level in ‘24 (Please see below.)  And, in so doing, reflecting on a well-known song from an earlier era – which seems so appropriate as we kick off 2024.  It was the theme song for the Steve Allen Show, a TV show from the late 1950’s/early 1960’s - that was the precursor to the Tonight Show.  And the title of the song literally was ‘This Could be the Start of Something Big.’  To get in the mood for a great start into ’24, please go ahead and click on this link.  Definitely going to put you in an upbeat frame of mind.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05pU6l4PEJw 

As you may know, when Karen and I founded the Sunshine Initiative more than five years ago – we did so as a way to help revitalize my hometown of Newport, New Hampshire.  With an outpouring of support from the community, the Initiative has achieved outstanding success.  Creating jobs, restoring the historic Opera House on the main street, breaking ground on a new Community Center last week, transforming a dormant mill on the edge of downtown into 70 beautiful apartments overlooking the Sugar River, a robotics program for the high school and much more. Not to mention setting a Guinness World Record for sunflowers – right in Newport, also known for many years as the ‘Sunshine Town.’

In fact, the efforts have been so successful that last year we launched similar revitalization initiatives in four additional New Hampshire communities – that had experienced economic declines and were in need of a rebirth.  These include Laconia, Rochester, Claremont, and the west side of Manchester.  Progress is ongoing and we are excited about the positive impact and momentum these efforts are achieving.

However, here comes the BIG NEWS.  We will be dramatically expanding our efforts in 2024.  We have formalized our approach, registered our non-profit 501c.3, and are setting our sights on a more expansive vision.  I think we’ve all come to realize that there are small towns and communities all across America that have experienced significant economic declines and a fraying of the social fabric.  Over the years in these communities, we’ve seen mills closing down, jobs moving offshore – and a sense of hopelessness and decay.  In our hearts, we know that this represents a hollowing out of America and a weakening of all that we hold dear.

As a result, we at the Sunshine Initiative believe that we need to change all this and are committed to do so.  We need to rebuild and revitalize these communities – and we know it can be done.  Therefore, we are setting our sights on an ambitious goal.  The Sunshine Initiative is setting out on a course to help revitalize more than 1,000+ such communities across this great country.  We know it won’t be easy – and it’s not going to happen overnight.  But we are committed to this objective and will ensure that it is achieved.

So, please stay tuned as we embark on this ambitious effort.  As 2024 progresses, we will be updating you on our progress – and most important, will be asking for your support and participation, with specific opportunities for you to get involved. Onwards and upwards – to an exciting and highly impactful 2024 – and a shared commitment to rebuild America – working together to revitalize our small towns and communities that form the backbone of this great nation.

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