Bow Resident Receives Visiting Nurse Association Annual Honor

CONCORD, NH — The Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association’s director of donor services has been recognized as the organization’s Living Our Values recipient for 2020 in an award that recognizes someone who demonstrates the association’s core values of respect, compassion and other traits.

Melissa Howard was recognized as this year’s award winner by the association, which is New Hampshire’s largest home health and hospice provider. Each year, the organization invites staff members to nominate one of their peers for the honor for their interaction with patients, families, the community, donors and volunteers.

The annual award was started in 2019 and Howard was chosen from 25 nominations that were submitted based on her observations from her peers. Howard was presented with the award virtually last week by Concord Visiting Nurse Association CEO and President Beth Slepian.

“The thoughtful nominations we received speak volumes about our team, and how we recognize and value how each of us contributes to carrying out the important and invaluable work of our agency every day,” Slepian said in a news release announcing the honor for Howard. “Congratulations to Melissa, whose commitment to excellence is unmatched, and thank you to all of our staff for their continued dedication to our agency, our patients and our communities.”

In nominating Howard, colleagues noted, “Melissa has a way of making you feel as if you are the only person who matters and shows a true interest in your ideas and thoughts,” and, “She helps create meaning in every task and relates each to the goals, vision and mission of the agency. Melissa recognizes the strengths in others and helps to build upon those strengths. She is a wonderful leader, a pleasure to work with and a true role model,” according to a news release issued by the association.

Howard, who lives in Bow, has been with Concord Regional VNA for nearly five years and oversees all fundraising and development activities to enhance the agency’s visibility, impact and financial resources. According to the news release, Howard has created and implemented a planned giving program to increase support through bequests, wills and trusts, enhanced philanthropy performance strategies and results tracking, and consistently met agency fundraising goals.

“Working for a mission-based, not-for-profit agency that is dedicated to the wellness of my neighbors has been rewarding and has made me a stronger professional,” Howard said in the news release. “Knowing I am making a difference is the fuel that drives me to keep learning and growing each day, and I am so humbled and honored to be recognized by my hard-working, talented, passionate peers.”

Howard spent a decade in sales management in the hospitality industry before joining Elms College, her alma mater, as director of annual giving and major gifts officer. After more than three years at Elms, Howard joined Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association in 2015. She currently serves on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals — Northern New England Chapter — and is a former board member of Women in Philanthropy and Meeting Professionals International.