Thank you for joining us at BCNH’s first event!
On April 23rd over 100 members of the BCNH community came together to stand with New Americans. Guests enjoyed fellowship, cultural food and music, and stories from BCNH clients. Thank you to all who joined this joyful, impactful, and important celebration. We look forward to welcoming you back next year.
Awardees
Community Cornerstone Award
Representative Suraj Budathoki serves in the New Hampshire House of Representatives (Hillsborough County District 40). A former Bhutanese refugee, he spent nearly two decades in refugee camps in Nepal before resettling in the United States in 2009.
He later served as a State Representative for the U.S. Refugee Congress. Suraj is the founder of Peace Initiative Bhutan, working to advance dialogue, reconciliation, and peaceful resolution between the government of Bhutan and exiled Bhutanese communities.
He is also a business owner and a doctoral student in Transformative Social Change at Saybrook University, focusing on conflict transformation and peacebuilding. His work and writing center on human rights, resilience, and building inclusive communities.
Suraj Budathoki
Pathways to Prosperity Award
Stephen Duprey is a well-known businessman, civic and community leader. He is the owner of the Duprey Companies, a diversified real estate development and hospitality business that includes Duprey Hospitality, 6 hotels, 2 conference venues, and Foxfire Property Management. He works with 300 associates.
Duprey is widely recognized for his civic and community involvement with over 50 years of continuous volunteer service to state agencies. He has served on the New Hampshire Personnel Commission, the Ballot Law Commission, the Community Development Finance Authority, the Business Finance Authority, the New Hampshire National Finance Authority, and the Pease Development Authority. He is known for his legislative efforts to create a number of state agencies focused on economic and community development, including the creation of the New Hampshire CDFA, the BFA, and the Department of Business and Economic Development.
He has served on numerous state charitable organizations and boards, including the Currier Museum of Art, New Hampshire Public Radio, New Hampshire Civics, New Hampshire Historical Society, New Hampshire YMCA and Franklin Pierce University. In addition, he has served on many Concord charitable and civic boards. He has a long history in elective politics, most notably as being elected the youngest legislator in the country at the age of 19 in 1972, and most recently as a senior advisor to the late Senator John McCain.
Steve Duprey
Community Impact Award
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
Senator Shaheen is committed to serving the citizens of New Hampshire and is known for her common-sense leadership, hard work and dedication to improving the lives of the middle class. She has served in the Senate since 2009 and is a member of the Senate Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Relations, Appropriations, Small Business and Entrepreneurship and the Select Committee on Ethics.
As a former small business owner, Senator Shaheen knows how tough it can be for entrepreneurs, who often operate on razor thin profit margins. On the Small Business Committee, she’s expanded small businesses’ access to credit and markets. Her annual Experience New Hampshire event in Washington, D.C., gives New Hampshire businesses a forum to showcase their products and services to policymakers and government officials. Shaheen continues to lead efforts in the Senate to protect New Hampshire businesses from having to unfairly collect internet sales taxes for other states.
The opioid epidemic is the worst public health crisis in New Hampshire’s history, and Senator Shaheen has made fighting this crisis her number one priority in Congress. Through her leadership on the Appropriations committee, Senator Shaheen worked to deliver a seven fold increase in resources to help Granite Staters suffering from substance use disorders receive desperately needed treatment. She works across the aisle to provide tools that treatment providers, law enforcement and first responders need to deliver lifesaving services.
Shaheen helped pass the Affordable Care Act, and has defended the law from partisan attacks, ensuring that tens of thousands of Granite Staters can keep their health care. The law drastically expanded the availability of drug treatment in New Hampshire through Medicaid Expansion, a vital tool to address the opioid crisis, and provided protections to people with pre-existing conditions. She continues to lead efforts in the Senate to advance common-sense health care legislation that would expand access to care and lower the costs of both treatment and prescription drugs.
Community Impact Award
Letizia Ortiz
Letizia Ortiz is a constituent services professional with over 17 years of experience in immigration and citizenship casework. Since 2009, she has served on staff at the office of U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, where she currently is Deputy Director of Constituent Services. Additionally, Letizia does immigration policy work in support of the immigrant and refugee population.
Originally from Mexico City and fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese, she is known for her expertise in navigating federal agencies and working complex immigration cases. Her prior experience includes work with nonprofit organizations, advocating for healthcare and immigration. Letizia holds an Associate of Arts degree from Southern New Hampshire University, along with certifications in medical and legal interpretation.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Gold Level Sponsors
Silver Level Sponsors
Bronze Level Sponsors
Venue Sponsor
In-Kind Sponsors
FAQs
-
BCNH’s volunteer needs can include things like transportation, English tutoring, and other practical support that helps newcomers navigate everyday life.
-
No. Speaking another language can be helpful, but it is not the only way to make a difference. Many volunteer roles rely on consistency, kindness, and a willingness to help.
-
Yes. Community groups and businesses that want to support BCNH’s mission are encouraged to reach out and explore how they can help.
-
All volunteers working directly with clients will need to meet 1:1 with a BCNH staff member, submit an application, and consent to a criminal background check. Volunteers who plan to offer rides to BCNH clients must also provide a copy of their driver’s license and proof of insurance.
-
Contact BCNH through the website or by email (nshults@bcinnh.org) and let the team know you are interested in volunteering. They can point you to the right next step.