Amherst Label’s WHY is spelled out as We Help You. We have been extending that mission into our communities and our customers’ communities for many, many years. But in 2021, we began organizing our philanthropy in a new way and making it part of the Benefits we offer our team members.
Since when is charitable giving an employee benefit? At Amherst Label, the official answer is since November 2021 when the company introduced the Give Back / Give Thanks program and encouraged team members to nominate causes near to their hearts. Initially, a youth football team, a college-age baseball team and a neighbor coping with serious illness were recipients of gifts from the program.
“We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give.”
—Winston Churchill
Asked about giving back, Angela Calvetti Hornor (granddaughter of Amherst Label’s founder) comments that giving is found “deep down in Amherst Label’s roots” and began with her grandfather giving his time to community causes. “Volunteering and giving are part of how we were brought up,” she says, referencing her grandfather, father, and other family participating in organizing and coaching youth sports.
The Give Back / Give Thanks program facilitates philanthropy. “We want to empower Amherst Label employees to help make a difference in ways they can, and to support them by donating to causes they care about,” Angela explains. “Giving back to me means helping and trying to make a difference for the causes and communities that I care about. It is so fulfilling to know you have collaborated with others who feel similarly and made a positive impact. There are so many worthy causes and so many ways to help,” she says.
Winston Churchill famously said, “We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give.” At Amherst Label, there is a spirit of giving, wanting to help when and where we can. That spirit underwrites our WHY, “We Help You,” our raison d’etre.
A wonderful opportunity to help came our way when the Greater Merrimack Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce rekindled its scholarship program for area students heading to trade schools and colleges. THE STORY
Amherst Label is committed to being of help in our communities. Following are some examples of the causes we have supported.
Cheering for Youth
As the Hudson Litchfield Bears Football Cheer Team head to the Northeast Regionals in RI on November 19, 2022, they have the Al team cheering for them.
Amherst Label’s Purchasing Manager Secret Lussier helps coach the team on which her daughter cheers and says, ”Leah and I are so grateful to be part of the AL family. The company’s continued support in various ways to the families in Al and the community really makes us proud to be part of the AL team.”
Amherst Label’s contribution was earmarked for general support, required EMTs at each event, uniforms for the kids, and the cost to hire officials.
Supporting the Pan-Mass Challenge to fight cancer
When Shane Beaton’s customer Karen Collins at Bisousweet clipped into her pedals in August to ride the Pan-Mass Challenge, she wasn’t alone. She had Shane and the Amherst Label team behind her, proud to support her effort which was originally inspired by her customer.
Karen’s statement is an inspiration to read. Here’s an excerpt:
Riding in the PMC is an honor—a gift I cherish. It’s my chance to step off the sidelines and take action in the fight to find a cure…. While there have been remarkable advances made in cancer research and treatment, the fight is not even close to being over…. The PMC raises more money for charity than any other single event in the country. This success is the result of a lot of people riding for, and caring about, a cure.
A Home Run for Girls’ Athletics
Our A-list printer Mark Brouillet is a big fan of his daughters’ softball squads and all of us at Amherst Label are big fans of his. So when Mark asked AL to help the NH Comets Softball Organization in Concord, NH, host their annual fundraising tournament last summer, it was an obvious home run pitch. The Comets “provide a supportive environment for female athletes to improve their softball skills, and participate in quality tournament play…. while promoting and providing opportunities for women as players, coaches, volunteers, and citizens.” As one of the largest and best run tournaments in New England, 74 teams participated.
Make a Wish
Amherst Label Account Exec Shane Beaton’s neighbor organizes a Make-A-Wish fundraiser. Shane wanted to help her. Amherst Label wanted to help too.
Rafting for Wishes is an unusual annual fundraiser benefiting Make-A-Wish New Hampshire each July. Teams raft together for 24 hours in Meredith, NH, raising $300,000 each year! Shane made sure they had labels for water bottles and other uses and helped play a small part in the success of the event. The full story.
Helping Brewers Help Others
Many breweries are welcoming gathering places in their communities, clearing houses of local lore and information. And brewers tend to be the friendly sort who help each other and extend a hand to those in need. Amherst Label has been fortunate to become a supplier to many wonderful breweries throughout the Northeast. When brewers get together to do collaborative releases to help the hospitality industry through times of trouble, we have eagerly agreed to help.
Pictured is Amherst Label Account Exec Nicholas Kepka Calvetti, point person for our memberships in the Maine and NH Brewers’ associations. This year, we made labels for 10 NH brewers who participated in the collaboration project, “Keep NH Brewing.” In addition to deeply discounting the collaboration labels, AL donated $50 for each customer to the NH Brewers Association.
Maine Brewers Guild Collaboration 2021
NH Brewers Association 2021
All Together, Teaming Up with Customers in Times of Trouble
Calvetti Family Field at Souhegan High School
In 2016, Amherst Label and the Calvetti Family Fund helped Souhegan High School install a beautiful new turf field, making it possible for hundreds of student athletes to participate in field sports at a competitive level. The story is here. The spectacular aerial footage for this video was shot in 2021 by a former intern at Amherst Label, Taylor Austin, a graduate of Milford High School. Amherst Label’s owner Nick Calvetti envisioned a shot going from goal post to goal post and worked with Taylor to achieve that vision.
<br>
Andy’s Summer Playhouse
The Amherst Label/ Calvetti Family Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation announced a matching opportunity for Andy’s Summer Playhouse to fuel the organization in 2022.
The innovative theater program in nearby Wilton, NH, “reinvents theater by children for audiences of all ages.” The impact of its programs has benefitted area children, their families and audiences, including members of the Amherst Label family. Angela Calvetti Hornor, our special projects manager, and Scott Blanchard, one of our digital press operators, are both longtime volunteers for Andy’s and their kids have participated in many shows.
