Gather, Laurel Adams of Regional Economic Development Center recognized for excellence

Laurel Adams passed away suddenly in July. We join her family and the Regional Economic Development Center (REDC) community in mourning her loss and honoring her legacy — a legacy defined by vision, dedication, and care for those she served. Her recognition as Business NH Magazine’s 2025 Nonprofit Leader of the Year is a reflection of the lasting difference she made in the lives of so many. To learn more about Laurel and her incredible legacy, please read REDC’s announcement and Business NH Magazine’s May article celebrating her work.

Gather, a Portsmouth-based nonprofit offering innovative programs to combat food insecurity in the Seacoast region, has been named Nonprofit of the Year by Business NH Magazine. Laurel Adams, president of the Regional Economic Development Center (REDC), received the Nonprofit Leader of the Year Award for her work in helping small businesses secure the funding and resources they need to succeed.

Both were honored at Business NH Magazine’s Business of the Year Awards luncheon in June and received $5,000 unrestricted grants from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. Recipients for these two awards were selected by a committee that included Foundation grantmaking staff.

Since 1998, the Charitable Foundation has honored excellence in nonprofit management by making an annual award to a New Hampshire nonprofit in tribute to Walter J. Dunfey — a celebrated New Hampshire entrepreneur and philanthropist whose leadership helped galvanize support for the state’s nonprofit sector.

Beginning in 2019, the Foundation has presented this award in conjunction with Business NH Magazine’s Business of the Year Awards, which introduced the Nonprofit of the Year category that year, and added the Nonprofit Leader of the Year category in 2023.

To learn more about this awards program, visit Business NH Magazine’s website.