‘People need hope right now’

When a family is ready to move into a new home built by Southeast New Hampshire Habitat for Humanity, Susan Loker Schneider bakes bread for them to enjoy with their first dinner in the home that they helped to build. Her husband, Kent Schneider, a retired pastor, offers a blessing for the home and all involved in building it.

Small acts of community and celebration that highlight hope for the future.

For Susan and Kent, generosity is about all of those things. Longtime community volunteers, the two now channel their love of community through giving.

Susan and her first husband, Robert Loker, started a donor-advised fund at the Charitable Foundation at the recommendation of a close friend. Robert passed away in 2019. Now, Susan and Kent steward the fund together, expanding their giving horizons and building community around their giving.

Informing all of their giving, Susan said, “is a strong belief in sharing the blessings we have received with others. And why wait to give? The needs are so great right now.”

Initially, Susan said, “our giving was really limited to what we knew.” But a deepening partnership with Janet Guen, Foundation senior philanthropy advisor, “changed the equation.” Janet brings Susan and Kent a variety of giving opportunities that are aligned with their interests, which the Foundation learns about through its work and partnerships with nonprofits.

“It’s a creative collaboration that we have with the Foundation that has led to some very interesting funding opportunities that we are most happy to be a part of,” Kent said.

Susan and Kent approach their giving with two consistent questions: “What’s needed?” and “How can we help?”

Janet introduced the couple to the Monarch School of New England in Rochester, which serves students with special learning needs. The Schneiders recommended funding for a two-year music therapy program at the school. They visited the school with Janet and saw the music therapy program in action. “We came away amazed,” said Susan, “not only by how well the students responded but also the teacher’s skill, dedication and compassion. It was an exciting day! We are proud to be partners in this program.”

The couple cares deeply about providing opportunities for people to discover, explore and develop their creative talents – especially children and young people. Susan and Kent’s donor-advised fund has provided scholarships for high school students to attend the UNH Summer Youth Music School, where hundreds of young musicians learn from professional teachers and perform together. (Kent is a lifelong musician who benefitted from a similarly intensive music program as a young teen).

Through their fund at the Foundation, the Schneiders have recommended grants for scholarships for Manchester high school students to learn about marine science at Shoals Marine Lab; for the Franklin Area Children’s Theater summer programs;  for children’s summer camp scholarships to Habitat for Humanity families; and for children whose lives have been affected by substance use disorders in their family to attend a camp designed specifically to help them to thrive. The couple is also committed to supporting services for veterans and for people with disabilities.

In many cases, Susan and Kent have developed lasting relationships with nonprofit leaders.  “It enlarges our enjoyment of giving to stay connected with people,” Kent said.

Most of their giving stays local, and is focused on helping people to thrive.

Recent world events have prompted the Schneiders to give help to people in desperate need of food and medicine around the world — recommending grants to World Central Kitchen and Doctors without Borders.

“Looking at the current world situation motivates us to help where we can,” Susan said.

Giving, Kent said, provides an “opportunity to influence the world in a positive, hopeful way. And people need hope right now.”