Epping, NH – “I thought 30 years of doing this was a lot but I am humbled standing here in the presence of an organization that has been doing it for 100 years” so spoke Scott Knightly, president and owner of EnviroVantage as he shared the stage with Breathe New Hampshire President Dan Fortin.
Knightly was giving the keynote speech at the grand dual-anniversary event that celebrated EnviroVantage providing 30 years and Breathe NH 100 years of public health protection.
Knightly generously praised the union of the two organizations by saying “the prime mission of EnviroVantage is to rid building and homes of the contaminants. Back when older buildings and homes were built, things like asbestos and lead paint were key to the construction. However, now they are known to be harmful to the environment and to individuals. Our goal is to eliminate these toxins. Breathe NH’s goal is to provide educational programs and support public health advocacy and scientific research focused on preventing, eliminating, and treating lung disease. The joining of our two organizations to celebrate our longevity and progress of our common cause allows us the chance to say ‘well done’ to each other and then continue the fight to preserve our living environment.”
For EnviroVantage, the celebration marks their 30th year in business, starting from a small 1-room operation in Durham NH to what is now one of the largest companies for the removal of lead paint, asbestos and mold, demolition, disaster recovery, and environmental clean-up.
For Breathe NH, this year commemorates their centennial celebration. Founded in 1916, Breathe New Hampshire is the state’s oldest non-profit public health agency. Started by a group of concerned citizens, they established the New Hampshire Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis. Their initial objective was to stop the spread of tuberculosis in New Hampshire. Previously known as The New Hampshire Lung Association, they changed their name to Breathe NH in 2007 to reflect their evolving focus on addressing a broader array of lung health issues
It was Fortin that noted during his address to the crowd “it is completely clear to me why we are here as a partner tonight. Your values and the way in which you do business are totally aligned with the Breathe NH mission to protect the public from harmful contaminants and improve the quality of life. Your donation and support from tonight’s event will go a long way in helping our advocacy, our education programs and our funding for medical research for better air quality. On behalf of all the people we serve in New Hampshire, we are appreciative of your generosity”.
The gala event featured a video, award presentations and a silent auction with over a dozen items for the attendees to bid on including sports memorabilia and tickets, getaway weekends and golf outings with 100% of the proceeds going directly to Breathe NH. All totaled, based on the auction bids and EnviroVantage’s donation on behalf of each guest present, Breathe NH was the beneficiary of a $6,000 donation.
