A Great Event Grows to Support a Great Cause…

Bobby Stephen, a lifelong resident of Manchester, has achieved great success throughout his life.  As a young man working at his uncle's restaurant in Manchester (Cedars of Lebanon), he learned the ropes to become a successful businessman, opening and operating his own Manchester restaurant, Verani's Italian Restaurant, and then the Vault, which quickly became a well-known eatery in the state.  It was at the Vault in 1978 where the “Bobby Stephen St. Patrick’s Day Event” was officially born…bringing out hundreds of patrons to celebrate the green each year. 

 

Although a restauranteur at heart, Bobby’s resolute passion for helping others turned his attention toward public service, where he flourished as a community activist and was elected as a State Senator, representing the citizens of Manchester during the 1980's. After serving the people of Manchester in the Senate, Bobby went on to serve all NH citizens through his director roles at the NH Job Training Council and NH’s Department of Resources and Economic Development.  It was during his tenure at the NH Job Training Council in 1994 when Bobby began dedicating proceeds from his annual St. Patrick’s Day Event, through the NH Jobs for America’s Graduates program, to support at-risk and disadvantaged high school students in need of financial assistance for college. 

 

Bobby’s passion truly lies in helping others, hence in 1999 he established the Bobby Stephen's Fund for Education, and transitioned his long-standing “Bobby Stephens St. Patrick’s Day Event” into an annual fundraising event to support educational opportunities for NH citizens.  The Bobby Stephen's Fund for Education, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was created to provide scholarships to NH Jobs for America’s Graduates students, as well as other disadvantaged citizens throughout NH who need financial assistance to help them reach their educational goals.  In addition to the St. Patrick’s Day Event, Bobby also raises money for the Fund through other endeavors including the Fight to Educate, held at Manchester's SNHU Arena each year.

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Since its establishment in 1978, the event has certainly blossomed into a major fundraiser.  Annually, the Bobby Stephen St. Patrick's Day event feeds and entertains over 550 people, attracts dozens of corporate sponsors, receives over $10,000 worth of donated raffle prizes, and raises close to $100,000 to support educational scholarships in the Granite State. 

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All contributions to the Bobby Stephen’s Fund for Education are tax deductible.  Please join us in March each year to celebrate the "green" with us, while raising some "green" to help those who need it the most!  If you would like to make a contribution directly to the fund, you can do so on our “Donate” page.  All donations are always welcome and very much appreciated!