Dover's Matt Mayberry has been named Citizen of the Year by the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce and he says he is both humbled and grateful.

"It's actually not my award. It's our award because it is a reflection of the people in the community who step up to help," Mayberry said during an interview on Thursday.

Mayberry, who is known throughout the state as being a former vice chair of the New Hampshire Republican Party and a 2020 candidate for the 1st District U.S. House seat, is known in Dover for his commitment to local leadership.

Mayberry is a former three-term city councilor and former school board member.

Mayberry founded Prayers for Prevention to raise suicide awareness in the state, created the Dover Food Festival in 2019, created and ran Wreaths Across NH, and expanded Farms to Families from Dover to Nashua.

During the pandemic, Mayberry has delivered more than 2,500 meals through the Strafford County Meals on Wheels program, organized Gratitude Givers events to celebrate front line workers and he is currently volunteering his time to help distribute vaccinations.

When asked about what struck him most about the work he has done during the past year, Mayberry mentioned Gratitude Givers first.

One of the first events they did was at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester.

"Nurses would well up. I had a police officer hug me," Mayberry said.

Other award winners

The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce will recognize Mayberry and other award winners during an awards gala at the Regatta Banquet & Conference Center in Eliot, Maine, on June 4.

Volunteer of the Year is Deborah Clough, who is a board member of Dover Main Street.

Nonprofit of the Year is SOS Recovery Community Organization.

Business of the Year is ConvenientMD Urgent Care.

The Educator of the Year is MJ Hippern, academic coordinator for the Physical Education and Wellness Department at Dover High School.

The Legacy Award will be revealed on the night of the event.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit dovernh.org/awards.

Contact Managing News Editor Kimberley Haas at Kimberley.Haas@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @KimberleyHaas.

 

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