Senator Hassan Recognizes Thompson E. Potter III of Epping as November 2018 Granite Stater of the Month

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan today recognized Portsmouth Police Officer Thompson E. Potter III of Epping as the November 2018 Granite Stater of the Month for his work helping send students from traditionally underserved backgrounds to summer camp.

Officer Potter credits the YMCA camp he attended as a boy with helping instill in him the values of respect and responsibility, and he wanted to extend that opportunity to other students. His goal was to raise $5,000 to send five boys to the YMCA camp, but instead he raised $13,000, which was enough to send six boys to summer camp and outfit them with all the gear they would need. Officer Potter intends to continue his efforts next summer, with the goal of sending five boys and five girls to camp.

Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative last year to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here.

Click here and see below for a statement that Senator Hassan submitted into the Congressional Record recognizing Officer Potter.

Mr. President, this month, I am proud to recognize as our Granite Stater of the month an individual who has gone to great lengths to serve his community, Portsmouth Police Officer Thompson E. Potter III of Epping. After filling in at Portsmouth Middle School as a school resource officer, he was inspired to launch a fundraising campaign to provide the funds for six boys from traditionally underserved backgrounds to attend summer camp.

Officer Potter said that he attributes the YMCA camp he attended as a boy with helping instill in him the values of respect and responsibility, and putting him on a path to success. He also credits the camp with raising his self-esteem, and he believes that other young men could benefit from that same type of experience.

His goal was to raise $5,000 to send five boys to the YMCA camp, and donations immediately began coming in. As Officer Potter put it, the whole community worked to “help take care of these boys,” with Portsmouth Middle School staff and parents, friends, businesses, and other community members supporting the effort.

Ultimately, Officer Potter raised $13,000, which was enough to send six boys to camp and outfit them with all of the gear they would need.

Officer Potter intends to continue his efforts next summer, with the goal of sending five boys and five girls to camp. He says that he wants to give these students something to look forward to and give them a foundation to build upon.

For his commitment to his community, the young people of Portsmouth, and the better future that these young people will build, I am proud to recognize Officer Potter as the November Granite Stater of the Month.  

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