The Gargasz family has made a generous and meaningful gift in remembrance of their beloved wife and mother, Carolyn Gargasz, to name the new Marguerite’s Place residential building planned for 106 Pine Street. Their transformational donation marks one of the earliest leadership gifts to our upcoming capital campaign and reflects their family’s long-standing commitment to strengthening New Hampshire communities. The new building will include thoughtfully designed individual apartments for mothers and children experiencing homelessness, and space for community programs that foster independence and stability.
“Our mother and grandmother believed that home was where love, dignity, and belonging were built—often around a kitchen table,” shared Kaitlyn, Carolyn’s granddaughter. “Naming this building in Carolyn’s honor felt like the most natural way to carry her quiet, steadfast love forward, creating a place where families can feel safe, supported, and truly at home.”
Carolyn was, in every sense, the heart of her family and a pillar of her community. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, she was known for her kindness, warmth, and unwavering support of others. Her love of family time was central to her life. In fact, for Carolyn, family dinners were more than meals—they were moments of connection, conversation, and growth. Now, this legacy will live on not only within her family, but around the tables in the homes at Marguerite’s Place.
Her commitment to her community matched the depth of her love for her family. Carolyn co-founded the S-Team, dedicated to preventing youth substance abuse, and served in numerous civic organizations, including the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Hollis Circle of Home and Family, and the Hollis Woman’s Club, where she was a member and later President.
Carolyn’s public service extended to the state and national level. Beginning in 2000, she served 18 years in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, following in the footsteps of her mother, Gladys Cox. Most of her tenure was dedicated to the Children and Family Law Committee, where she eventually became Chair. She championed children’s well-being in legislation, helped establish the Legislative Youth Advisory Council, and served on the board of the NH Office of Volunteerism.
Nationally, she served as Vice President for Public Policy for Family and Community Education and contributed to the National Task Force on Television Violence. Her dedication to community even brought her abroad to international conferences, reinforcing her commitment to service on a global scale, where she was admired for her humility, grace, curiosity, and compassion for others.
This generous gift will support the Marguerite’s Place capital campaign to construct our new residential building, a space designed to provide safe, stable homes for mothers and children experiencing homelessness, along with integrated holistic support programs that foster long-term stability, independence, and opportunity. The new building will significantly expand our capacity to meet the urgent and growing needs of families in our region.
Emphasizing the importance of this work, the Gargasz family noted that “the need for supportive housing and wholistic services for families in our community is urgent and growing. Marguerite’s Place meets that need with heart, intention, and impact, and we are honored to support its expansion.”
“We are deeply grateful for this lead naming gift. While it provides vital early momentum for our Capital Campaign, its greatest meaning comes from the name that will forever be connected to this new building,” said Hannah Stohler, Executive Director of Marguerite’s Place. “We could not imagine a better role model or community leader to be connected to a space dedicated to helping children and parents thrive for generations to come.”
As part of their philanthropic commitment, the Gargasz family hopes their gift will inspire others to contribute to the construction of the new residence as we move into the next phase of the capital campaign.
“The Gargasz family has generously issued a matching challenge, meaning that many leadership gifts will be matched dollar for dollar through their support,” shared Hannah. “We welcome the opportunity to connect with anyone who is interested in learning more about how they can be part of this exciting moment for our organization and community.”
The Gargasz family reflected on Carolyn’s lasting impact, saying, “If Carolyn taught us anything, it’s that showing up matters. We hope her legacy encourages others to show up for families in our community when it matters most.”
For more information about the campaign or match challenge, please contact Executive Director, Hannah Stohler, at hstohler@margueritesplace or Director of Development, Suzanne Lenz, at slenz@margueritesplace.org.