From Treasurer to ‘Dancing Doug’: Doug Morrissette Helps Lead the Children’s Fund Into Its Next Chapter
Updated: 2 days ago
Morrissette grew up in the Lakes Region and had been involved with events supporting the December Children’s Auction for years before taking on a formal leadership role. He volunteered on the Auction phone bank and saw firsthand the impact the organization could have throughout the community.
Then, in 2020, Mike Seymour asked whether he would be interested in becoming treasurer of the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Fund.
Morrissette did not hesitate.
“I was thrilled and honored,” he said. “I had already seen firsthand the impact the organization had on the community, so being asked to take on a larger role meant a lot to me.”
His involvement continued to grow from there.
Growing into leadership
As treasurer, Morrissette worked closely with the Fund’s former chairperson and learned more about what it took to keep the organization moving forward.
When he eventually stepped into the chairperson role himself, one of his priorities was making sure leadership remained collaborative.
He wanted a vice chair who would work alongside him as part of a team rather than allowing responsibility to fall on one person. Larry Poliquin stepped into that role, and the two have since divided responsibilities while remaining closely connected.
“We tackle everything as a team,” Morrissette said.
Poliquin often focuses more heavily on the production side of the December Auction, while Morrissette works behind the scenes with volunteers, logistics and the many moving pieces required to keep things running smoothly.
“It gives people two points of contact and helps make sure nothing falls through the cracks,” he said. “The goal is to keep everything working like a well-oiled machine.”
For Executive Director Jennifer Kelley, that leadership style has played a major role in the Fund’s continued success.
“From my perspective, as the only employee, we have achieved our level of success because Doug is at the helm,” Kelley said. “He is level-headed and has a great forward-thinking mentality. He listens to everyone’s ideas and has a way of bringing our team together.”
More than one week in December
Morrissette believes one reason the December Children’s Auction has remained a Lakes Region tradition for 45 years is that the organization has continued to evolve.
What was once centered largely around the annual Auction has grown into a year-round community effort.
“It isn’t only one event anymore,” he said. “There are different groups hosting events throughout the year, fundraising, and we’ve continued to increase awareness and stay present in the community.”
He credits Kelley with helping build a strong network of people who continue raising awareness for the Fund and its mission across the Lakes Region.
Those efforts have become increasingly important as the number of requests for assistance continues to grow.
“Our most important role is continuing to raise awareness about the needs facing children and families,” Morrissette said. “We play an important role in the community, but we are not the only organization doing this work. Our role is to make sure other nonprofits and organizations have the resources they need to continue the important work they do.”
Powered by volunteers
For Morrissette, one of the most important things for people to understand about the Children’s Fund is just how much of the organization depends on volunteers.
Kelley is the organization’s only salaried employee.
The rest of the work comes from a network of volunteers who give thousands of hours each year to fundraising events, Auction preparation, item entry, production, collection efforts and countless other responsibilities.
Morrissette estimates that more than 1,000 people contribute approximately 8,000 hours of volunteer work.
“That says so much about the generosity and dedication of this community,” he said.
Some volunteers have been returning for 25 years or more.
“They’re always asking, ‘When can we start?’ or ‘What can we do to help?’” Morrissette said. “When everyone comes together, it really does feel like a family. We work well together, and it becomes a happy and inspiring place to be.”
That family feeling extends to Morrissette’s own home. His wife, has become deeply involved as well, spending hours helping input Auction items each year.
“My family helps, my wife has been incredibly supportive, and she has gotten involved herself,” he said. “It’s something we all look forward to.”
A community effort
Business involvement is another major piece of that support.
Morrissette works as AVP, Commercial Credit Officer at Bank of New Hampshire, an organization that has been a strong supporter of the Fund and Auction.
He said businesses across the Lakes Region play an important role not only through sponsorships and donations, but by encouraging employees to become involved and, in some cases, providing them time to volunteer.
“We really want this to be a community effort,” Morrissette said. “When businesses support their employees getting involved, it gives even more people the opportunity to be part of what we’re doing.”
That combination of individuals, businesses and community partners is what Morrissette believes has allowed the organization to continue growing.
Becoming ‘Dancing Doug’
Of course, not everything about Morrissette’s leadership role happens behind the scenes.
During Auction week, many viewers know him by another name:
Dancing Doug.
The tradition started in 2020, when pandemic restrictions forced the Auction to operate with a limited crew at BankNH Pavilion.
Only a handful of people were allowed on set, and it was Morrissette’s first experience being on-air.
“I had to make it entertaining,” he said.
Zack Derby helped bring him out of his shell, and when an entire Auction board went overbid, Morrissette started dancing. It stuck.
Since then, an overbid board has become a reason to celebrate, literally.
One of his favorite memories came the following year, when a local school sent in a video of students watching the Auction.
“The kids were watching me dance, and then the entire classroom started dancing along with me,” Morrissette said.
“That was incredible.”
For someone who spends much of Auction week focused on volunteers, logistics and organization, the dancing has become a reminder of the joy behind the work.
Forty-five years of impact
When Morrissette looks back at what the Children’s Fund has accomplished, he returns to the impact on the community.
The Auction began with Warren Bailey raising approximately $2,100 during its first year.
Today, the organization has distributed more than $10 million to 150+ nonprofits over its history.
“I’m most proud of the impact we make in the community,” Morrissette said. “When I look at what we’ve accomplished together, I’m incredibly proud. The family we have here is truly remarkable.”
That sense of family is also what he believes will be needed for the next chapter.
Looking ahead
Ten years from now, Morrissette would like to see the December Children’s Auction have something it has long operated without: a permanent home.
Rather than searching for a new space each year, he hopes the organization can someday have a dedicated location for the Auction and its operations.
His larger goal, however, is about what happens after the money is raised.
“I would love to reach a point where we could fund every grant request,” Morrissette said. “I want every family to be able to access the support they need.”
Getting there, he said, will require the same things that have carried the Children’s Fund through its first 45 years: awareness, generosity and a community willing to come together.
“Our community will need to continue showing up,” he said.
For Morrissette, that is what makes the Children’s Fund special.
It is not one employee, chairperson, or auction. There are hundreds of volunteers, local businesses, nonprofit organizations, donors and families working together year after year.
And sometimes, when an Auction board goes overbid, it is a room full of people celebrating right alongside Dancing Doug.
As the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Fund celebrates 45 years, the $45K for 45 Years Campaign is helping ensure the organization can continue supporting local children, families and nonprofit partners for years to come.
Learn more about the Children’s Fund, the Children’s Auction and ways to support the mission at ChildrensFundNH.org.
This article was written Brendon Beetle.
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