01/10/2012
Citizens Bank Foundation donates $25,000 and supports free admission at the African American Museum in Philadelphia
Museum plans a full day of events to commemorate MLK Day
PHILADELPHIA (January 10, 2012) – The Citizens Bank Foundation announced today that it is donating $25,000 to the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) to underwrite the museum’s commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, January 16, 2012. The grant will allow the museum to offer free admission and cultural activities to more than 3,000 museum visitors that day.
As part of the museum's Sharing the Heritage Day, visitors will enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities, including arts and crafts, historic reenactments, and dynamic musical, dance and other cultural performances. In addition, visitors can view a new exhibit entitled "Life and Times of Congressman Robert Smalls," which officially opens on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. The exhibit includes furniture from the house where Smalls and his mother were enslaved, letters and pictures from his home in Beaufort, S.C., and movie screenings.
"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s goal of promoting justice and equality for all people can never be overlooked or underestimated," said Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, Citizens Bank president and CEO for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. "The Citizens Bank Foundation is honored to commemorate Dr. King’s legacy by underwriting free admission for a special community day at the African American Museum in Philadelphia."
To encourage visits by families, the bank will offer the Citizens Bank Scavenger Hunt for Heritage, a fun and educational activity that will help children explore and experience the museum. More than 50 Citizens Bank volunteers will guide children through their list of clues to find specific artifacts. Each child who brings a completed list to the Citizens Bank table in the museum will receive a copy of Martin’s Big Words, a picture-book biography of the civil rights leader; or a book on Robert Smalls entitled American Heroes: Robert Smalls: The Boat Thief, compliments of Citizens Bank. Scavenger hunt participants will also receive a special commemorative button compliments of AAMP. The Phillie Phanatic will greet visitors between 11 a.m. and noon.
"This is our fifth year partnering with Citizens Bank and, as always, we're grateful for the support," said Romona Riscoe Benson, the museum’s president and CEO. "The Citizens Bank Foundation’s generous support enables us to open our doors to the community for our festivities and exhibits surrounding Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This important event allows us to attract new community members to the museum and to showcase our continually updated facility."
"The partnership between Citizens Bank and the African American Museum has significantly enhanced the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Philadelphia," said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. "The generosity of the Citizens Bank Foundation will allow thousands of people to walk through the doors of the museum and learn about a man who changed America for the better."
At a January 10 news conference held at the museum, Citizens Senior Vice President Henri G. Moore presented the $25,000 grant on behalf of the Citizens Bank Foundation to AAMP Board Chair Claire Lomax. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter was in attendance.
AAMP is located at 701 Arch Street, Philadelphia. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, January 16. For a complete list of special events and performances, visit AAMP’s website at www.aampmuseum.org or call 1-215-574-0380.
About the Citizens Bank Foundation
Citizens Bank Foundation is a subsidiary of the Citizens Charitable Foundation, which is a charitable contributions vehicle of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., RBS Citizens, N.A., and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. The foundation’s support is focused on human services, affordable housing and economic development. CFG’s website is citizensbank.com.
About the African American Museum in Philadelphia
Founded in 1976 in celebration of the nation's bicentennial, the African American Museum in Philadelphia is the first institution funded and built by a major municipality to preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage of African Americans. Throughout its evolution, the museum has objectively interpreted and presented the achievements and aspirations of African Americans from pre-colonial times to the current day.
The museum is committed to telling the story of African Americans in all its permutations: family life, the Civil Rights movement, arts and entertainment, sports, medicine, architecture, politics, religion, law and technology. The AAMP houses four galleries and an auditorium, each of which offers exhibitions anchored by one of three dominant themes: the African Diaspora, the Philadelphia Story and the Contemporary Narrative.
