07/13/2012
The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation named Champion in Action for neighborhood development initiatives
Nonprofit agency receives unrestricted $35,000 grant, PR and volunteer support
PHILADELPHIA (July 13, 2012) – Earlier today, Citizens Bank, NBC 10 and The Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com named The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation (TEC-CDC) a 2012 Champion in Action® in the category of neighborhood development. TEC-CDC will receive a $35,000 unrestricted grant from the Citizens Bank Foundation, media coverage, and extensive promotional and volunteer support over the next six months.
TEC-CDC received the Champion in Action award for its neighborhood development initiatives in West Philadelphia. The group’s focus is to not only connect disadvantaged families to educational and social services, but to solicit residents’ input on the community’s larger developmental needs through a collaborative approach.
In the past three years, TEC-CDC has shifted its focus into the food sector with initiatives including The Center for Culinary Enterprises, a $5.6 million certified food business incubator nearing completion; The Walnut Hill Youth Growers Cooperative, a youth-run urban agriculture initiative; and the Philadelphia Urban Food and Fitness Alliance to address community food access issues.
"Citizens Bank is pleased to recognize TEC-CDC as the newest Champion in Action for its work improving the West Philadelphia neighborhood," said Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens for Pennsylvania, New Jersey. "Its partnership with community residents is turning an area that once was a food desert into a food oasis."
Champions in Action is an innovative program that provides various forms of support for small nonprofit organizations in recognition of their contributions to communities throughout the five-county Philadelphia area. TEC-CDC is the 33rd organization to be named a Champion in Action in the greater Philadelphia region. This year celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Champions in Action program has provided more than $6.8 million to 260 nonprofit organizations throughout RBS Citizens Financial Group’s footprint.
"NBC 10 is pleased to let the community know about the important role TEC-CDC plays in Philadelphia. The program is developing a complete local food system, which is a powerful way to build a neighborhood," said NBC 10 President and General Manager Eric Lerner. "Aside from making food more accessible, TEC-CDC is helping small business to grow, creating jobs and retaining food dollars in the community."
"TEC-CDC is an important part of the West Philadelphia community and has made multiple advancements under the leadership of their President, Della Clark," said Bob Hall, CEO and Publisher of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News, and Philly.com. "We look forward to recognizing their important work during their time as a Champion in Action, particularly as they continue to demonstrate their commitment to expanding the local food system for the benefit of our great city."
TEC-CDC President Della Clark was surprised today during a taping of the 10! Show on NBC 10. As a Champion in Action, the organization will receive the following over the next six months:
- A $35,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from the Citizens Bank Foundation
- President-to-president mentoring opportunities
- Promotional support in all Citizens Bank branches and ATM screens
- News coverage and public service announcements from NBC10
- Volunteer support from Citizens Bank, NBC10, The Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com
- Extensive public relations support
"It is a tremendous honor for our organization to be selected as a Champion in Action," said Della Clark, President of TEC-CDC. "The award will help us continue to improve neighborhoods by enhancing the local food system."
To become a Champion in Action, nonprofit organizations must meet selection criteria and apply for the award. For more information about the Champions in Action program, visit www.citizensbank.com/community. To learn more about how to contribute to TEC-CDC through donations or volunteerism, visit www.theenterprisecentercdc.org.
About Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania
Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania is a state-chartered bank with dual headquarters in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. It has 381 branches and 1,012 ATMs throughout Pennsylvania. It also operates 12 retail branches and 104 ATMs in southern New Jersey, and a commercial loan office and 17 ATMs in Virginia. It is a subsidiary of RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $130 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence, R.I
RBS Citizens Financial Group, through its subsidiaries, has more than 1,460 branches, approximately 3,800 ATMs and approximately 19,200 colleagues. Its two bank subsidiaries are RBS Citizens, N.A., and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. They operate a 12-state branch network under the Citizens Bank brand in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Charter One brand in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. RBSCFG has non-branch retail and commercial offices in more than 30 states. RBSCFG is owned by RBS (the Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc). RBSCFG’s website is citizensbank.com.
About NBC 10 Philadelphia
NBC10 (WCAU-TV Philadelphia) has been delivering news and entertainment to the Delaware Valley for over 60 years. Part of the NBC Owned Television Stations, NBC10 serves over five million viewers throughout Greater Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley, Southern New Jersey and Delaware. Viewers turn to NBC10 for the most up-to-date news, weather, sports, consumer, health and traffic reports. NBC Philadelphia Nonstop, the station’s digital channel, offers more than 20 original entertainment and news programs and can be seen on Comcast 248, Verizon 460 and over-the-air at 10.2. Other NBC10 properties include nbc10.com and StudioTEN Creative Group.
About Interstate General Media
Interstate General Media LLC is the parent company of Philadelphia Media Network (PMN), which publishes The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia SportsWeek and Philly.com. With its multiple brand platforms and integrated print and digital products, PMN is the region’s largest media network and the industry’s technological leader and innovator. PMN publications reach an average weekly audience of 2.2 million adults.
