01/17/2014
Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley named 2014 Champion in Action for youth programming
Citizens Bank and Union Leader to provide $35,000 grant, media and volunteer support
MANCHESTER, N.H. – Citizens Bank and the New Hampshire Union Leader have named the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley a 2014 Champion in Action® for youth programming. Through this initiative, the Boys & Girls Club will receive a $35,000 grant from the Citizens Bank Foundation, media coverage, and extensive marketing and volunteer support.
The award honors the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley for its strategic efforts to deepen its mission impact and reach more youth. Based in Milford, the club provides youth development through early education, before- and after-school care, theater arts, teen outreach, and summer and vacation programming. In the last three years, the organization has increased its membership by 60 percent and now serves nearly 900 children and teens. The club has tripled the scope of its financial assistance and increased unrestricted donations by $100,000, providing greater access to its programs for low-income families.
The club also coordinates a community-based outreach program, Community Action for Safe Teens (CAST), which helps reduce drug and alcohol abuse among teens through education and advocacy. Through CAST, teens and adults work together to change the social norms around underage drinking and drug abuse.
“Citizens Bank is proud to recognize the Boys & Girls Club as the newest Champion in Action for service to youth in our communities,” said Joe Carelli, President of Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens, New Hampshire. “In addition to providing a safe place for children to learn and grow, the club is a leader in addressing issues that impact children and teens. We applaud the club’s leadership for ensuring that their programs are available to those most in need.”
The Champions in Action program is part of Citizens Helping Citizens Strengthen Communities, the bank’s initiative designed to enhance quality of life and economic vitality in local communities. Launched in 2002 to recognize, support and promote nonprofit organizations for their contributions to New Hampshire communities, the Champions in Action program has awarded more than $1 million in grants and promotional support to 49 local nonprofits.
“The Union Leader is pleased to recognize the Souhegan Valley Boys & Girls Club and let the community know about the important role the organization plays in this region” said Union Leader President and Publisher, Joe McQuaid. “By instilling values such as integrity, respect, teamwork and leadership, they help children unlock unique capabilities and develop confidence to make a difference in their lives and communities.”
“It is a tremendous honor for our organization to be selected as a Champion in Action,” said Susan Taylor, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley. “Our mission and strategy are designed to serve as key ingredients for children as they learn to lead healthy, productive lives and, hopefully, contribute to a more thoughtful sense of community.”
As a Champion in Action, the Boys & Girls Club will receive:
- $35,000 in unrestricted funds from the Citizens Bank Foundation;
- Coverage and advertising support from the New Hampshire Union Leader;
- The opportunity for the organization’s executive director to participate in a “president-to-president” mentorship with Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens, New Hampshire President Joe Carelli;
- Volunteer support from Citizens Bank and Union Leader colleagues;
- Promotional support highlighting the Champion in Action in all Citizens Bank branch DCN screens and on its ATMs and website;
- Extensive public relations support.
Applications for the second 2014 Champion in Action in the strengthening communities through Family Support category are due Friday, March 7, at 5 p.m. The winner will be announced in July. Eligible nonprofits should apply online at www.citizensbank.com/community/champions.
For more information about the Citizens Bank Champions in Action program, visit www.citizensbank.com/community/champions. To learn more about the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley, visit www.svbgc.org.
Citizens Helping Citizens Strengthen Communities is part of the bank’s broader Citizens Helping Citizens program addressing five key areas: hunger, housing, economic development, financial education and volunteerism. Get more information about Citizens Bank’s community initiatives online.
About Citizens Bank
Citizens Bank is a division of RBS Citizens, N.A., operating its seven-state branch network in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. It has 74 branches and 194 ATMs in New Hampshire.
RBS Citizens, N.A., is a subsidiary of RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc, a $120 billion commercial bank holding company. It is headquartered in Providence, R.I., and through its subsidiaries has approximately 1,400 branches, over 3,500 ATMs and more than 18,000 colleagues. It operates a branch network in 12 states and has non-branch retail and commercial offices in more than 30 states. Its two bank subsidiaries are RBS Citizens, N.A., and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. They operate a 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 is owned by RBS (the Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc). RBSCFG’s website is citizensbank.com.
