07/01/2015

Project New Hope named Champion in Action in Veterans Support category

Citizens Bank and NECN provide $35,000 funding, PR, and volunteer support

BOSTON – Citizens Bank and NECN today announced Project New Hope as a 2015 Champion in Action® in the category of Strengthening Communities through Veterans Support. Project New Hope will receive $35,000 in unrestricted funding, media coverage, and extensive promotional and volunteer support for its outstanding work.

Project New Hope is the largest provider of services to veterans and their families throughout New England, addressing the challenges, fears and stigma that arise due to their military service. Each year, the organization serves more than 1,200 veterans and their families, providing programs and support services in their Worcester office, as well as free, three day, woodland retreats. These programs offer participants the tools for recognizing symptoms and triggers of military-related occupational stress and injuries, while helping them to develop coping mechanisms through holistic approaches to healing.

“Project New Hope is an incredible organization focused on helping veterans to rebuild their lives with dignity. Providing a network of support, as well as programs designed to help them address various issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, Project New Hope ensures that veterans and their families have the resources they need to adjust to post-war life,” said Quincy Miller, president, Citizens Bank, Massachusetts. “We are proud to celebrate this organization as our next Champion, knowing that Project New Hope will expand its outreach and serve more deserving veterans and active duty military in the years ahead.”

Champions in Action is part of Citizens Helping Citizens Strengthen Communities, the bank’s program designed to enhance quality of life and economic vitality in local communities. It provides support for small nonprofit organizations to recognize their contributions to communities throughout Massachusetts. Applications for the first 2016 Champion in Action in the Workforce Development category are being accepted from July 6 through July 24, 2015. The winner will be announced in January of 2016. Eligible nonprofits should apply online at www.citizensbank.com/community/champions. 

“It is an honor to recognize Project New Hope, which offers wonderful and beneficial programming to veterans, including the hosting of a series of weekend-long retreats in relaxed wilderness settings, at no cost to the participants,” said Mike St. Peter, General Manager of NECN. “By becoming a Champion in Action, Project New Hope will improve countless lives throughout the area, and we are proud to be joining them in their mission alongside Citizens Bank.” 

To date, the program has awarded 45 nonprofits more than $1.2 million in grants and promotional support in Massachusetts.

Project New Hope is proud to partner with Citizens Bank and NECN as a Champion in Action, which will allow us to continue to advocate on behalf of veterans," said Bill Moore, Project New Hope president and founder. “Through this support, we will continue our work with active duty service-members, members of the National Guard and Reserve, veterans, as well as families from all over New England, holding additional retreats and offering activities such as acupuncture, meditation, Reiki, live music and yoga classes.”

As a Champion in Action, Project New Hope, Inc. will receive:

  • A $35,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from Citizens Bank;
  • Media coverage from NECN, including public service announcements and television profiles over the course of six months;
  • Volunteer support from Citizens’ and NECN’s colleagues;
  • The opportunity for the organization’s executive director to participate in a “President-to-President” mentorship;
  • Extensive public relations support;
  • Promotional support highlighting the Champion in Action on all Citizens Bank branch DCN screens and on its ATMs;
  • Exposure on both Citizens Bank and NECN websites.

For more information about the Citizens Bank and NECN Champions in Action program, visit www.citizensbank.com/community/champions.

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CFG) is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $136.5 billion in assets as of March 31, 2015. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens helps its retail customers “bank better” with mobile and online banking, a 24/7 customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,200 ATMs and approximately 1,200 Citizens Bank branches in 11 states in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. Citizens also provides mortgage lending, auto lending, student lending and commercial banking services in select markets nationwide. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers corporate, institutional and not-for-profit clients a full range of wholesale banking products and services including lending and deposits, capital markets, treasury services, foreign exchange and interest hedging, leasing and asset finance, specialty finance and trade finance. Citizens operates through its subsidiaries Citizens Bank, N.A., and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. Additional information about Citizens and its full line of products and services can be found at www.citizensbank.com.