07/14/2017

HAVEN named Champion in Action in Violence Prevention category

Citizens Bank and New Hampshire Union Leader provide $35,000 funding, public relations and volunteer support

MANCHESTER, NH – HAVEN (formerly A Safe Place & SASS), a non-profit dedicated to addressing public health, has been named a 2017 Champion in Action® in the category of violence prevention. The award, announced by Citizens Bank and the New Hampshire Union Leader, includes $35,000 in unrestricted funding as well as promotional and volunteer support for the organization’s outstanding work, providing 24-hour support services to victims of violence throughout Southeastern New Hampshire.

HAVEN works to prevent violence and improve the well-being of children and families. The organization provides comprehensive services to those who have been impacted by sexual or domestic violence in 48 Southeastern New Hampshire cities and towns.

The organization will use the Champions in Action award to expand their Safe Kids Strong Teens violence prevention program to more schools. Through Safe Kids Strong Teens, HAVEN’s team of educators presents an age-appropriate, interactive curriculum to teach children in grades K-12 about their right to be safe from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, sexual harassment, bullying and teen dating violence.

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 nonprofit organizations to recognize their contributions to communities throughout New Hampshire.

“Citizens is proud to support HAVEN as our next Champion in Action, as they continue and expand on their mission to prevent sexual and domestic violence,” said Joe Carelli, president, Citizens Bank, New Hampshire. “HAVEN’s work has made a profound impact on the lives of hundreds of New Hampshire residents.”

"The New Hampshire Union Leader is proud to join Citizens Bank, to honor HAVEN as a Champion in Action," said Brendan McQuaid, president of the New Hampshire Union Leader. "Their work in violence prevention as well as the services they offer to those experiencing domestic and sexual violence help many lead safer, healthier lives."

To date, the Champions in Action program has awarded 317 nonprofits more than $8.6 million in contributions and promotional support. 

“We want to thank Citizens Bank and the New Hampshire Union Leader for recognizing HAVEN as a Champion in Action and for their support,” said Kathy Beebe, executive director, HAVEN. “Being a Champion in Action will help HAVEN end violence and change lives by providing critical prevention programs and 24-hour support services to Southeastern NH youth and families impacted by domestic and sexual violence.”

As a Champion in Action, HAVEN will receive:

  • a $35,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from Citizens Bank;
  • media coverage from the New Hampshire Union Leader, including advertising and editorial support;
  • volunteer support from Citizens and New Hampshire Union Leader colleagues during HAVEN programs;
  • the opportunity for the organization’s executive director to participate in a “Executive-to-Executive” mentorship with a Citizens Bank executive;
  • public relations support, including press releases and social media posts;
  • promotional support highlighting the Champion in Action in Citizens Bank branches;
  • exposure on the Citizens Bank and New Hampshire Union Leader websites.

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

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $150.3 billion in assets as of March 31, 2017. 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 wealth management, 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 as Citizens Bank, Citizens Commercial Banking and Citizens One. Additional information about Citizens and its full line of products and services can be found at www.citizensbank.com. 

About New Hampshire Union Leader
The New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News is the largest circulated and only statewide daily newspaper in the Granite State. We provide our readers with a package that contains local, state and worldwide news, items of important information, advertising, entertainment and opinion. And whenever news breaks, New Hampshire turns to UnionLeader.com.