12/22/2010
Citizens Bank Foundation presents $55,000 grant to Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness for challenges of winter
Support Presented on National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day
New London, Conn. (December 22, 2010) - The Citizens Bank Foundation has awarded a $55,000 grant to the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness to help 36 emergency shelters across the state with the increased cost of heating their facilities this winter.
The grant was presented on National Homeless Person Memorial Day, December 21, which is the first day of winter and the longest night of the year. The date is recognized by a number of national advocacy groups to bring attention to the problem of homelessness in the United States and to remember those who have died homeless in the past year.
Support from the Citizens Bank Foundation will be distributed by the CCEH to shelters across Connecticut with more than 1,500 beds available for men, women and children. From Citizens’ donation, the 36 shelters will receive between approximately $1,000 or $1,500 based on each facility’s size, number of beds and ability to serve their communities, as well as the individual utility bills of each facility.
“The Citizens Bank Foundation is proud to continue our partnership with the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness this year and know that our support will make a difference in so many communities across our state,” said Ned Handy, president of Citizens Bank in Connecticut and Rhode Island. “Through the work of our foundation, we are helping dozens of emergency shelters in Connecticut operate more efficiently during the challenging weeks and months to come this winter.”
“Connecticut’s emergency shelters have been operating over capacity for more than a year. This generous contributions from Citizens Bank could not have come at a more critical time,” said Carol Walter, executive director of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness.
The Citizens Bank Foundation is providing $346,000 to support more than 75 homeless shelters and emergency facilities across New England this winter.
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 housing, community development and basic human needs.
About CT Coalition to End Homelessness
The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness is a research-driven, community rooted statewide organization that seeks to end homelessness in Connecticut. Our tools: leadership development, community engagement and organizing, advocacy, field mobilization, research and analysis and public education.
