04/04/2011
Grafton County Senior Citizens Council named New Hampshire Champion in Action in area of food and nutrition
Citizens Bank and WMUR-TV to provide $25,000 grant, PR and volunteer support
Manchester, N.H. (April 4, 2011) Citizens Bank New Hampshire and WMUR-TV have named the Grafton County Senior Citizens Council (GCSCC) as their 2011 second quarter Champion in Action® in the area of food and nutrition. As part of the award, the GCSCC will receive a $25,000 grant, media coverage, and extensive promotional and volunteer support for its dedication and commitment to supporting the critical needs of senior adults.
“Citizens Bank is pleased to join WMUR-TV in naming the Grafton County Senior Citizens Council as its newest Champion in Action,” said Cathleen A. Schmidt, President, Citizens Bank, New Hampshire. “By providing financial, marketing, and volunteer support, we can assist our Champions in taking a big step forward in advancing their programs and services. The Grafton County Senior Citizens Council serves nearly half the senior adults living in Grafton County and is among the major service providers for seniors in the state. We are proud to recognize their efforts in the community and help them continue to grow.”
The Champions in Action program is designed to recognize and support nonprofit organizations for their contributions to New Hampshire communities. A new Champion in Action is selected each quarter among a range of social service areas.
“Sharing in this initiative with Citizens Bank continues to be a source of great pride," said Jeff Bartlett, General Manager of WMUR-TV. “We are very pleased to help organizations across the state that demonstrate such a strong commitment to making a difference in the lives of so many New Hampshire residents. They truly are champions.”
GCSCC provides two daily meal programs which allow seniors to maintain their independence without compromising their health. In 2010, GCSCC served 216,000 meals to seniors throughout Grafton County – serving 700 more people than the previous year. The community meal program offers seniors nutritious meals and social interaction at eight dining centers throughout Grafton County. GCSCC’s home delivered meal program brings a meal right to their client’s door.
“Nutritional meals and education are not only vital for our seniors’ health, but also for their independence, dignity and pride,” said Berner. “Our services help to ease their minds by assuring them that their health, well being and ability to stay in their homes are of great importance.”
For seniors who are homebound, this program provides them with nutritious food and a check on their safety and well being.
Most of the GCSCC clients are over the age of 80 and have low to moderate incomes. To reduce the risk of these seniors having nutritionally insufficient diets, GCSCC offers their meal programs at a modest cost or free of charge. By raising 40% of its annual funding locally, the organization has been able to meet the increased demand for service and avoid a waiting list.
” We are honored to be recognized as a Champion in Action,” said Roberta Berner, executive director of GCSSC. “This award will allow GCSCC continue to provide elderly residents throughout Grafton County with critical services to support their self sufficiency and well-being.”
As a Champion in Action, the Grafton County Senior Citizens Council will receive:
- A $25,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from the Citizens Bank Foundation.
- Media coverage from WMUR-TV, including public service announcements and television profiles.
- Volunteer support from Citizens and WMUR-TV employees.
- Extensive public relations support.
- Promotional support, highlighting the current “Champion in Action” in all Citizens Bank branches and on its ATMs.
- Exposure on both Citizens Bank and WMUR-TV Web sites.
A nonprofit organization supporting community healthcare will be named the third quarter Champion in Action and will be announced in July 2011.
To learn more about the Grafton County Senior Citizens Council, visit www.gcscc.org or call (603) 448-4897. The GCSCC is located at 10 Campbell Street in Lebanon, NH 03766.
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 83 branches and 198 ATMs in New Hampshire.
RBS Citizens, N.A. is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $130 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence, R.I. CFG’s 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. CFG has non-branch retail and commercial offices in about 40 states. CFG is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc).
