05/24/2011
Citizens Bank and the Phillies launch Citizens Bank baseball glove drive
Phillies Jr. RBI League players to benefit from donated baseball gloves
PHILADELPHIA (May 24, 2011) Citizens Bank, in conjunction with Phillies second baseman and Jr. RBI chairman Chase Utley, is launching its annual Citizens Bank Helping Hands glove donation program to assist children who play in the Phillies Jr. RBI League.
Beginning today, new or gently used baseball gloves will be collected throughout the season at the Citizens Bank kiosk in Ashburn Alley at Citizens Bank Park to benefit children 12 or younger who play in the Phillies Jr. RBI League program.
A press event held earlier this afternoon opened the initiative. Among those who took part were: Citizens Bank President & CEO Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, outfielder John Mayberry Jr. (who pinch hit for teammate Utley), players and coaches from the Tioga United Phillies Jr. RBI League, Phillies Director of Public Affairs Scott Palmer, the Phillie Phanatic and Citizens Bank Ballpark Bankers.
“Citizens Bank and our partnership with Chase Utley and the Phillies play a vital role in helping inner-city children who want to play baseball,” said Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, Citizens Bank President and CEO for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. “It is a terrific program run by fantastic volunteer coaches and with the help of Chase Utley and generous Phillies fans, more children can take to the field with a glove to play America’s favorite pastime.”
As a special incentive, anyone donating a baseball glove may complete an entry form for a chance to win a baseball glove autographed by Utley. Official contest rules, including the alternate mail-in entry method, are available at the Citizens Bank kiosk in Ashburn Alley at Citizens Bank Park.
“It’s always a pleasure to work with the Phillies Jr. RBI League program,” Utley said. “Baseball obviously means a great deal to me and I’m happy to see as many children as possible get their own chance to play the game thanks to the Citizens Bank Helping Hands glove donation program.”
The Jr. RBI League was created to encourage inner-city youths to participate in baseball and softball programs and helps more than 7,000 children throughout Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Delaware. Since 2005, the Citizens Bank Helping Hands glove program has purchased and collected more than 4,000 baseball gloves for children.
“Citizens Bank has been invaluable in helping the Phillies to promote baseball and softball to Philadelphia’s inner-city youths,” said Jon Joaquin, Manager, Fan Development Programs for the Philadelphia Phillies. “Even though uniforms and other equipment are provided to leagues, baseball gloves are always in high demand because the Jr. RBI League program keeps expanding. It’s great to see Citizens Bank and Phillies fans step up to the plate yet again to help outfit our Jr. RBI League players.”
Citizens Bank and the Phillies collaborate throughout the season to deliver donated gloves to children playing in the Phillies Jr. RBI League.
Aside from providing uniforms and donating gloves to children throughout the season, Citizens Bank supports the Jr. RBI League program with field clean-ups and its annual carnival at Citizens Bank Park.
About Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania
Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania is a state-chartered bank with dual headquarters in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. It has 386 branches and 977 ATMs throughout Pennsylvania. It also operates 13 retail branches and 106 ATMs in southern New Jersey and a commercial loan office in Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $132 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence, R.I.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, has more than 1,500 branches, approximately 3,800 ATMs and more than 21,100 employees. 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 more than 30 states. CFG is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc).
