07/15/2011

HAVIN is new Champion in Action in Pittsburgh

Agency receives $25,000 grant, volunteer and promotional support

PITTSBURGH (July 15, 2011) Citizens Bank and WPXI-TV today named Kittanning organization HAVIN (Helping All Victims in Need) as their third quarter 2011 Champion in Action® in the category of violence prevention. HAVIN is the only nonprofit in Armstrong County to provide prevention and intervention sexual and domestic violence programs. The organization will receive a $25,000 grant from the Citizens Bank Foundation, as well as volunteer and promotional support from Citizens Bank, WPXI-TV and Pittsburgh Cares. 

“Citizens Bank is pleased to join WPXI-TV in naming HAVIN our newest Champion in Action,” said Ralph J. Papa, Chairman of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. “Under the leadership of Executive Director Jo Ellen Bowman, this tremendous organization provides supportive services and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.”

“As an organization committed to serving the community, WPXI-TV is proud to partner with Citizens Bank to honor HAVIN,” said WPXI-TV General Manager Ray Carter. “Through programs and initiatives designed to increase public awareness, HAVIN strives to affect critical changes in public policy in response to sexual and domestic violence.” 

Through Champions in Action, Citizens Bank and WPXI-TV recognize and support nonprofit organizations for the contributions these groups make to communities in the Pittsburgh region. A new Champion in Action is selected each quarter among a range of social service areas. 

As a Champion in Action, HAVIN will receive:

  • $25,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from the Citizens Bank Foundation.
  • Media coverage, public service announcements and a video profile from WPXI-TV.
  • Volunteer support from Pittsburgh Cares, and Citizens and WPXI-TV employees. 
  • Extensive public relations support, featuring new marketing materials.
  • Promotional support for the organization in all Citizens Bank branches.
  • Exposure on both Citizens Bank and WPXI-TV websites. 

“Violence has emerged as one of the central public health problems of our time,” said Jo Ellen Bowman, HAVIN Executive Director. “Rural Armstrong County is no exception. At HAVIN, our violence prevention efforts focus on primary intervention, changing social norms and initiating cultural change in order to create a safe environment and stop the cycle of abuse.”

What makes HAVIN a Champion in Action?  

  • Established in 1979, HAVIN’s services include a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, advocacy and accompaniment, information and referral, transportation, and outreach/education programs.
  • HAVIN has an active Violence Against Women Task Force that focuses on identification and effective intervention on behalf of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and date violence. In conjunction with the Armstrong County School District, HAVIN coordinates and obtains sponsors for The Yellow Dress and Remote Control, two initiatives that focus on teen dating violence and healthy relationships. 
  • Since 2004, HAVIN has coordinated Armstrong County Community Awareness Day, a county-wide collaborative effort spearheaded by community leaders to raise the levels of prevention awareness for those impacted by drug and alcohol use and abuse, elder abuse, domestic and sexual violence, and child abuse. HAVIN also spearheaded the creation of the first Armstrong County SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) to enhance support for victims with disabilities. 

In addition to HAVIN, the following organizations have been selected as Champions in Action since the program was introduced in western Pennsylvania in 2004: Wilkinsburg Community Ministry, Aliquippa Alliance for Unity and Development, Beginning with Books, The Neighborhood Academy, HEARTH, Human Services Center Corporation, Washington Community Arts and Cultural Center, Rainbow Kitchen Community Services, Sojourner House MOMS, Little Sisters of the Poor, Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, Health Hope Network, YouthPlaces, the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, Oakland Planning and Development Corporation, Family Tyes, and NeighborWorks®, Paul Laurence Dunbar Community Center, Light of Life Rescue Mission, Dress for Success, POWER, Project for Freedom, Providence Connections, RiverQuest, Society for Contemporary Craft, StartingGate, and Grow Pittsburgh. 

For more information about the Champions in Action program, visit www.citizensbank.com or www.wpxi.com. To learn more about HAVIN, 325 Arch Street, Kittanning, Pa., 16201, visit www.havinpa.org. 

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).  

About WPXI
WPXI-TV is a Cox Television station in the Pittsburgh television market. Cox Television includes 15 television stations, three national television sales representation firms, a television production company, and a Washington, D.C., news office. Cox Television is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., based in Atlanta. WPXI-TV’s website is wpxi.com. 

About Pittsburgh Cares
Pittsburgh Cares, founded in 1992, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing community engagement through volunteerism and enhancing the impact of regional service partners. In 2006-07, Pittsburgh Cares coordinated more than 950 volunteer projects. Pittsburgh Cares volunteer network has provided more than 44,500 hours of service over the past year and with an average of 217 new volunteers per month, our impact continues to grow stronger. Pittsburgh Cares coordinates three specialized programs: Youth Engaged in Service (YES), Campus Cares, and Business Cares. YES is an outreach program that connects youths under 18 years of age to volunteer opportunities. Campus Cares works with the local college community including Greek Life, student organizations, individual students, and faculty/staff to connect them to a wide variety of volunteer and service-learning opportunities. Business Cares coordinates employee volunteer programming for small, mid-size and large companies in Greater Pittsburgh through customized contracts. For more information on Pittsburgh Cares, please log onto www.pittsburghcares.org or call 412-471-2114.