10/13/2011
Marguerite’s Place Inc. named 2011 Champion in Action in area of homelessness
Citizens Bank and WMUR-TV to provide $25,000 grant, PR and volunteer support
MANCHESTER, N.H. - Citizens Bank New Hampshire and WMUR-TV have named Marguerite's Place Inc. as their 2011 fourth quarter Champion In Action® in the area of homelessness. As part of the award, Marguerite's Place Inc. will receive a $25,000 grant, media coverage, and extensive promotional and volunteer support.
"Citizens Bank is pleased to join WMUR-TV in naming Marguerite's Place as its newest Champion In Action," said Joe Carelli, president, Citizens Bank, New Hampshire. "Marguerite's Place takes a holistic approach and enables its clients to grow in all areas as they gain the skills and income necessary for long-term success."
Marguerite's Place provides physical, emotional, educational and supportive services for homeless women with children to achieve and sustain self-sufficiency. Since the organization's inception in 1994, more than 400 families have called Marguerite's Place home. In addition to its transitional housing and wraparound services, Marguerite's Place provides homeless women with a safe living environment and the skills they need to lead a successful lifestyle.
"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."
Recognizing that the high cost of child care is a barrier for families struggling with poverty, Marguerite's Place established an on-site licensed child care facility for its clients as well as other low-income families in the community. The child care program allows families to work toward their long-term goals of maintaining employment or completing their education while providing their children with a safe and affordable place to grow and thrive.
More than 85% of Marguerite's Place's clients complete the program and move into permanent housing. To insure its clients' continued success after they leave Marguerite's Place, the organization provides aftercare services for an additional five years. These services give graduates a safety net of support and prevention strategies for the challenges of single parenting that continue after leaving the transitional housing program. The program offers 10 units of permanent affordable housing for former residents of the transitional housing program.
"Our programs and services support homeless women by allowing them to change their lives and create a path to long-term stability and personal success," said Barbara Alves, executive director of Marguerite's Place Inc.
The Champions In Action program is designed to recognize and support nonprofit organizations for their contributions to New Hampshire communities.
As a Champion In Action, Marguerite's Place Inc. 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
For more information about the Champions In Action program, visit www.citizensbank.com or www.wmur.com. To learn more about Marguerite's Place Inc., visit www.margueritesplace.org or call 1-603-598-1582. Marguerite's Place Inc. is located at 87 Palm Street in Nashua, New Hampshire. Find them on Facebook at Facebook.com/Marguerites-Place-Inc. or follow them on Twitter at @margplace.
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 82 branches and 203 ATMs in New Hampshire.
RBS Citizens, N.A. is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $132 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 more than 30 states. CFG is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc). CFG's website is citizensbank.com.
About WMUR-TV
WMUR-TV (Ch. 9) is an ABC-TV affiliate headquartered in Manchester, N.H., and is owned and managed by Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc., one of the nation's largest television station groups. WMUR-TV is New Hampshire's largest commercial TV station, reaching more than a million people. Founded in 1954, the station's news, feature and sports coverage has won numerous awards for professional and journalistic excellence. WMUR-TV is considered the broadcast news source of record for New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary election. WMUR-TV provides online news and information at www.WMUR.com
