Youth in Action named Rhode Island Champion in Action in the youth programming category
Nonprofit agency receives unrestricted $25,000 grant, PR and volunteer supportProvidence, R.I. (July 21, 2008) - Citizens Bank, Rhode Island and NBC10 today named Youth in Action in Providence as their 2008 third quarter Champion in Action® in the youth programming category. As part of the award, YIA will receive a $25,000 grant, media coverage and extensive promotional and volunteer support for its outstanding work.
Founded in 1997, YIA is centered around young people - their capacity to lead, their natural ability to innovate and their desire for positive change. YIA goes beyond traditional after-school programs. Its youth engagement model is intentionally hands-on and is customized to address the indivualized needs of each youth.
“Citizens Bank is pleased to name Youth in Action as the newest Champion in Action in the youth programming category,” said Joseph J. MarcAurele, President, Citizens Bank, Rhode Island. “Youth in Action’s approach demonstrates that youth want to be involved in decision-making and direct service projects that affect their community. Ultimately, this model allows youth to set and reach personal goals while improving their community by actively engaging in its schools, politics and culture.”
“NBC 10 applauds Youth in Actions’ exceptional work with the youth of Rhode Island. By providing a platform for our youth to become decision makers, future leaders and innovators for change, Youth in Action is providing an invaluable service to our community,” said Lisa Churchville, President and General Manager of NBC10.
Champions in Action is a joint initiative of Citizens Bank and NBC10, launched five years ago, to recognize and support nonprofit organizations for their contributions to Rhode Island communities. A new Champion in Action is selected each quarter among a range of social service topics.
Prior Rhode Island Champions in Action to date include: Bayside Family Healthcare in North Kingstown; the House of Hope in Warwick; The Providence Black Repertory Company in Providence; the Woonsocket Neighborhood Development Corporation in Woonsocket; McAuley House in Providence; TechACCESS in Warwick; Sojourner House in Providence; Pawtucket Citizens Development Corporation in Pawtucket; Rhode Island Free Clinic in Providence; The Genesis Center in Providence; the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown; New Urban Arts in Providence; West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation in Providence; Tides Family Services located throughout the state; Community MusicWorks in Providence; the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Newport, Welcome House of South County in South Kingstown’s Peace Dale neighborhood; Franklin Court Independent Living in Bristol; RiverzEdge Arts Project in Woonsocket; Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council in Providence; The Institute for the Study and Practice for Nonviolence in Providence; Church Community Housing Corporation in Newport; and Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island in Providence.
A winner for the fourth quarter 2008 Champion in Action in the community health care category will be announced in early October 2008. Applications for the remaining 2008 topic can be obtained online at www.citizensbank.com/community.
YIA is being recognized for its:
• Academic Mentoring, which has led to a high school graduation rate of 98 percent and higher education rate of 94 percent.
• Peer to peer HIV, pregnancy and violence prevention programs.
• Street outreach, multi-cultural community events and community build projects.
As a Champion in Action, YIA will receive:
• A $25,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from Citizens Bank.
• Media coverage from NBC10, including public service announcements and television profiles.
• Volunteer support from Citizens and NBC10 employees.
• Extensive public relations support.
• Promotional support, highlighting the “Champion in Action” in all Citizens Bank branches and on its ATMs.
• Exposure on both Citizens Bank and NBC10 Web sites.
“As a product of the community I serve, I credit my success as an adult to those who unconditionally valued my ideas, struggles and success as a young person. Youth development and community development are two sides of the same coin. The natural ability of young people to lead and innovate is our most valuable resource,” said Adeola Oredola, Executive Director, Youth in Action. “All of us at YIA are thrilled to be the newest Champion In Action. We will continue to develop our communities with the help of Citizens Bank and NBC10.”
To learn more about how to contribute through donations or volunteerism to Youth in Action call (401) 751-4264.
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 77 branches and 148 ATMs in Rhode Island.
RBS Citizens, N.A. is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $160 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 13-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, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. CFG has non-branch retail and commercial offices in about 40 states. It is one of the 10 largest commercial banking companies in the United States ranked by assets and deposits. CFG is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc).
About NBC10
WJAR-TV/DT is the most watched television station in the Providence-New Bedford television market and NBC10 News is Southern New England’s leading news station. WJAR was first launched as a radio station in 1922 and then became the market’s first television station in 1949. WJAR-TV/DT is owned by Media General, Inc.
About Media General
Media General is a multimedia company operating leading newspapers, television stations and online enterprises primarily in the southeastern United States. The company’s publishing assets include three metropolitan newspapers, The Tampa Tribune, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Winston-Salem Journal; 22 daily community newspapers in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina; and more than 150 weekly newspapers and other publications. The company’s broadcasting assets include 30 network-affiliated television stations that reach more than 33 percent of the television households in the Southeast and more than 10 percent of those in the United States. The company’s interactive media assets include more than 75 online enterprises that are associated with its newspapers and television stations. Media General also owns a 33 percent interest in SP Newsprint Company, a manufacturer of recycled newsprint.
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