Manchester Community Music School named 2008 Champion in Action in area of Arts & Culture

Citizens Bank and WMUR-TV to provide $25,000 grant, PR and volunteer support

Manchester, N.H.       (October 15, 2008) - Citizens Bank New Hampshire and WMUR-TV have named Manchester Community Music School as its 2008 fourth quarter Champion in Action^® in the area of arts & culture. As part of the award, Manchester Community Music School will receive a $25,000 grant, media coverage, and extensive promotional and volunteer support for its dedication to enhancing the quality of life for New Hampshire residents through music.

“Citizens Bank is pleased to join WMUR-TV in naming Manchester Community Music School 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 this Champion in taking a big step forward in advancing its programs and services. The mission of Manchester Community Music School is to provide students, musicians and the community with the opportunity to experience the life-changing power of music. We are proud to recognize its efforts and help it succeed.” 

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.

“We continue to be extremely proud to share in this initiative with Citizens Bank," said Jeff Bartlett, General Manager of WMUR-TV. “We are very pleased to help out organizations across the state that demonstrate such a strong community commitment, and make a difference in the lives of so many New Hampshire residents. They truly are champions.”
 
Manchester Community Music School began in 1983 with a small youth string orchestra. Today, MCMS is celebrating 25 years of providing music education to thousands of New Hampshire children; giving free professional, amateur, and student performances to the community; and bringing talented musicians and music educators to live and work in New Hampshire. The small youth orchestra has grown into the New Hampshire Youth Ensemble Program – the premiere ensemble program in the state featuring more than 10 ensembles.

MCMS accomplishes its mission through a commitment to music education and performance excellence regardless of an individual’s ability, age, or economic background. Today more than 1,000 students of all ages from 65 New Hampshire communities participate in private and group lessons, music camps, orchestras, ensembles and early childhood programs.

In addition, MCMS offers diverse programs that help enrich young lives through music. The Community Kids Summer Music Camp, music technology programs and a Music Therapy Program fit the varying needs of New Hampshire’s youth. This year alone, the school will provide $80,000 in financial aid to more than 250 students.
 
As a Champion in Action, Manchester Community Music School 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.

“We are honored to be recognized by Citizens Bank and WMUR as a Champion in Action,” said Suzanne Barr, CEO of MCMS. “The media coverage from this award will be a wonderful way to raise awareness in the community and celebrate 25 years of music education and enrichment.  Everyday, we change lives through the power of music. The music education we offer prepares students for a lifetime of success, giving children skills for creative problem solving, effective communication and academic achievement. In addition, being named a Champion in Action will enable us to meet the growing demand for our programs and help us explore new opportunities for MCMS.”

A nonprofit organization supporting youth programming will be named for the first quarter Champion in Action in January 2009.

To learn more about the Manchester Community Music School visit www.mcmusicschool.org or call (603) 644-4548. Manchester Community Music School is located at 2291 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03104.

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 78 branches and 158 ATMs in New Hampshire.

RBS Citizens, N.A. is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $161 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). CFG’s Web site 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.