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Cleveland’s West Side Catholic Center named Champion in Action
Charter One Bank and WJW FOX 8 to provide $25,000 grant, public relations and volunteer support in recognition of excellence in helping to fight hungerCLEVELAND (July 18, 2006) - Charter One Bank and WJW FOX 8 named West Side Catholic Center as their third quarter Champion in Action winner in Ohio. As part of this award, West Side Catholic Center will receive a $25,000 grant, public relations and volunteer support in recognition of its outstanding commitment to addressing the issue of hunger in Cleveland.
The Champions in Action program was launched in 2005 by Charter One and WJW FOX 8 to honor and provide support to the area’s unsung community heroes – non-profit organizations working to address the needs of greater Cleveland.
West Side Catholic Center was chosen as the third quarter Champion in Action in Ohio for its exemplary work in assisting hungry individuals and families by:
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Serving more than 50,000 free meals each year to those in need, including senior citizens, working families, the homeless and children.
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Mobilizing 300 volunteers to provide more than 20,000 volunteer hours of service each year.
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Finding permanent solutions for all clients who need food, clothing, shelter and advocacy.
“There are far too many families in our community that are forced to make the choice between providing food for their family and paying their utility bills,” said Ned Handy, President and CEO of Charter One. “West Side Catholic Center is a great resource where a struggling family can receive a meal to help alleviate hunger.”
Handy and Mike Renda, Vice President and General Manager of WJW FOX 8, surprised West Side Catholic Center and its clients, community supporters and staff with a check for an unrestricted $25,000 grant.
“The West Side Catholic Center’s small staff and incredible volunteers do an amazing job with very limited resources to help our community’s hungry,” said Renda.
As the Champion in Action, West Side Catholic Center will receive:
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A $25,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from Charter One Bank.
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Media coverage from WJW FOX 8, including public service announcements and news stories.
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Volunteer support from Charter One and WJW FOX 8 employees.
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Extensive public relations support.
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Promotional support highlighting the Champion in Action in Charter One branches and on its ATMs.
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Exposure on both Charter One’s and WJW FOX 8’s Web sites.
“The resources that Charter One and FOX 8 are providing through the Champions in Action program will truly make a difference in the lives of the people we serve and see struggling every day with hunger,” said Gerald Skoch, executive director of West Side Catholic Center.
A group of community leaders and representatives of WJW FOX 8 and Charter One comprise a committee which selects a Champion in Action each quarter for its work on a particular social issue. The remaining category for 2006 is homelessness. The 4th quarter Champion will be announced in October.
About Charter One Bank, N.A.
Charter One Bank, N.A., is a $41 billion bank operating in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. It has more than 490 branches and 820 ATMs. It has 166 branches in Ohio. Charter One is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $155 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence, R.I. Citizens has more than 1,600 branches, approximately 3,800 ATMs and more than 26,000 employees in a 13-state retail branch network and has non-branch retail and commercial offices in about 40 states. Citizens is the eighth-largest commercial banking company in the United States ranked by deposits. Citizens is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc).
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