Falmouth Service Center named Massachusetts’ Champion in Action
Citizens Bank and NECN to provide $25,000 grant, PR and volunteer support BOSTON (July 14, 2006) - Citizens Bank of Massachusetts and New England Cable News today named Falmouth Service Center as this quarter’s Champion in Action in Massachusetts. FSC has been helping individuals and families in need in Falmouth since 1983. Last year, it provided 15,000 bags of nutritious food to its Falmouth clients. The organization recently extended its services to support 125 residents in neighboring Mashpee.
“Falmouth Service Center offers more than a bag of groceries to its clients – it offers hope and guidance during the most difficult times when they are struggling to make ends meet,” said Robert E. Smyth, Chairman, President and CEO of Citizens Bank of Massachusetts. “Citizens Bank is delighted to partner with New England Cable News in saluting this organization for its tireless work in ensuring that residents in Falmouth and Mashpee have access to food and other resources they need to get back on their feet.”
As part of the award, the Falmouth Service Center will receive a $25,000 unrestricted grant, media coverage and extensive promotional and volunteer support for its commitment to easing stress, reducing hunger, and improving the quality of life for its clients by helping them become self-sufficient.
The Falmouth Service Center was chosen as Citizens and NECN’s 16th Champion in Action for assisting the most vulnerable residents in Falmouth and Mashpee. In addition to the food pantry, FSC has a community garden that is managed by clients, volunteers and residents of Falmouth. Half of the fresh vegetables and fruits grown in the garden are donated to the food pantry for distribution to FSC clients.
“This organization is a real Champion in Action for making a positive difference in the lives of so many people living in Falmouth and Mashpee who are impacted by the high cost of fuel, rent and food,” said Philip S. Balboni, Founder and President of NECN. “Children and the elderly are the most vulnerable groups affected by hunger and we are thrilled that the Falmouth Service Center exists to help them and other hungry people living in the area.”
The Falmouth Service Center is being recognized for:
• Providing its clients with the opportunity to visit the food panty once every three weeks.
• Creating the “Ambassador Program,” where volunteers deliver food to seniors who are in need of assistance, but reluctant to utilize the organization’s services.
• Offering clothing and household supplies free of charge.
• Establishing a lending library with books and materials on parenting young children.
• Conducting monthly workshops on topics including budget management, dealing with loss and nutrition.
• Helping clients identify if they are eligible for Federal and State-funded programs such as Food Stamps and fuel assistance.
As a Champion in Action, Falmouth Service Center receives:
• A $25,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from Citizens Bank.
• Media coverage from NECN, including public service announcements, news stories and segments on other NECN programs such as NewsNight and New England Business Day.
• Volunteer support from Citizens and NECN 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 NECN Web sites.
“I am thrilled to express our appreciation for this honor”, said Brenda Swain, Executive Director of the Falmouth Service Center. “This award will present us with the opportunity to highlight the silent epidemic of hunger that confronts year round residents here on the Cape. From the depths of our hearts, we thank Citizens Bank and NECN for stepping up to the plate to help us feed our neighbors in need.”
About Citizens Bank of Massachusetts
Citizens Bank of Massachusetts is a $35 billion bank with 262 branches and 623 ATMs stretching from greater Boston to Cape Cod and the Berkshires. It is headquartered at 28 State Street in Boston. It 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 3,700 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 as of September 30, 2005. Citizens is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc).
About New England Cable News
NECN is headquartered in Newton, Mass. and is the largest regional news network in the country. Founded in March of 1992, the station is a partnership between The Hearst Corporation and Comcast, and serves more than 3.6 million cable subscribers in more than 1,000 communities throughout New England. The news network operates new-gathering bureaus in Worcester, Mass.; Hartford, Conn.; Manchester, N.H.; Burlington, Vt.; and Portland, Maine, and has editorial partnerships with many of the region’s most important newspapers including The Boston Globe.
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