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Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network named 2008 Champion in Action in area of economic development in New Hampshire
Citizens Bank and WMUR-TV to provide $25,000 grant, PR and volunteer supportManchester, N.H. (April 10, 2008) - Citizens Bank, New Hampshire and WMUR-TV have named Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network as its 2008 second quarter Champion in Action® in the area of workforce/economic development. As part of the award, WREN will receive a $25,000 grant, media coverage and extensive promotional and volunteer support for its dedication to improving the livelihoods of business owners living in the North Country.
“Citizens Bank is pleased to join WMUR-TV in naming WREN 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 these Champions in taking a big step forward in advancing their programs and services. WREN has helped more than 1,500 business owners become part of a network that allows them to energize their businesses and market their products and services. We are proud to recognize their advocacy efforts and help them grow.”
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 which demonstrate such a strong community commitment, and make a difference in the lives of so many New Hampshire residents. They truly are champions.”
WREN is being recognized for:
• Evolving from a training and support program for 12 very low-income women in 1994, into an organization offering entrepreneurial training and assisting more than 1,500 business owners to date. WREN has more than 730 members, 390 of whom operate their own businesses
• Embracing business development by creating and supporting markets for rural entrepreneurs including local artists and artisans. The Gallery at WREN supports regional artists in presenting and selling their work in a professional gallery setting. More than 80 artists have had shows at the Gallery. Local Works Marketplace, a WREN-owned retail store, showcases and markets items for nearly 200 entrepreneurs. These ventures have generated more than a half million dollars in sales and have helped revitalize the economy of the North Country,
• Providing members and the wider community the access to computer hardware, software and affordable training that is not available elsewhere in northern New Hampshire through WREN’s Technology Center. Every year hundreds of women, men and children use the Center to access the internet and work on technology projects. WREN also has a multi-media resource studio that offers advanced print and Web site development tools.
As a Champion in Action, WREN 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-TV as a Champion in Action,” said Marilinne Cooper, Executive Director of WREN. “We have discovered that getting the word out about who we are and what we do is immeasurably important, not only to growing our membership but to growing our capacity as a resource, and the support of WMUR and Citizens Bank will enable us to do so more successfully. In addition we will be able to update our equipment, increase staff training, and communicate about our events and initiatives.”
A nonprofit organization supporting youth programming will be named for the third quarter Champion in Action in June 2008. A nonprofit organization supporting arts and culture will be named the fourth quarter Champion in Action. Application deadlines for both categories are due Friday, April 18, 2008.
To learn more about WREN visit www.wrencommunity.org or call (603) 869-9736. WREN is located in Bethlehem and get be reached at P.O. Box 331, Bethlehem, NH 03574.
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 164 ATMs in New Hampshire.
RBS Citizens, N.A. is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $159 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 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
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