Citizens Financial Group donates $300,000 to National Urban League
Contribution aimed at assisting Hurricane Katrina victims with job training and placementPHILADELPHIA (December 2, 2005) - The Citizens Charitable Foundation announced today that it is making a significant donation to the National Urban League to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. During a news conference held in Philadelphia, Citizens Financial Group President Stephen D. Steinour presented a $300,000 donation to National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial. The donation will help fund job training, placement and counseling services for displaced victims in many of the major cities where Citizens operates including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, Providence and Chicago.
"Citizens is proud to stand here today and announce this partnership with the National Urban League," said Stephen D. Steinour, President of Citizens Financial Group. "For many years we have worked closely with local Urban League chapters, and with this $300,000 donation from the Citizens Charitable Foundation, we are pleased to be expanding our partnership to the national level."
The donation to the National Urban League came in response to the devastating hurricane that hit the Gulf Coast in August. Citizens Financial Group employees took the funding set aside to celebrate the company's annual Employee Appreciation Week and earmarked the money for relief efforts. Citizens Employee Appreciation Week is a yearly event which recognizes and honors the hard work and dedication of Citizens colleagues through picnics, games, contests and prizes.
"I want to extend our deepest gratitude to Citizens Foundation for this generous donation to the National Urban League's Katrina Fund," said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. "The timing of this commitment is extremely helpful because we are now engaged in helping families rebuild their lives and establish stability in their new communities through job training and job placement. It is an ideal partnership. Citizens is an organization that has an outstanding commitment to the communities it serves and continuously reaches out to offer assistance in times of need."
"Citizens is pleased to develop this partnership with the National Urban League, which has a distinguished history in workforce development providing job training and placement services throughout its network," said Heather P. Campion, Group Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs.
The National Urban League serves more than two million people through professionally staffed affiliates located in 105 urban areas across the United States. The organization works to close equality gaps for people at all economic levels and stages of life, and giving residents a chance to give back as volunteers. The National Urban League's website is www.nul.org.
About the Citizens Charitable Foundation
Citizens Charitable Foundation is the principal charitable contributions vehicle of Citizens Financial Group, Citizens Bank and Charter One Bank, N.A. The foundation's support is focused on housing, community development and basic human needs.
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