Champions in Action

Support for nonprofits creating lasting change in our local communities.

Citizens' Champions in Action program is designed to support nonprofit organizations that address social challenges facing our communities. Since 2002, the program has awarded over $11 million in unrestricted funds to more than 400 Champions. In partnership with media outlets, we also provide support through promotion, publicity and volunteerism to help our Champions in Action better serve our communities.

$50,000 in Unrestricted Funding

Local Media Coverage

Volunteer Support

Promotional Opportunities

Up Next: Champions for Building Employment Pathways for Diverse Abilities

Individuals in the neurodivergent community bring valuable skills to the workplace but face significant employment barriers. Data shows they are more likely to be unemployed than those with other disabilities, with unemployment rates for adults with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia at 30-40%. At Citizens, we are committed to building an inclusive workforce to address economic needs and strengthen communities.

The 2025 Champions in Action award will support organizations providing career training, job placement, mentorship, and workplace accommodations for individuals with diverse abilities. It will recognize those creating inclusive employment pathways and partnerships with employers for inclusive hiring practices.

Application deadline has closed. Winners will be announced in July.

Eligibility Requirements

To be recognized as a Champion in Action, an organization must

Be a nonprofit organization based in Eastern or Western Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York City, Rhode Island, San Francisco or Florida that addresses a specific social concern (topics announced biannually).
Be able to provide 1 – 2 volunteer projects, including at least one skills-based volunteer project, for Citizens colleagues to engage in.
Have a total operating budget between $250,000 - $5 million
Previous Champions in Action may reapply after five years have lapsed.

These nonprofits are delivering and advocating for mental health and well-being services and resources needed to help people achieve their potential.

Bay Area Creativa – San Francisco, CA

Bay Area Creative empowers individuals through creative expression, focusing on spoken word poetry and hip-hop dance, to foster empathic communication and positive change. They work predominantly with families of color in underserved neighborhoods across various cities in the Bay Area. Their programs, such as SPARC Creativity and Revisions, provide poetry and dance workshops, as well as therapeutic arts services, to support the mental health and well-being of youth.

Group of people sitting

Black Brain Campaign – Eastern Pennsylvania

Black Brain Campaign was created to eradicate the stigma against mental health in the Black community by providing a holistic approach to therapy treatment. Their mission is to address the needs of their constituents and establish equity within the communities that need it most by offering free individual and group therapeutic services and culturally competent training for clinicians through their Licensure Education Assistance Program (LEAP). Black Brain Campaign innovatively breaks barriers to make mental health services accessible to those in need, advocating for both clinicians and families.

Boys & Girls Club of Monmouth County – New Jersey

BGC Monmouth County provides a safe environment for children to learn and grow, fostering relationships with caring adult professionals, offering life-enhancing programs, and creating opportunities for hope and success. BGCM reduces barriers and creates access to mental health and well-being resources and experiences that build resilience and critical skills necessary for adulthood. Their trauma-informed journey includes the Positive Deviance approach, identifying staff who excel at creating positive and safe experiences for members.

Children’s Bereavement Center – South Florida

Children's Bereavement Center provides support to children, young adults, and their families to find hope after the loss of a loved one, promoting healthful grief, healing, and growth. CBC provides high-quality, comprehensive grief support to families across South Florida's diverse communities, including underrepresented and high-need areas. They offer free, culturally inclusive grief support groups and grief-informed education to promote mental health and well-being, addressing barriers such as language, cost, and lack of culturally relevant services.

King Against Violence Initiative – NYC

KAVI addresses the high number of youth admitted to hospitals with violence-induced injuries by partnering with communities to invest in youths' mental health and well-being. They tackle critical social issues such as violence through wellness, education, and employment, aiming to change the course of historical inequities. They recruit individuals with lived experience to implement their violence prevention and healing curriculums, achieving the lowest recidivism rate among hospital violence intervention programs in New York City and an 85% retention rate in their school-based program.

MentorRI – Rhode Island

MENTOR Rhode Island is committed to expanding quality mentoring services for Rhode Island youth, ensuring they have access to supportive relationships to grow into confident, successful adults. The organization works to increase the number of mentors serving youth and offers trainings and workshops on mentoring and youth work. They support student mental health needs with evidence-based prevention practices and trauma-informed care. Collaborating with Bradley Hospital, they provide mental health literacy training to youth, families, and mentors.

NurturePA – Western Pennsylvania

Nurture PA provides support to empower mothers of young children through a virtual mentorship program. Their trained mentors, who are mothers themselves, offer compassionate guidance and support via text message, making it convenient and accessible for moms to engage at their own pace. The program highlights the importance of maternal mental health and its impact on children's social-emotional development. By addressing the stigma around stress, anxiety, and depression in new moms, NurturePA fosters open conversations about the challenges of motherhood and encourages seeking help.

Operation Delta Dog – New Hampshire

Operation Delta Dog is dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of veterans by rescuing homeless dogs and training them as psychiatric service companions for those suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma. The organization aims to alleviate veteran suicides and overflowing animal shelters by recognizing the bond between veterans and service dogs. Operation Delta Dog brings veterans out of isolation and back to life through wrap-around services and a close-knit community, giving every hero a fighting chance for a successful transition to civilian life.

Sociedad Latina - Massachusetts

Sociedad Latina addresses the significant decline in Latine youth and youth of color mental health caused by factors such as the pandemic, social media, climate change, and institutional racism. Through a multifaceted approach, their work is youth and community-driven, constantly adapting to the needs voiced by the communities they partner with. They host a "Youth Wellness Committee" comprised of youth from their Pathways to Success programming, who meet regularly with the organization's Wellness Manager and staff to discuss challenges faced in school, at home, and online.

Meet our Past Champions

These nonprofits are dedicated to preparing students and workers for in demand digital and technology jobs in order to meet the workforce needs of the future.
- 1Hood Media Academy – Western Pennsylvania
  1Hood Media Academy envisions a world where every person is ensured equity, has multiple opportunities to achieve their fullest potential, and contributes to all aspects of life. 1Hood Media's programs provide digital upskilling opportunities that help bridge the digital divide by helping youth and adults learn the skills necessary to think, act, and thrive in an ever-changing world that systematically leaves marginalized communities unprepared to navigate and understand these and other technological advances.
- America on Tech – New York City
  America on Tech (AOT) creates tech career-connected pathways for underestimated students into degrees and careers in technology, empowering young people of color to disrupt inequitable and exclusionary systems. Programs focus on in-demand tech skills such as Web Development, UX Design, Product Management, Digital Marketing, Data Science, and Cyber Security. Youth can access services like mentorship, resume building, interview prep, stipends, exposure to hiring managers, and internship/job placements through AOT's mentorship model.
- Boston Music Project – Massachusetts
  Boston Music Project is actively dismantling barriers to access in the music industry for underrepresented and economically disadvantaged youth. Since their founding in 2011, BMP has offered extensive creative development programs to thousands of Boston youth, recently expanding to include a paid Music Workforce Training program for youth, ages 14-22. This initiative prepares students for a spectrum of roles in the music industry, equipping them with vital skills to remain at the forefront of technological advancements and industry trends while ensuring a diverse and innovative future.
- The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket – Rhode Island
  Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket aims to inspire and enable young people from Pawtucket and surrounding communities to realize their full potential as healthy, productive, responsible, and caring citizens. Through their workforce development program, Members of Moguls, youth learn new skills through the digital literacy curriculum for STEM career initiatives, such as coding and information technology, to provide equitable access to education and employment for local youth.
- GI Go Fund – New Jersey
  GI Go Fund is an organization that assists military veterans and their families, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated individuals, and all people in need with employment, entrepreneurship, benefits, and housing. Inspired by Marine Lt. Col. Justin Constantine, the GI Go Fund uses the innovative Constantine model to evolve with the needs of their entrepreneurs, helping them to not only provide office space, but also deliver critical infrastructure support to help them thrive.
- Launchpad – Eastern Pennsylvania
  Launchpad aims to build accelerated pathways from high school to high paying tech careers, especially for Black and Latinx youth. They prepare students to enter the tech talent pipeline, meet industry needs, and diversify the tech sector. Unlike traditional programs, Launchpad integrates essential soft skills into its curriculum, producing well-rounded graduates poised for success. They bridge the digital skills gap by providing free access to tech education.
- Makers Mill – New Hampshire
  Makers Mill's mission is to support workforce development and career pathways by providing access to resources and training, relative to the current job market. With a 10,000 square foot facility, individuals can access workforce and vocational training with a digital and technology focus to prepare students and workers for in-demand digital and technology jobs.
These nonprofits are dedicated to building a more sustainable future by improving energy efficiency within their own operations or expanding access to clean or renewable energy services in the communities they serve.
- Clean Energy NH – New Hampshire
  Clean Energy NH’s mission is to lead New Hampshire’s clean energy transition. Their vision is that by 2050, New Hampshire’s energy system is decarbonized.
- DownCity Design – Rhode Island
  DownCity Design (DCD) helps people strengthen their communities by harnessing the creative power of the design process. Through their free afterschool and summer programs, DCD empowers youth and adults to improve the places where they live, work, and play, while developing essential skills and discovering career pathways.
- Franklin Food Pantry – Massachusetts
  Franklin Food Pantry’s (FFP) mission is to alleviate food insecurity and compassionately empower their community through resources and collaboration. FFP has ensured that residents of Franklin and the surrounding communities facing food insecurity have had equitable access to healthy and nutritious food for 35 years.
- Philadelphia Orchard Project – Eastern Pennsylvania
  The mission of the Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP) is to plant and support community orchards in Philadelphia. POP enables and empowers communities toward stronger, equitable, and more sustainable food systems.
- The Citizen Science Lab – Western Pennsylvania
  TCSL, led by an African American PhD, is a standout in the STEM community with their unmatched expertise, diverse staff, and history of impacting children of color. Their passionate team is devoted to top-tier STEM activities that heighten the academic and financial futures of youth by fueling a passion for STEM and green technology.
- THE POINT Community Development Corporation – New York City
  THE POINT Community Development Corporation (CDC) is dedicated to youth development and the cultural and economic revitalization of the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx. Celebrating more than 25 years of service, THE POINT offers a multi-faceted approach to asset-based community development.
- Sustainable Princeton – New Jersey
  Sustainable Princeton's mission is to inspire their community to develop and implement solutions that positively impact the environment. Their vision is for Princeton to be a model town that examines every action through the lens of sustainability, ensuring a healthy environment, a strong economy, and the well-being of all community members now and in the future.

We work alongside our neighbors to build stronger communities. Discover how a few past Champions are making a difference in their communities.

For more than 20 years, Citizens has recognized and celebrated Champions in Action who are dedicated to creating lasting change in the communities where we live and work. In acknowledgment of this milestone anniversary, we celebrated some of the people and partners that make this program successful.

Woman and child

Women’s Community Revitalization Project of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Women’s Community Revitalization Project is committed to social and economic equity for low-income women and their families.

Discover how this past Champion is helping their community through affordable housing and advocacy.

Woman in meeting

Bridge Over Troubled Waters and Wellspring House, Massachusetts

Wellspring House and Bridge Over Troubled Waters have both made it their mission to prevent homelessness and build brighter futures for at-risk youth and adults in Massachusetts.

Read how these past Champions are advancing workforce development for communities in need.

Chefs working in kitchen

Genesis Center, Rhode Island

Genesis Center envisions a world where all people have equality of opportunity to realize their full potential, achieve economic independence and participate fully in society.

Explore how this past Champion is supporting the Southeast Asian community in the Ocean State.

Strengthening Communities

We work alongside our neighbors to build stronger communities.

Citizens Helping Citizens

Strengthening the communities where we live and work. That's what Citizens Helping Citizens is all about.

Progress on Diversity Demographics

Citizens has made significant strides to build a diverse workforce and inclusive culture.

Commitment to Pay Equity

Citizens is committed to building a diverse, inclusive and high-performing culture where everyone feels valued, respected and heard. Part of this commitment includes ensuring our compensation and benefits are fair and competitive for all colleagues.

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