Citizens Bank and the Citizens Bank Foundation award $275,000 to workforce development programs in Massachusetts

BOSTON – Citizens Bank and the Citizens Bank Foundation are awarding grants totaling $275,000 in support of workforce development and youth summer jobs programs. The grants will help five community organizations in Boston and Springfield, Massachusetts.

Through its Citizens Helping Citizens Strengthen Communities initiative, Citizens is awarding grants to The Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston, Boston Private Industry Council (PIC), the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Roca, Inc., and YMCA of Greater Boston. The grants will enable each organization to activate or maintain programming that contributes to the economic vitality of Massachusetts by supporting effective workforce development and job creation programs.

“Citizens Bank understands the value of investing in tomorrow’s workforce today by providing youth and adults with the opportunity to become self-sufficient,” said Jerry Sargent, President, Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens Massachusetts. “It is gratifying to see the exciting and innovative job-training and workforce development programs our community partners are putting into action throughout our Commonwealth.”

“Through its generous support of our community programs focusing on workforce development, Citizens Bank is making a real difference for the future leaders of our City,” said Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “Citizens is providing an opportunity for students who have worked hard all year to learn and test their skills in a business environment.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the youth labor force--16- to 24-year-olds working or actively looking for work--grows sharply between April and July each year. During these months, large numbers of high school and college students search for or take summer jobs, and many graduates enter the labor market to look for or begin permanent employment.

Adult job training

A $50,000 grant from the Citizens Bank Foundation will support the YMCA of Greater Boston’s Training, Inc. program, which helps low-income, unemployed adults gain computer and office skills to begin new family-supporting careers.

“We are grateful to have a true partner in Citizens Bank.  Citizens takes the time to understand our mission providing direct support and policy volunteers that further strengthens our ability to help children and families,” said Kevin Washington, President and  CEO, YMCA of Greater Boston. “This commitment of $50,000 will ensure that 120 adults will have the skills needed to secure a job with a living wage and the opportunity for professional advancement.”

Youth employment and job skills

To help more young people in Massachusetts reach their full potential, Citizens is supporting programming to help youth at these community organizations in Boston and Springfield.

·         The Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston, Inc., will utilize a $100,000 grant from the Citizens Bank Foundation to provide more than 70 quality jobs for at-risk youth in local community-based and faith-based organizations while activating eight Teen Café sites throughout Boston;

·         Citizens Bank has partnered with the Boston PIC for many years and this year is awarding $50,000 to help implement Boston Mayor Menino’s Summer Jobs Program;

·         The Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston will utilize a $50,000 grant from the Citizens Bank Foundation for its Young Leaders Program, which provides summer jobs to 50 youth, aged 13 to 14;

·         Roca, Inc., is using a $25,000 grant from the Citizens Bank Foundation for its Youth Workforce Development Program in Springfield, Mass.

Citizens Helping Citizens Strengthen Communities is part of the bank’s broader Citizens Helping Citizens program addressing five key areas: hunger, housing, economic development, financial education and volunteerism. Get more information about Citizens Bank’s community initiatives online.

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 252 branches and 754 ATMs in Massachusetts.

RBS Citizens, N.A., is a subsidiary of RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $126 billion commercial bank holding company. It is headquartered in Providence, R.I., and through its subsidiaries has approximately 1,400 branches, more than 3,600 ATMs and nearly 19,000 colleagues. Its two bank subsidiaries are RBS Citizens, N.A., and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. They operate a 12-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, Michigan and Ohio. RBSCFG has non-branch retail and commercial offices in more than 30 states. RBSCFG is owned by RBS (the Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc). RBSCFG’s website is citizensbank.com.

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