CCF Receives $25,000 Grant Plus Three Month Volunteer

(CCF) has been honored by Citizens Bank, benefiting from two separate bank programs recently: a $25,000 Champions in Action Grant and the Community Service Sabbatical, through which Citizens will provide the nonprofit with a volunteer for three months.   

Melissa Bavoux, a senior loan accounting representative, will work at CCF during a three-month paid leave from the bank. During Bavoux's community service sabbatical, she will help CCF provide a financial literacy program in neighborhood elementary schools, work on the publication of the organization’s quarterly newsletter, participate in the planning their annual event, work in the child care center and support CCF’s weekly food pantry.  

“We believe that a healthy bank sits at the heart of a healthy community,” said Ned Handy, president of Citizens Bank in Rhode Island. “Our sabbatical program is of particular value to the communities we serve. Our colleagues have the opportunity to spend three months making a significant impact on the lives of people served by local nonprofits like Connecting for Children & Families. Melissa is passionate about community service and her enthusiasm is sure to benefit CCF’s programs and services.”

Citizens’ Community Service Sabbatical program enables a colleague with three or more years of service to work full-time in the community for three months and bring back to the workplace a greater appreciation of the social needs and challenges in the community at-large. Ninety colleagues have been sent into their communities since the program started in 1994. Bavoux began her paid three-month paid leave on Feb. 1 at CCF will return to Citizens in May 2011.

The nonprofit was also recognized by Citizens Bank and NBC 10 at a breakfast last week for Champions in Action. CCF offers services to more than 2,000 families in Woonsocket each year and was awarded a $25,000 grant in recognition of their outstanding work in family support.

A total of $100,000 in unrestricted grants were handed out through the "Champions" program, and CCF was honored for its educational programs, health initiatives, social services, and family support center which provides  food, clothing, shelter, utility assistance and referrals for both health and shelter. Other Champions in Action included Amos House in Providence, Southside Community Land Trust in Providence and Kids First in Providence.

 “Citizens Bank is proud to add these four remarkable agencies into our Champions in Action network,” said Ellen Alemany, Chairman & CEO, Citizens Financial Group, Inc. “The work they do each day in our community is critical to the success of all Rhode Islanders. We can’t think of four more deserving agencies.”

Established in 1995, CCF is considered a leader in Woonsocket on child and family issues. CCF strives to help inner-city children get a good start in life, begin school ready to learn, and to achieve academic success. CCF also strives to ensure that children and their families are part of a safe and welcoming community where there are many opportunities to learn, grow and develop. For more information, visit the organization’s website at: http://www.ccfcenter.org/.