2008 Annual Report - Families First Parenting Programs

8
Citizens Bank is committed to
supporting the communities where
its customers and colleagues live and
work. Its Champions in Action program
has awarded $650,000 to 26 small
nonprofits doing big things in the
community, while its Gear for Grades
program has sent more than 8,000 lowincome
children back to school with the
supplies they need to succeed. Through
its charitable giving and colleagues’
volunteer efforts, Citizens is a caring
corporate neighbor.
What began as an initial corporate
sponsorship for one of our annual
fundraising events back in 1999 has
blossomed into a deep partnership
between the Citizens Bank Foundation
and Families First Parenting Programs.
For nearly 10 years, Citizens has
supported the work of Families First in
so many ways and on so many levels.
Through a combination of program
grants, event sponsorships, and outreach
to other corporations on our behalf,
Citizens has raised more than $70,000
in funding to support the work of
Families First. Their support has
enabled Families First to reach an
increasing number of families each
year and to develop our capacity as an
organization. But its support extends far
beyond the generous funding they have
contributed or solicited on our behalf.
In 2007, we were privileged to
welcome Blake Jordan, former Senior
Vice President of Corporate Giving
at Citizens, as a co-chair for our 6th
Annual Fathers’ Breakfast. We were
delighted when Blake agreed to return
for a second year in a row to chair
the 7th Annual Fathers’ Breakfast
on October 16, 2008. Both years,
Blake joined forces with Families First
Board Members Michael Buckley
and Andy Majewski, as well as our
Fathers’ Breakfast Committee, and
helped lead us through our two most
successful Fathers’ Breakfasts in the
history of Families First. As the lead
sponsor for the Fathers’ Breakfasts in
2007 and 2008, Citizens provided
significant funding, brought together
individuals from the community, and
raised awareness about the work of
Families First. Our most recent Fathers’
Breakfast brought together 250 guests,
most of whom were fathers, and raised
more than $100,000 for our parenting
education programs.
Perhaps one of the most unforgettable
and fun contributions Families First has
ever received was the donation of green
“Citizens” soccer balls for each guest at
the past two Fathers’ Breakfasts. They
were a huge hit both years and elicited
so much excitement from our guests.
In addition to our relationship with
Blake, we have also had the pleasure of
working closely with Andy Phillips and
the entire Citizens Bank Foundation
team who have also served as advocates
for Families First.
We are incredibly grateful for our
relationship with and support from
the Citizens Bank Foundation. On
behalf of the more than 4,500 parents
and professionals we reach each year,
Families First wishes to extend our
sincere appreciation to Citizens for its
deep commitment to strengthening
families and for being a wonderful
partner along the way.