PITTSBURGH --
Citizens Bank and WPXI-TV have named Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation as its first quarter Champion in Action under the category of violence prevention. Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, which is committed to working toward the reduction of abandoned, vacant homes that produce a blighting effect on our neighborhoods, will receive a $25,000 grant from the Citizens Bank Foundation and extensive volunteer and promotional support from Citizens Bank, WPXI-TV and Pittsburgh Cares.

“Citizens Bank is pleased to join WPXI-TV in naming the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation as our newest Champion in Action,” said Ralph J. Papa, Chairman of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. “Under the leadership of Executive Director Richard Swartz, this tremendous organization has made great strides in the reshaping of the physical, economic and social condition of the Garfield community.”

“As an organization committed to the community, WPXI-TV is proud to partner with Citizens Bank to honor the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation,” said Ray Carter, WPXI-TV’s general manager. “On behalf of WPXI-TV, I congratulate the leadership, staff and volunteers of the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation. Through their hard work and dedication the community has realized a dramatic decline in nuisance properties and residents now have a pathway to create wealth through ownership.”

Through Champions in Action, Citizens and WPXI-TV recognize and support non-profit organizations for the contributions these groups make to communities in the Pittsburgh region. A new Champion in Action is selected each quarter among a range of social service areas.

Through Champions in Action, Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation receives:

A $25,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from the Citizens Bank Foundation.

Media coverage from WPXI-TV, including public service announcements and TV profile.

Volunteer support from Citizens and WPXI-TV employees.

Extensive public relations support.

Promotional support, highlighting the organization in all Citizens Bank branches.

Exposure on both Citizens Bank and WPXI-TV Web sites.

What makes Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation a Champion in Action?

•Through the Housing Development & Management program, the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation has developed new and renovated housing that retains working-class households in our community and eliminates blighting influences.

•The Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation has taken on the task of increasing the supply of modern, affordable housing, particularly in the Garfield neighborhood. Through the renovation of existing stock, the demolition and rebuilding of vacant homes and extensive credit counseling efforts, families who once lived in substandard housing now enjoy affordable, three-bedroom single-family homes.

•Since the program’s inception in 1983, the agency has renovated and built more than 200 units of rental and owner-occupied properties and plan to construct another 90 units in the next four years.

“We are honored to be recognized as a Champion in Action,” said Richard Swartz, executive director of the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation. “At the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, we believe that we can positively impact the quality of life for our residents by changing the face of housing in our community.”

In addition to the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation the following organizations have been selected as Champions in Action since the program was introduced in western Pennsylvania in 2004: Wilkinsburg Community Ministry, Aliquippa Alliance for Unity and Development, Beginning with Books, The Neighborhood Academy, HEARTH, Human Services Center Corporation, Washington Community Arts and Cultural Center, Rainbow Kitchen Community Services, Sojourner House MOMS, Little Sisters of the Poor, Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, Health Hope Network, and YouthPlaces.

For more information about the Champions in Action program, visit www.citizensbank.com or www.wpxi.com. To learn more about Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation visit www.bloomfield-garfield.org.

About Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania:
Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania is a $33 billion state-chartered bank with dual headquarters in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. It has 400 branches, more than 660 ATMs throughout Pennsylvania. It also operates 11 retail branches and 13 ATMs in southern New Jersey. It is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $148 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence, R.I. Citizens has more than 1,600 branches, approximately 3,100 ATMs and more than 27,000 employees in a 13-state retail branch network and non-branch offices in more than 30 states. Citizens is the eighth-largest commercial banking company in the United States ranked by deposits. Citizens is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc). Citizens’ Web site is citizensbank.com.

About WPXI:
WPXI-TV is a Cox Television station in the Pittsburgh television market. Cox Television includes 15 television stations, three national television sales representation firms, a television production company, and a Washington, D.C. news office. Cox Television is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., based in Atlanta. WPXI-TV’s Web site is www.wpxi.com.

About Pittsburgh Cares:
Pittsburgh Cares, founded in 1992, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing community engagement through volunteerism and enhancing the impact of regional service partners. In 2006-07, Pittsburgh Cares coordinated more than 950 volunteer projects. Pittsburgh Cares volunteer network has provided more than 44,500 hours of service over the past year and with an average of 217 new volunteers per month, our impact continues to grow stronger. Pittsburgh Cares coordinates three specialized programs: Youth Engaged in Service (YES), Campus Cares, and Business Cares. YES is an outreach program that connects youth under 18 year of age to volunteer opportunities. Campus Cares works with the local college community including Greek Life, student organizations, individual students, and faculty/staff to connect them to a wide variety of volunteer and service-learning opportunities. Business Cares coordinates employee volunteer programming for small, mid-size and large companies in Greater Pittsburgh through customized contracts. For more information on Pittsburgh Cares, please log onto www.pittsburghcares.org or call 412-471-2114.