Grant provides $35,000 in unrestricted funding, communications and volunteer support

Philadelphia (January 24, 2023) – Riverfront North Partnership (RNP), a nonprofit organization that connects Philadelphia neighborhoods to nature, and offers unparalleled recreational, community building, and environmental education activities, has been named a 2023 Champion in Action® in the category of Supporting Environmental Sustainability. The award includes $35,000 in unrestricted funding, as well as significant promotional and volunteer support in recognition of the organization’s critical work.

“As a native of Northeast Philadelphia who grew up going to Pennypack Park, it’s especially meaningful to award Riverfront North Partnership as the new Champion in Action,” said Dan Fitzpatrick, President, Mid-Atlantic Region, Citizens. “By connecting neighborhoods to nature and preserving the Delaware River landscape, RNP is helping to reduce erosion and storm water pollution, while increasing the public spaces for residents to enjoy. We thank them for doing this important work for the city.”

RNP is transforming miles of former industrial land into public parks and trails. They create, steward, and activate these spaces with and for their community. They connect people with nature and each other in shared spaces. RNP offers over 200 free outdoor programs each year including fishing, archery, nature walks, movie nights, volunteer clean-ups, and tree plantings. The organization also offers “green” job skill training in partnership with PowerCorpsPHL, an organization that builds opportunities for young people to create promising futures by tackling pressing environmental challenges and developing the skills required to secure meaningful work.

“We are excited and grateful to create a space for all of the community volunteers who have helped to plant 1,400 trees at Pennypack on the Delaware Park,” said Stephanie Phillips, Executive Director of Riverfront North Partnership. “Our volunteers are truly Champions in Action and now, thanks to Citizens, they will have resources to assure the vibrancy and biodiversity of this park.”

Citizens has announced a number of initiatives recently that focus on the bank’s efforts around sustainability. In 2021, Citizens introduced Green Deposits for commercial clients, allowing customers to direct balances to support companies and projects expected to create a positive environmental impact. In 2022, the company launched a new Carbon Offset Deposit Account, which provides clients a simple way to acquire high quality carbon offsets using credit earned on their deposits. Acquired offsets enable clients to integrate sustainability into their own strategies and products. In December, the company released its inaugural Climate Report, which aligns with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). This report details efforts underway at Citizens to address both the risks and opportunities related to climate change. 

Citizens created the Champions in Action program to address the unique social challenges facing the communities it serves. The initiative rewards established nonprofit organizations, to help them reach the next level. Over more than 20 years, the program has awarded upwards of $10 million in contributions and promotional support to more than 370 nonprofits across the bank’s footprint. In Greater Philadelphia alone, 54 nonprofits have been honored, receiving more than $1.5 million in funding.

As a Champion in Action, Riverfront North Partnership will benefit from:

• A $35,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from Citizens
• Volunteer support from Citizens colleagues
• Public relations and promotional support

For more information about the Champions in Action program, visit www.citizensbank.com/community/champions-in-action.aspx

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $226.7 billion in assets as of December 31, 2022. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,400 ATMs and approximately 1,100 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or visit us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.