Citizens Bank Donates $20,000 for Scholarships
Citizens Bank donates $20,000 for scholarships to Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education program
280 youths will pay just $35 for the seven-week tennis program
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June 29, 2011 |
Philadelphia, Pa - Citizens Bank announced today a donation of $20,000 to sponsor a scholarship program for 280 Philadelphia children participating in the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education (AAYTE) National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) summer program. The funding will enable the children to attend the seven-week NJTL tennis camp program for $1 per day – or $35 for the program. The normal rate is $150.
“We are pleased to continue our support of the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education program,” said Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, Citizens Bank President and CEO for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. “Citizens Bank believes it’s vital to support programs that help children and families in underserved communities and the AAYTE program not only teaches kids a game they can enjoy for life, but gets them out of the house and into the sunshine.”
The Citizens Bank donation was presented on the first week of tennis camp at AAYTE’s Mander Playground site at 33rd and Diamond streets in North Philadelphia. The tennis camps run from June 27 to Aug. 12 and serve approximately 1,500 youths ages 7-17. Students receive tennis instruction and participate in weekly organized competition, including competitive match play at 36 recreation centers in the greater Philadelphia region and Camden.
“We’ve worked with the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education and the NJTL program for several years now and can attest first-hand to the positive contributions the program offers to children,” said Henri Moore, Senior Vice President and Director of Public Affairs for Citizens Bank. ““AAYTE is a lot more than just about teaching tennis. Participants learn life skills and become leaders. It’s an ideal mentorship program for our youth.”
“As always, we’re grateful for the contributions and involvement Citizens Bank has with our program,” said Kenny Holdsman, President of Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education. “In recent years, we’ve been able to expand our program thanks in large part to Citizens Bank’s donation. More young people are getting the opportunity to develop as athletes, students and, most importantly, human beings.”
The discounted camps will include Mander Playground; Penrose Playground, 12th Street and Susquehanna Avenue; Barry Playground, 18th and Bigler streets; Bill Johnson Tennis Courts, 53rd Street and Parkside Avenue; Kingsessing Recreation Center, 50th and Chester streets; Rose Playground, 75th Street and Lansdowne Avenue; and Awbury Recreation Center, Haines and Ardleigh streets.
AAYTE’s NJTL program includes tennis instruction, team competition, and instruction in life skills that apply to everyday life. Topics include handling peer pressure, appreciating diversity, having integrity and setting reachable goals.
Children are grouped according to their ability within their age group. Beginners meet daily from 9 a.m. to noon for instruction and match play, while intermediate and advanced players meet daily from 1-4 p.m. All participants are supplied with tennis racquets, tennis balls and T-shirts.
About Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania
Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania is a state-chartered bank with dual headquarters in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. It has 387 branches and 959 ATMs throughout Pennsylvania. It also operates 15 retail branches and 105 ATMs in southern New Jersey and a commercial loan office in Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $130 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence, R.I.
Citizens Financial Group, through its subsidiaries, has more than 1,500 branches, approximately 3,800 ATMs and approximately 21,400 employees. CFG’s 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. CFG has non-branch retail and commercial offices in about 40 states. CFG is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc). CFG’s website is citizensbank.com.
About Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education
Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education (www.ashetennis.org) is a national model for innovative youth tennis, leadership development, and educational enrichment programs. Providing new opportunities to an at-risk and diverse population, AAYTE delivers first-class tennis instruction, fitness, equipment, tutoring, and life skills to young people ages 4 to 18, the majority of whom come from underserved communities. The Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center, 4842 Ridge Ave. in East Falls, is dedicated to serving young people, the only Center of its type in the country. In addition to its programs at the 16-court Center, programs are held in over 45 schools and recreation centers in Philadelphia and Camden, NJ. AAYTE corporate sponsors include, but are not limited to, Campbell Soup, Citizens Bank, Comcast Family of Companies, PECO, and PNC. Support also comes from various foundations, government agencies and individuals.
