Citizens names The BASE as Champion in Action for Social Equity & Inclusion
Citizens and NECN provide $35,000 in funding, communications and volunteer support
BOSTON, MA – The BASE, a nonprofit shining a spotlight on the limitless potential of urban youth while empowering student-athletes to achieve their full potential both on and off the field, has been named a 2021 Champion in Action® in the category of Social Equity & Inclusion. The award, announced jointly by Citizens and NECN, includes $35,000 in unrestricted funding, as well as promotional and volunteer support for the organization’s outstanding work.
The BASE’s Academic and Career Institute provides a range of support that prepares youth for success throughout high school and college, with the goal of preparing them for meaningful careers. Services include academic check-ins; college and career visits; college application and financial aid support; skills-based workshops (e.g. resume building, financial literacy); and connections to internships. In partnership with the Urban College of Boston, The BASE offers on-site college courses for students to earn a full year of college credits for free. The BASE is also launching a partnership to bring science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education into the heart of Roxbury, as well as working with Babson College to run an on-site class in entrepreneurship at The BASE.
Champions in Action is part of Citizens Helping Citizens, the bank’s initiative designed to help local communities prosper. It provides support for nonprofit organizations to recognize their contributions to communities throughout Massachusetts.
“We all have a responsibility to support a pathway for social and economic prosperity, and we are proud to recognize a nonprofit organization that is empowering future leaders with confidence and skills to grow,” said Jerry Sargent, President, Citizens Massachusetts. “The BASE is ensuring that STEAM education is accessible and affordable to our youth right in their community – a critical effort that is needed now more than ever to help address the opportunity gap.”
“Investing in our youth is investing in our future,” said Chris Wayland, President & General Manager of the NBCUniversal Boston Owned Properties & Regional Sports Networks. “We applaud not only The BASE, but also their unique combination of coaching and education methods that have undoubtedly created champions in our community.”
“At The BASE, we know that talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not,” said Robert Lewis, Jr., Founder and President of The BASE. “Our goal is to uniquely provide access and opportunity for youth in our community. We envision a world in which urban youth are recognized as our nation’s greatest untapped asset and the most sought-after talent pipeline.”
As a Champion in Action, The BASE will receive:
A $35,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from Citizens;
Features and public service announcements from NECN;
Volunteer support from Citizens;
Complimentary membership to the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network;
Public relations and promotional support.
For more information about the Citizens and NECN 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 $187.2 billion in assets as of March 31, 2021. 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 24/7 customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,000 ATMs and approximately 1,000 branches in 11 states in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. 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.