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Grace Centers of Hope named 2006 Champion in Action in area of homelessness
Charter One Bank and WXYZ-TV 7 provide $25,000 grant, volunteer and promotional support in recognition of excellence in combating homelessnessDETROIT (October 18, 2006) - Charter One Bank and WXYZ-TV 7 have named Grace Centers of Hope as the 2006 Champions in Action winner in Michigan in the area of homelessness. As part of this award, Oakland County’s oldest and largest homeless shelter will receive a $25,000 grant, public relations and volunteer support in recognition of its outstanding commitment to ending homelessness.
The Champions in Action program was launched in November 2005 by Charter One and WXYZ-TV 7 to recognize and support unsung community heroes – non-profit organizations working to address the needs of southeast Michigan.
Formerly known as the Pontiac Rescue Mission, Grace Centers of Hope was chosen as a Champion in Action for its comprehensive approach to addressing the complexity of homelessness. Daily 150 to 200 men, women and children are served and provided the basic necessities of food, shelter and clothing. Annually the shelter provides more than 45,000 nights of stay and serves more than 127,000 meals to homeless individuals.
Beyond emergency food and shelter, Grace Centers of Hope provides life skills programs for men and women, and after-care and children’s programs. The Gracie House Children’s Home is for children of the men and women enrolled in the Grace Centers of Hope one-year life skills program. This home allows the parents to stay connected to their children while addressing the issues of abuse and addiction.
“Grace Centers of Hope promotes the philosophy of people helping people and demonstrates how lives can be transformed by the power of community,” said Sandra Pierce, President and CEO of Charter One Bank, Michigan. "We are pleased to partner with WXYZ-TV 7 to recognize the important work of Grace Centers of Hope and we are delighted to help provide it with the resources to advance its efforts and help fulfill its mission.”
Grace Centers of Hope is changing lives within its surrounding community. Little Grace Village is a neighborhood revitalization project that is increasing the stock of affordable housing for men, women and families who are emerging from homelessness. Led by scores of volunteers who donate their skills, materials and time by rehabbing homes, this initiative has transformed Seneca street in the city of Pontiac.
Pierce, Charter One’s Leadership Team and WXYZ-TV 7 surprised Pastor Kent W. Clark, president and CEO of Grace Centers of Hope, by delivering the news in-person while he was teaching a class for men enrolled in the one-year Life Skills program.
"WXYZ-TV 7 is proud to partner with Charter One Bank to recognize the extraordinary commitment of Grace Centers of Hope," said Grace Gilchrist, Vice President and General Manager, WXYZ-TV 7. "We applaud its work and look forward to doing our part to help increase the profile of this remarkable organization and raise public awareness of homelessness."
As the fourth-quarter Champion in Action, Grace Centers of Hope will receive:
• A $25,000 grant in unrestricted funds from the Charter One Foundation;
• Media coverage from WXYZ-TV 7, including public service announcements and news stories;
• Volunteer support from Charter One and WXYZ-TV 7 employees;
• Promotional support in all Charter One branches and on its ATMs throughout Michigan; and
• Exposure on both Charter One’s and WXYZ-TV 7’s Web sites.
"We are honored and humbled to be chosen for such meaningful recognition. We know there are many worthy causes to support in the community and we are grateful for the generous support,” said Pastor Kent W. Clark, president & CEO, Grace Centers of Hope. "This generous gift will be used to support all of Grace Centers of Hope’s programs. It comes at such an important time of the year when we see even more people coming into our shelter and escaping the cold.”
A group of community leaders and representatives of WXYZ-TV 7 and Charter One comprise a committee which select a Champion in Action each quarter for its work on a particular social issue. 2007 categories include: Elder Support; Youth Programming; Job Training & Placement; and Violence Prevention.
For more information, non-profit organizations can visit their local Charter One branch or charterone.com/community. The Web site includes a program overview and detailed information on how to become a Champion.
About Charter One Bank, N.A.
Charter One Bank, N.A., is a $46 billion bank operating in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. It has 474 branches and more than 800 ATMs. It has 120 branches and 135 ATMs in Michigan. Charter One is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $164 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence, R.I. Citizens has more than 1,600 branches, approximately 3,200 ATMs and 26,000 employees in a 13-state retail branch network and has non-branch retail and commercial offices in about 40 states. Citizens is the eighth-largest commercial banking company in the United States ranked by deposits and ninth in assets as of March 31, 2006. Citizens is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc).
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