Daniel K. Fitzpatrics, Prseident/CEO, Citizens Bank Bill Clark, Preseident/ED, Philabundance Gener Diaz, Director Community Relations, Phillies

Philadelphia -Citizens Bank announced today it is again partnering with Philabundance and the Philadelphia Phillies to launch a campaign aimed at raising money and awareness about the critical need to help feed hungry children in the Philadelphia region. As part of the campaign, the Citizens Charitable Foundation is donating $25,000 to Philabundance to provide meals during the summer months.

“We are pleased to once again work with Philabundance, greater Philadelphia ’s largest hunger-relief organization. We know our $25,000 foundation grant will go directly to help feed hungry children during the critical summer months,” said Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, Citizens Bank President and CEO for Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware . “There is a tremendous need during the summer when school meals are not available and we are grateful to expand our partnership with the Phillies to raise money for Philabundance.”

During a news conference, Citizens Bank presented the $25,000 grant from the Citizens Charitable Foundation and announced a new fundraising effort called the “Phillies Phavorite” raffle. Fans attending the Citizens Bank Businessperson’s Special games on June 18, July 10, and August 7 will be invited to participate in a raffle to win special items. Seven winners will be announced at the Citizens Bank Businessperson’s Special game on September 10th. The money raised from the raffle will be donated to Philabundance.

The seven prizes include:

·  Watch batting practice from the field.

·  Take home an official base used during a Phillies game, authenticated by Major League     Baseball.

·  Win a bat autographed by Ryan Howard.

·  Serve as an honorary groundskeeper during a game, and help change a base.

·  Take home an official Phillies Home Game Dugout Lineup Card, authenticated by MLB.

·  Expand your autograph collection with nine baseballs signed by the March 31, 2008 Opening Day starting lineup (includes Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Pedro Feliz, Pat Burrell, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Carlos Ruiz and Brett Myers).

·   Relive the opening of Citizens Bank Park with a limited edition commemorative crystal, a Citizens Bank Park vintage-style commemorative poster autographed by Phillies Legend Greg Luzinski, an Opening Day 2004 official program book, and autographed Mike Lieberthal plexiglas cutout from the Citizens Bank Games of Baseball Pitch ‘Em and Tip ‘Em speed pitch game in Ashburn Alley.

An autographed Chase Utley baseball will also be awarded as a same-day Phillies Phavorite raffle prize at the Citizens Bank Businessperson’s Special games on June 18, July 10, and August 7.

“We are thrilled to join Citizens Bank in this effort to raise money and awareness about the need to help feed children in our area,” said Gene Dias, Director, Community Relations for the Phillies. “We actively engage our fans to help support this great cause through the Phillies Phavorite raffle at Citizens Bank Park , which includes the opportunity to win unique and valuable prizes.”

Winners will be announced at the Citizens Bank Businessperson’s Special game on September 10. Official Rules, including the alternate mail-in method of entry, are available at the Citizens Bank kiosk located in Ashburn Alley at Citizens Bank Park .  

Summer is a critical time of year for children because many do not receive breakfast and lunch, which are provided through subsidized programs during the school year. In 2007, across the five county Philadelphia region, almost 198,000 children received free or subsidized lunches, including 140,203 children in Philadelphia County .

“Without school lunches, many children go hungry during the summer, so we are grateful to partner with Citizens Bank and the Phillies to make a difference,” said Philabundance President and Executive Director Bill Clark. “Philabundance can make a meal for about 30 cents from the donated food we receive. The generous donation from the Citizens Bank Foundation will translate into more than 83,000 meals for children in need.”

The money raised from Phillies fans will be presented to Philabundance at the Citizens Bank Businessperson’s Special game on September 10.

Today’s announcement is the latest way that Citizens Bank is working to help Philabundance. Last week, bank employees donated more than half a ton of peanut butter and jelly and on June 14, bank volunteers will sort and pack food at the Philabundance warehouse on West Berks Street .

About Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania

Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania is a state-chartered bank with dual headquarters in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia . It has approximately 400 branches and more than 660 ATMs throughout Pennsylvania . It also operates 15 retail branches and 32 ATMs in southern New Jersey and a commercial loan office in Virginia . It is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $160 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence , R.I.

Citizens Financial Group, through its subsidiaries, has more than 1,600 branches, 3,500 ATMs and 24,000 employees. CFG’s two bank subsidiaries are RBS Citizens, N.A. and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania . They operate a 13-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 , Indiana , Michigan and Ohio .

CFG has non-branch retail and commercial offices in about 40 states. It is one of the 10 largest commercial banking companies in the United States ranked by assets and deposits. CFG is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc). CFG’s Web site is citizensbank.com.

About Philabundance

Philabundance is a non-profit organization fighting hunger and malnutrition in the Delaware Valley .  It was founded in 1984 as a food rescue organization to help ensure that perishable food that otherwise would have gone to waste was instead provided to people in need. Today’s Philabundance is a result of the 2005 integration with the Philadelphia Food Bank. Philadelphia Food Bank was founded in 1980 to be a bridge between those with extra non-perishable food and those without enough. Today, Philabundance provides a full plate of services to more than 600 member agencies and the people they serve. Visit www.philabundance.org for more information.

About the Phillies

The 2007 National League East Champion Phillies play baseball at the award-winning Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia . For more information go to www.phillies.com.

# # #