Citizens Bank and NBC 10 are now accepting applications for the first 2017 Champions in Action in the Addiction Prevention & Treatment Services category. The Champions in Action program provides financial, volunteer, and public relations support to local non-profits.

Non-profit organizations focused on addiction prevention and treatment services are invited to apply for the Champions award to be announced in January 2017. Applications can be completed online at citizensbank.com/community/champions and must be submitted by Friday, July 29 at 5 p.m.

Champions in Action is part of Citizens Helping Citizens Strengthen Communities, the bank’s program designed to enhance quality of life and economic vitality in local communities. It provides support for small nonprofit organizations to recognize their contributions to communities throughout Rhode Island.

The selected Champion in Action will receive: a $35,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from Citizens Bank; media coverage from NBC 10, including public service announcements and television profiles over the course of six months; volunteer support from Citizens’ and NBC 10’s colleagues; the opportunity for the organization’s executive director to participate in and Executive Mentoring opportunity with a Citizens executive; extensive public relations support; promotional support highlighting the Champion in Action on all Citizens Bank branch DCN screens and on its ATMs; and exposure on both Citizens Bank and NBC 10’s websites.

Champions in Action in the Addiction Services & Treatment category targets non-profit organizations or partnerships working to provide addiction prevention and treatment services addressing substance abuse, treatment, education and prevention. The Champions in Action award will be presented to an addiction prevention and treatment program or partnership with a demonstrated history of success and measurement. The non-profit should apply for the award and include success/metrics around the success of the program individually, or if through collaboration with another partner(s), the lead non-profit should apply.

To be eligible for consideration, an organization must be a Rhode Island-based nonprofit organization that serves Rhode Island and addresses the designated social concern; provide verification of tax-exempt status under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code; and have a total operating budget of $5 million or less.