To the Editor:

We would like to thank all the good citizens of Rhode Island who helped make the Citizens Bank Gear for Grades school supply drive such an incredible success.
Many of us are fortunate enough to remember the excitement that came with going back to school – it was a chance to buy new school clothes, supplies, book bags and lunch boxes. Unfortunately, thousands of local children don’t share in this experience because for them, school supplies are a luxury.
With the help of our colleagues, customers and other members of the community, more than 6,250 Rhode Island children will go to school this year with the gear they need to learn. More than 12,000 pounds of new school supplies were collected at Citizens Bank branches and operations centers across Rhode Island. Citizens Bank supplied backpacks, which were stuffed with the new school supplies and distributed to children throughout Rhode Island with the help of Coast to Coast Promotional Products and Resources (Recycling) for Rhode Island Education. Our partner 92 PRO-FM’s support by promoting the program and encouraging the public to make donations was essential to the success of Gear for Grades.
At Citizens Bank, we believe good banking is good citizenship. We support the communities where we live and work through initiatives such as Gear for Grades. We are fortunate that our colleagues, customers and members of the community are some of the most loyal, dedicated and generous people who continue to help make a difference time and again for their neighbors.
We were fortunate to have personally distributed backpacks to some of the children. The joy and excitement in their eyes was something neither of us will soon forget. On behalf of all of the children who received backpacks this year, thank you.
Here’s to a great school year!

Sincerely,
Ned Handy, President
Citizens Bank Rhode Island

Bob DeRobbio, Executive Director
Resources (Recycling) for Rhode Island Education