Citizens Bank and NBC 10 are accepting applications for the second Champion in Action of 2019, this time in the Veterans & Military Families category. The Champions in Action program provides financial, volunteer and public relations support to local nonprofits.

Nonprofit organizations or partnerships delivering programming supporting veterans and/or military families are invited to apply for the Champions award, which will be announced in July 2019.

Community-based Veterans & Military Families programming meets the unique needs of veterans, active/reserve military members and their families. Support may include, but is not limited to, the areas of employment, education and training, housing, financial literacy, and other social services.

Applications can be completed online at citizensbank.com/community/champions and must be submitted by Feb. 22 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; volunteer support from Citizens’ colleagues; promotional support highlighting the Champion in Action in Citizens Bank branches; and exposure on the Citizens Bank and NBC10 websites.

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.

Citizens Helping Citizens Strengthen Communities is part of the bank’s broader Citizens Helping Citizens engagement platform through which the bank builds partnerships to develop neighborhoods, transform lives and stimulate economic renewal, with a focus on three key areas: fighting hunger, teaching money management and strengthening communities. Get more information about Citizens Bank’s community initiatives online.