Special to the Gazette
Boston Building Resources – Reuse Center (BBR), located at 100 Terrace St., Boston, a nonprofit organization that inspires, educates, and empowers homeowners to increase the efficiency and value of their homes, has been named a 2023 Champion in Action® in the category of Supporting Environmental Sustainability. The award, announced jointly by Citizens and NECN, includes $35,000 in unrestricted funding, as well as significant promotional and volunteer support in recognition of the organization’s critical work.
“Citizens is pleased to support Boston Building Resources – Reuse Center as it provides access to affordable building materials in our communities,” said Lisa Murray, President, Citizens Massachusetts. “The Reuse Center at BBR is a Champion not only for the environment, but also for moderate- and low-income homeowners.”
“All of us at NBC Universal Boston are delighted to celebrate Boston Building Resources as a 2023 Champion in Action”, said Maggie Baxter, Vice President of Programming for NBC Universal Boston. “Through its work in our communities BBR is reducing waste and making environmental sustainability more accessible to everyone.”
The Reuse Center at BBR provides low- and moderate-income homeowners with the materials and knowledge they need to improve their homes and communities. The Reuse Center at BBR reduces waste by taking in donations of used and surplus building materials and makes them available at affordable prices to lower-income homeowners and small nonprofits. Instead of heading to a landfill or incinerator, new and high-quality reusable building materials are kept out of the waste stream and given an extended life improving people’s homes.
“We are proud that the Reuse Center at Boston Building Resources not only models environmental sustainability, but also helps our lower-income neighbors to keep their homes in good repair,” Kord Jablonski, Executive Director of BBR. “Being selected as a Champion in Action means that we can replace our diesel van with an electric vehicle and can pick-up donations of reusable building materials without generating any carbon emissions. We can recharge using solar power generated on our own rooftop, and, because EVs cost less to maintain, we also expect to save on vehicle operating costs.”
Citizens has announced a number of initiatives recently that focus on the bank’s efforts around sustainability. In 2021, Citizens introduced Green Deposits for commercial clients, allowing customers to direct balances to support companies and projects expected to create a positive environmental impact. In 2022, the company launched a new Carbon Offset Deposit Account, which provides clients a simple way to acquire high quality carbon offsets using credit earned on their deposits. Acquired offsets enable clients to integrate sustainability into their own strategies and products. In December, the company released its inaugural Climate Report, which aligns with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). This report details efforts underway at Citizens to address both the risks and opportunities related to climate change.
Citizens created the Champions in Action program to address the unique social challenges facing the communities it serves. The initiative rewards established nonprofit organizations, to help them reach the next level. Over more than 20 years, the program has awarded upwards of $10 million in contributions and promotional support to more than 370 nonprofits across the bank’s footprint. In Massachusetts alone, 60 nonprofits have been honored, receiving more than $1.7 million in funding.
As a Champion in Action, BBR will benefit from:
• A $35,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from Citizens
• Features and public service announcements from NECN
• Complimentary membership to the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network
• Volunteer support from Citizens colleagues
• Public relations and promotional support
For more information about the Champions in Action program, visit www.citizensbank.com/community/champions-in-action.aspx
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $226.7 billion in assets as of December 31, 2022. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,400 ATMs and approximately 1,100 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or visit us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.