Mentoring Scores Big in Western New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Buffalo, New York, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) January 5, 2012 -- First Niagara kicked off National Mentoring Month with yesterday’s announcement that 18 area non-profits will receive a total of $150,000 as part of the company’s fifth annual Mentoring Matters(SM) program. During a news conference held at the First Niagara Center, bank leaders emphasized the importance of mentoring and the need for every Western New York child to have a caring adult in his or her life.

The Buffalo Sabres also joined in on the mentoring celebration, skating with students from Enterprise Charter School in Buffalo, N.Y., on the First Niagara Center ice.

Mentoring Matters is First Niagara’s charitable giving program that provides critical financial and volunteer support for mentoring efforts conducted throughout the Northeast. In 2011, Mentoring Matters topped the $2.5 million total grant mark in Upstate New York – positively impacting more than 46,000 youth in more than 200 organized mentoring programs.

The 2011 Western New York grant winners are:
• Be-A-Friend Program, Inc.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Niagara County, Inc.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northtowns

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo
• Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, Inc.
• Buffalo Prep, Inc. 2 Diefendorf Annex
• Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
• Compeer West Inc
• Girl Scouts Of Western New York
• Health Association of Niagara County Inc.
• Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, Inc.
• Junior Achievement of Western New York
• Literacy Empowerment Action Plan of Western New York, Inc.
• Literacy Volunteers of Buffalo And Erie County, Inc
• Seneca Street Community Development Corporation
• The Salvation Army

• United Church Home Society, Inc.
• Gateway-Longview

“Through our Mentoring Matters program we are able to reinforce the importance and showcase the positive impact mentoring has on the lives of young adults,” said Buford Sears, Western New York Market Executive for First Niagara Bank. “Mentoring is a strong factor that so often leads to positive changes in the professional, academic, social, emotional, and cognitive growth of students in our Western New York community.”

According to a survey of past Mentoring Matters grant recipients, the benefits of mentoring include significant improvements in academic grades and school attendance. The survey also found that mentoring programs are effective in elevating self-esteem, communication skills, learning to relate well to others, setting career goals and adopting new, positive behaviors.

In total, First Niagara has provided more than $3.25 million to support mentoring initiatives conducted throughout its Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, and New England service areas.

About First Niagara: First Niagara Financial Group, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary First Niagara Bank, N.A., has $31 billion in assets, $20 billion in deposits, 332 branches and approximately 5,000 employees, as of September 30, 2011. First Niagara is a community-oriented bank providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts. For more information visit www.fnfg.com.

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