First Niagara Kicks-off Third Annual Mentoring Matters(sm) Program in Western New York

Dec. 17, 2009 - PRLog -- BUFFALO, N.Y.—To highlight the positive impact of mentoring on today’s youth, First Niagara kicked off its third annual Mentoring Matters(sm) Program today by announcing the awarding of $150,000 among 11 Western New York not-for-profit organizations dedicated to mentoring efforts.

The 2009 Mentoring Matters Western New York grant recipients include:

1.   Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County
2.   Big Brothers Big Sisters of Niagara County
3.   Boys & Girls Club of Buffalo
4.   Boys & Girls Club of the Northtowns
5.   Buffalo Prep
6.   Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute
7.   Junior Achievement of WNY
8.   Literacy Empowerment Action Plan (LEAP) of WNY
9.   Compeer of Greater Buffalo
10.   YMCA of WNY
11.   Child & Family Services

This year’s selected non-profits conduct a wide range of mentoring programs in the Western New York community -- from mental health and literacy education to building self-esteem and empowering young adults to reach their full potential -- that positively influence the region’s youth.

Mentoring Matters is First Niagara’s corporate wide charitable giving campaign that provides both monetary and employee volunteer support to mentoring programs throughout the bank’s Upstate New York service area.  

In total, First Niagara’s 2009 Mentoring Matters program has donated $500,000 to 38 not-for-profit organizations throughout Western, Central and Eastern New York, and Rochester areas. In its third year, Mentoring Matters has donated a total of $1.5 million to more than 90 not-for-profit organizations in Upstate New York.  

To learn more about the program visit the Mentoring Matters facebook page and YouTube channel.

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About First Niagara: First Niagara Financial Group, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary First Niagara Bank, had assets of $14.1 billion and deposits of $9.9 billion at September 30, 2009. First Niagara Bank is a community-oriented bank providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses through 170 branches and five Regional Market Centers across Upstate New York and Western Pennsylvania. In July 2009, First Niagara announced its plans to acquire Harleysville National Corporation and its $5.6 billion in assets and 83 branches in the Philadelphia area, subject to regulatory and Harleysville shareholder approval. For more information, visit www.fnfg.com.