First Niagara Foundation supports City Scholars

Company provides support through its Mentoring Matters Program focused on young people in the region

A. Sue Weisler

Rochester Institute of Technology and its Rochester City Scholars Program were recipients of community grants given by First Niagara Foundation recently to further advance mentoring, educational opportunities and career resources for young people in the area.

RIT’s award of $10,000 was among several the foundation provided to area high schools, nonprofit organizations and university K-12 partnerships in an effort to sustain the Rochester community, and to support more than 40,000 youth-participants in proven mentoring programs, according to foundation officials.

“First Niagara is proud to serve our communities as a leading corporate citizen by investing in the people who make them such special places to live, work and do business,” said Suzanne Nasipak-Chapman, Rochester Market Executive. “Our funding for the Rochester City Scholars program at RIT will provide much-needed support for local students to facilitate their learning and provide lifelong resources for success.”

RIT’s scholarship program, established in 2010 by President Bill Destler and his spouse, Rebecca Johnson, provides full scholarships to the university for qualified students from the Rochester City School District. Since its inception, more than 100 students have participated in the program and the first class of scholars graduated from RIT in 2014. Students in the program receive academic, social and career mentoring through RIT’s Multicultural Center for Academic Success.

About The First Niagara Foundation: The First Niagara Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable entity. Founded in 1998, the First Niagara Foundation is committed to supporting organizations in the communities in which we live and work, with specific focus on youth and education, community development and neighborhood revitalization. In 2015, the First Niagara Foundation contributed nearly $6 million in charitable grants to community partners across the bank’s four-state footprint.


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