News Release

 

March 20, 2008

Contact: Todd Pipitone

Financial institution turns the “key” that will open banking career door for many students in City schools

Key Foundation awards major grant to Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection to fund new financial scholars program 

Rochester, NY-March 20, 2008- A program that focuses on giving students in the Rochester City School District training to help them reach specific career goals received a financial boost as representatives from KeyBank announced today a $185,000 grant to fund Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection’s Key Scholars Program. 

The grant, which will be distributed to Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection over a five-year period, represents the largest award made by the Key Foundation to a Rochester-based community program. 

The monies will fund the Key Scholars Program, which will provide a range of education, training and support services throughout Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection. 

“The Key Scholars Program will operate as an integral part of Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection. It is aligned with the planned expansion of our employment services offerings, which is an objective outlined in Work-Scholarship’s three-year business growth plan,” said Sarah Amering, Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection president.  

The aim of the Key Scholars Program is to cultivate the skills and interests of those students curious about a career as a banking industry professional.  

“At Key, the most significant investment we make is in our communities, guided by our philanthropic focus on programs which promote financial education and workforce initiatives that foster diversity and inclusion. Through their participation in the Key Scholars Program and Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, students growing up in poverty will see their future career choices expand as they are exposed to information about opportunities in the banking industry,” said James Carriero, KeyBank’s Rochester District president. 

Elements of the Key Scholars Program include:

As a result of this grant and the partnership between KeyBank and Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, high school graduates that were Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection students may also be eligible for employment positions within KeyBank. 

About Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection
Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, founded in 1987 by Robert and Danny Wegman, is an affiliate of Hillside Family of Agencies. Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection helps urban youth stay in high school by providing academic support, part-time employment experience, and professional mentors (youth advocates) who help their students to develop good habits, achieve academic success, and become responsible young people at home, at work, and in their community.

Hillside Family of Agencies (www.hillside.com) is a family and children services organization that provides child welfare, mental health, youth development, juvenile justice, special education, and developmental disabilities services across central and western New York. Hillside Family of Agencies is comprised of affiliates Crestwood Children's Center, Crestwood Children's Foundation, Hillside Children's Center, Hillside Children's Foundation, Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, and Snell Farm Children's Center. 

About Key Foundation
Key Foundation is a private foundation funded by KeyCorp. Annual grants and matching gifts are given by the foundation to charitable organizations in the communities Key serves. Grants from Key Foundation principally support organizations and institutions that promote economic independence through financial education and workforce initiatives that foster diversity and inclusion. 

About KeyCorp
KeyCorp is on of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $100 billion. Key companies provide investment management, retail and commercial banking, consumer finance, and investment banking products and services to individuals and companies throughout the United States and, for certain businesses, internationally. KeyBank N.A. is one of New York’s largest financial institutions. The five-county Rochester District has 15 branches, 16 ATMs and 120 employees. 

Additional Contacts:

Shelly Van Dusen
Public Relations Manager
KeyBank
315-470-5510
Shelly_VanDusen@KeyBank.com

Need More Information?
Call us, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern time, at (585) 256-7500 or TTY (585) 256-7881. Or tpipiton@hillside.com