BOSTON, Aug. 19, 2019
/PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to create and encourage a positive
environment that deflects bullying and supports inclusivity,
Santander Bank today announced a new anti-bullying campaign
called "Red Card Against Bullying." In partnership with the New
England Revolution, the campaign will benefit the New England
chapter of Playworks, a national nonprofit organization that
partners with elementary schools to lead inclusive recess where
students are encouraged to be physically active and develop healthy
social behaviors.
Beginning with the August 24 New
England Revolution match against the Chicago Fire, Santander will donate
$1,000 for each Revolution assist
recorded through the remainder of the 2019 season. Santander will
donate a minimum of $15,000 and up to
$20,000 to Playworks' Junior Coaches,
a leadership program that helps 4th to 6th
grade students facilitate inclusive and fair play among their
classmates. Twenty-seven percent of Boston children between 6 and 17 years old
reported being bullied at school in the past year*, making these
funds vital to providing additional training for the Junior
Coaches.
"At Santander, we're committed to fostering respect – be
it in our branches, on the playing field, in the classroom, or in
the community – so taking a stand against bullying and highlighting
the power of inclusivity is incredibly important to us," said
Barbara Glasser, Chief Marketing
Officer at Santander Bank. "We're proud to partner with the New
England Revolution and Playworks on our Red Card Against Bullying
campaign to help raise awareness for those affected by such a
pervasive issue and encourage positive change in communities across
New England."
To officially kick off the campaign, Santander will give every
fan in attendance at the New England Revolution match on
Saturday, August 24, a red card, and
ask them to join Bank leadership in holding up the card during the
27th minute of the game. The red cards will symbolically
shine light upon an issue that has affected so many young people
inside and outside of the classroom.
In celebration of the Bank's partnership with Playworks,
Santander will honor Playworks' Junior Coaches from the area during
halftime, where they will lead an on-field activity showcasing the
organization's positive play-based activity that enables kids to
feel a true sense of belonging.
"Bullying is an issue that affects so many in our community and
we are honored to join Santander Bank in taking a stand through the
Red Card Against Bullying campaign," said Brian Bilello, President of the New England
Revolution. "Partners like Santander help us positively benefit the
communities we serve, and we look forward to continuing our support
of organizations like Playworks that bring new opportunities to
those who are impacted by bullying."
"By facilitating healthy interactions and making respect,
empathy, and teamwork habitual, Playworks helps schools prevent
bullying and promote inclusive behavior," added Jonathan Gay, Executive Director of Playworks
New England. "Santander and the Revolution are critical partners in
ensuring that kids across the region get opportunities for safe and
healthy play in school every day."
To celebrate the culmination of the campaign and its impact,
Santander executives, employees, and New England Revolution players
will join Playworks this fall to rebuild and beautify the Kenny
Elementary School playground in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood. In alignment with the
campaign's goal of facilitating safe and welcoming school
environments, Revolution players will assist Playworks staff and
Junior Coaches to lead school-aged children through a host of
recess activities that cultivate healthy play environments that
encourage inclusive and respectful play for all.
Santander Bank is proud to serve as the Official Bank of the New
England Revolution, now playing its 24th
season.
Media Contact: Korie
Grill, Elevate Communications, (774) 551 6679,
kgrill@elevatecom.com
Santander Bank, N.A. is one of the country's largest
retail and commercial banks with $74.2
billion in assets. With its corporate offices in
Boston, the Bank's approximately
9,600 employees, over 600 branches, more than 2,000 ATMs and 2.1
million customers are principally located in Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Connecticut,
Rhode Island, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania and
Delaware. The Bank is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Madrid-based Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE: SAN)
- one of the most respected banking groups in the world with more
than 125 million customers in the U.S., Europe, and Latin
America. It is overseen by Santander Holdings USA, Inc., Banco Santander's intermediate
holding company in the U.S. For more information on Santander Bank,
please visit www.santanderbank.com.
Playworks is the leading national nonprofit leveraging the power
of play to transform children's physical and emotional health. For
many students, recess is anything but playful due to bullying,
exclusion, and fighting. Playworks partners with elementary schools
to lead safe, inclusive recess where students are given the
opportunity to remain physically active and develop healthy social
and emotional behaviors. Serving 100,000 kids across the region,
including communities throughout Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, and New Hampshire,
Playworks ensures recess is an opportunity for students to learn
the skills needed to thrive in and out of school. For more
information on how you can get in the game, please visit
www.playworks.org/newengland.
*Source: Boston Public Health Commission's "Health of
Boston's Children" report, Page
107, figure 4.4
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SOURCE Santander Bank