Citizens Names Woonsocket Education Center Champion in Action for Helping RI Nonprofits Build AI Skills
Recognition provides $50,000 in funding to launch an AI training program designed to help nonprofit leaders strengthen fundraising, communications, and operational efficiency
Citizens and NBC 10 have named the Woonsocket Education Center (WOC) a 2026 Champion in Action for Building AI Readiness and Capacity in Rhode Island. The recognition includes $50,000 in funding, along with promotional and volunteer support from Citizens colleagues. The award honors organizations that are finding practical ways to strengthen operations, build internal capacity, and increase community impact through the responsible use of emerging technologies.
This round's Champions in Action theme reflects a growing need across the nonprofit sector. As organizations face increasing demand for services and greater pressure to operate efficiently, many are exploring how artificial intelligence can help improve operations, strengthen service delivery, and build capacity to meet growing community needs. Funding from the award will support the development and delivery of an AI Readiness Training Program designed to help Rhode Island nonprofits build practical skills and confidently integrate AI into their work.
Through WOC’s program, two cohorts representing 40 nonprofit organizations will receive training on AI for fundraising and grant writing, communications and community outreach, administrative efficiency, and data analysis. The program will be delivered through a partnership between the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner and Rhode Island College, helping nonprofit leaders build the skills needed to responsibly integrate emerging technologies into their work.
"Artificial intelligence is changing how organizations operate, but many nonprofits don't have access to the training and resources needed to take advantage of these tools," said Michelle Hecht, Head of Corporate Affairs at Citizens. "The Woonsocket Education Center is helping close that gap by equipping nonprofit leaders with practical skills they can use to strengthen operations, improve efficiency, and ultimately serve more people across Rhode Island. That's exactly the kind of innovation and community impact Champions in Action was created to support."
As a Champion in Action, Woonsocket Education Center will receive:
This round's Champions in Action theme reflects a growing need across the nonprofit sector. As organizations face increasing demand for services and greater pressure to operate efficiently, many are exploring how artificial intelligence can help improve operations, strengthen service delivery, and build capacity to meet growing community needs. Funding from the award will support the development and delivery of an AI Readiness Training Program designed to help Rhode Island nonprofits build practical skills and confidently integrate AI into their work.
Through WOC’s program, two cohorts representing 40 nonprofit organizations will receive training on AI for fundraising and grant writing, communications and community outreach, administrative efficiency, and data analysis. The program will be delivered through a partnership between the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner and Rhode Island College, helping nonprofit leaders build the skills needed to responsibly integrate emerging technologies into their work.
"Artificial intelligence is changing how organizations operate, but many nonprofits don't have access to the training and resources needed to take advantage of these tools," said Michelle Hecht, Head of Corporate Affairs at Citizens. "The Woonsocket Education Center is helping close that gap by equipping nonprofit leaders with practical skills they can use to strengthen operations, improve efficiency, and ultimately serve more people across Rhode Island. That's exactly the kind of innovation and community impact Champions in Action was created to support."
As a Champion in Action, Woonsocket Education Center will receive:
- A $50,000 contribution from Citizens
- Media coverage and public service announcements from NBC 10
- Volunteer support from Citizens colleagues
“We deeply appreciate Citizens for supporting the work of our Woonsocket Education Center and naming us a Champion in Action,” said Jill Olson-Crowley, Director, Woonsocket Education Center. “We have a strong track record of convening education providers, workforce experts, employers, and community partners to expand career and training opportunities in R.I. By helping nonprofit leaders build practical AI skills and integrate emerging technology into their work, we expect that that knowledge will enable them to serve more working adults, remove persistent barriers to higher education and workforce training, and transform their clients’ lives.”
“Partnerships are good for any key relationship,” said Vic Vetters, Vice President and General Manager for NBC10. “Woonsocket Education Center is one of the best examples around in our community.”
Since launching 24 years ago, Citizens’ Champions in Action program has awarded more than $13 million in grants and promotional and volunteer support to more than 420 nonprofits across the bank’s footprint. In Rhode Island, 67 nonprofits have been recognized, receiving more than $2 million in funding.
The Champions in Action program celebrates and supports high-impact nonprofits with annual budgets under $5 million that are driving measurable, lasting change in their communities. Twice a year, Citizens selects one nonprofit in each of its nine major markets to receive funding and resources aligned with the bank’s Sustainability and Impact focus areas – Fostering Strong Communities, Building the Workforce of the Future, and Supporting Positive Climate Impact.
For more information about the Champions in Action program, visit Champions in Action | Be Inspired | Citizens (citizensbank.com). To learn more about Citizens’ Sustainability and Impact strategy, visit Sustainability and Impact (citizensbank.com).
About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $218.3 billion in assets as of March 31, 2026. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,000 ATMs and approximately 1,000 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or visit us on X, LinkedIn or Facebook.
“Partnerships are good for any key relationship,” said Vic Vetters, Vice President and General Manager for NBC10. “Woonsocket Education Center is one of the best examples around in our community.”
Since launching 24 years ago, Citizens’ Champions in Action program has awarded more than $13 million in grants and promotional and volunteer support to more than 420 nonprofits across the bank’s footprint. In Rhode Island, 67 nonprofits have been recognized, receiving more than $2 million in funding.
The Champions in Action program celebrates and supports high-impact nonprofits with annual budgets under $5 million that are driving measurable, lasting change in their communities. Twice a year, Citizens selects one nonprofit in each of its nine major markets to receive funding and resources aligned with the bank’s Sustainability and Impact focus areas – Fostering Strong Communities, Building the Workforce of the Future, and Supporting Positive Climate Impact.
For more information about the Champions in Action program, visit Champions in Action | Be Inspired | Citizens (citizensbank.com). To learn more about Citizens’ Sustainability and Impact strategy, visit Sustainability and Impact (citizensbank.com).
About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $218.3 billion in assets as of March 31, 2026. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,000 ATMs and approximately 1,000 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or visit us on X, LinkedIn or Facebook.
