BUFFALO, N.Y., Oct. 27, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The First Niagara Foundation is pleased to announce it is providing $20,000 in grant funding through the 2016 First Niagara Mentoring MattersSM Grant Giveaway.

Individuals whose lives have been impacted by mentoring are being asked to create and submit a short video about their mentoring experience and nominate a not-for-profit organization that offers mentoring services in the four-state footprint that First Niagara serves. Members of the public will be asked to choose their favorite submissions and vote for the winners.   

Videos should be no longer than 90 seconds and may be submitted now through December 11th online.

Throughout the month of January, National Mentoring Month, voting will take place to determine the winning submissions. Voting officially begins on January 5th and ends on February 1st. The mentoring organization with the most votes will receive a grant of $10,000 from the First Niagara Foundation, the first runner-up will receive $4,000, and the remaining runners-up each will each receive $1,000. Also, the individuals who submit the videos named as finalists are eligible for a cash prize of $500 each.

“We have seen first-hand the difference mentoring can make to change lives and positively impact our young people,” said Elizabeth Gurney, Executive Director of the First Niagara Foundation. “We created this grant giveaway to help share stories that prove how powerful mentoring can be and to encourage others to consider becoming a mentor. This grant giveaway helps share stories about effective mentoring relationships and the ways they change lives. We encourage anyone who has a story to tell about mentoring to consider submitting a video.”

First Niagara has long been committed to the cause of mentoring. In 2007 the company launched Mentoring Matters with the goal of supporting organizations whose great work helps children improve their grades and school attendance, enhance their self-esteem, avoid the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and have a better opportunity for a brighter future. Since then, First Niagara has provided more than $8 million to mentoring programs.

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 2014, First Niagara contributed more than $10 million in charitable grants and sponsorships to community partners across the bank’s four-state footprint. For additional information on First Niagara, visit us at www.firstniagara.com, follow us on Twitter @FirstNiagara, or like us on Facebook at FirstNiagaraBank.

CONTACT: First Niagara Contact
         News Media:
         Jodi Johnston
         Director, Corporate Media Relations
         (716) 270-8612
         [email protected]