First Citizens Bank Launches ‘Open the Door to Change’ to Benefit Teen Cancer America
November 29 2016 - 11:58AM
Bank’s spare change drive supports nonprofit’s
goal of specialized facilities and targeted care for young people
with cancer
Starting today (Giving Tuesday) and throughout the holiday season,
First Citizens Bank is collecting spare change in all its branches
to help teens with cancer.
The effort, called “Open the Door to Change,” is the next phase
of the North Carolina-headquartered bank’s ongoing sponsorship of
Teen Cancer America. The spare change collected will go to the
national nonprofit’s work to increase support for cancer care
facilities and specialized treatment targeted for both teens and
young adults. Individuals, businesses, school groups and civic
organizations are encouraged to gather spare pennies, nickels,
dimes and quarters and drop them off at any First Citizens location
through Jan. 6, 2017.
“A little bit of change from everyone can go a long way to
helping young people with cancer,” said Jeff Ward, chief strategy
officer of First Citizens Bank and a Teen Cancer America board
member. “That’s why we’ve launched ‘Open the Door to Change.’ By
collecting spare change this holiday season, we want to open more
doors — to bring about even better care and brighter futures for
these teens and their families.”
There are three ways to participate in “Open the Door to
Change:”
- Visit a First Citizens branch and donate change in person.
Special collection boxes for depositing change are set up in the
lobby areas of more than 500 First Citizens branches. Special
envelopes for collecting change contributions will also be
available at branch drive-through lanes. (Go to
firsticitzens.com/locations to find a local branch.)
- Make a contribution online. Visit LetMyLoveOpenTheDoor.com and
click the “donate” button to make a contribution to Teen Cancer
America.
- Redeem First Citizens Rewards® as a donation. Beginning early
December, customers can redeem the rewards dollars or points they
have accumulated with their First Citizens Rewards Visa® Card to
the “Open the Door to Change” effort via firstcitizensrewards.com
(1,000 points/$10 rewards dollars equals a $10.00 donation).
In addition, First Citizens associates will join the effort by
collecting and donating their own spare change.
Every year, almost 11,000 young people in the United States
between the ages of 13 and 25 are diagnosed with cancer. Teen
Cancer America works with hospitals to create treatment and
recovery spaces around the unique medical and psychological needs
of teens who are fighting the disease.
Teens often fall between the cracks of specialized care provided
to cancer patients, according to Simon Davies, executive director
of Teen Cancer America. They may end up with kids in the pediatric
unit or with the older people in the general cancer facilities.
“First Citizens’ ‘Open the Door to Change’ will help us bridge
this gap — by supporting hospital facilities designed for teens,
where they can get targeted treatment and where there’s staff
trained to deal with the specific types of cancers we’re seeing in
young people today,” Davies said. “We hope people all across First
Citizens’ markets will open their hearts, donate their spare change
and help us transform the lives of young people with cancer.”
The “Open the Door to Change” coin collection drive is a
continuation of First Citizens’ largest-ever philanthropic effort.
As part of this effort, rock legend Roger Daltrey of The Who
recorded a new version of the classic Pete Townshend song “Let My
Love Open the Door” to serve as the centerpiece of the initiative.
It was launched in November 2015 with the theme “Open the Door” to
support the work of Teen Cancer America.
Daltrey is a spokesman for and a driving force behind Teen
Cancer America, which he and Townshend helped found in 2012 after
more than a decade of working with Teenage Cancer Trust in the
United Kingdom. Daltrey’s single is available exclusively on iTunes
with Apple, Daltrey and Republic Records donating their respective
proceeds in the United States to Teen Cancer America.
The song is featured in First Citizens’ television and radio
commercials encouraging support of Teen Cancer America. Most
recently, the commercial ran as a public service announcement in
California on KCET, the nation's largest independent public
television station. It was part of special programming that focused
on The Who, Daltrey and his involvement in Teen Cancer America. The
song, the download and television commercial can be found at
LetMyLoveOpenTheDoor.com.
To date, Teen Cancer America has partnered with more than 12
major cancer centers across the United States to build specialized,
teen- and young adult-friendly inpatient and outpatient cancer care
facilities and programs. In cooperation with First Citizens, Teen
Cancer America is talking with major medical centers in North
Carolina and South Carolina about establishing teen-focused cancer
units and programs.
First Citizens’ financial commitment to Teen Cancer America
includes contributions for the nonprofit’s work in partner
hospitals that are within the bank’s key markets. First Citizens
Bank is the principal Southeastern corporate sponsor of Teen Cancer
America. For more information, visit LetMyLoveOpenTheDoor.com, use
#LetMyLoveOpenTheDoor or stop by a local First Citizens Bank
location.
About First Citizens Bank
Founded in 1898 and headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., First
Citizens Bank is the largest family-controlled bank in the U.S.,
with offices in 20 states. Drawing from over a century of
experience serving the needs of its customers, First Citizens
focuses on developing long-term relationships and offers a
comprehensive array of products and services to individuals,
families, businesses and the medical community. First Citizens Bank
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Citizens BancShares Inc.
(Nasdaq:FCNCA), which has more than $32.9 billion in assets.
For more information, visit firstcitizens.com.
About Teen Cancer America
Following in the footsteps of the highly developed and
successful Teenage Cancer Trust –Teen and Young Adult Cancer
Program out of the UK, Teen Cancer America is designed to help
hospitals and healthcare professionals bridge the gap between
pediatric and adult oncology care. Teen Cancer America aims to
educate and support hospitals and outpatient facilities in the
development of specialized units for this age group. The units are
places just for teens and young adults where the cancer experience
is understood and the importance of living life through the cancer
journey is nourished. Teen Cancer America’s work also supports the
coming together of physicians and allied healthcare professionals
in both pediatric and adult oncology so that the teen and young
adult cancer patient care becomes closer to where it needs to
be.
Contact: Barbara Thompson
First Citizens Bank
(919) 716-2716
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