JULY 10, 2002

People's Bank Establishes Fund For Community College Nursing Students

NORWICH, CONN.
With the nation facing a severe nursing shortage that is expected to reach crisis level in 2010, keeping nursing students in school is a priority. To ensure nursing students in Connecticut's community colleges can juggle their personal expenses with the fees associated with school, People's Bank has established a fund for nursing students at community colleges statewide to tap into in an emergency.

The fund, announced today during a reception at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich, was the brainchild of People's Bank Director Dr. Jeremiah J. Lowney, a Norwich-area healthcare professional.

"Nurses are an integral part of our nation's healthcare system, and it is vital we do everything we can to encourage nursing students to stay in school," said Lowney. "This fund will provide a fall-back for students who are faced with unexpected challenges in their lives - it can make a meaningful difference and keep them on the important path to a career in nursing."

Community college nursing students will have access to the fund to cover expenses for books, lab fees or equipment, if they run up against temporary challenges in their lives that might otherwise put those expenses out of their reach. The $14,000 grant is being divided between the five community colleges in Connecticut that offer nursing programs - Three Rivers, Housatonic, Capital, Naugatuck and Norwalk.

"I know I speak for all the community college presidents here today when I say we are very thankful to People's Bank and to Dr. Lowney for establishing this fund," said Grace Sawyer Jones, president, Three Rivers Community College. "Community college students tend to be 'non-traditional' college students - working parents, people changing careers, and, frankly, many of them are on very tight budgets. When daycare goes up $25 a week or the car needs a new muffler, the book or the lab fee gets pushed back on the list of priorities. It can be enough to drive someone right out of the program."

People's has a long history of community involvement throughout the state and looks for opportunities to support youth through education, mentoring and other sponsorships of youth-related activities. Through its network of 150 branches statewide, People's corporate community relations efforts have meaningful impact all across Connecticut.

"People's is very committed to our communities;we have been for the 160 years we have been creating possibilities throughout the state," said Barbara Johnson, senior vice president, Corporate Community Relations, at People's. "This fund can directly impact Connecticut's healthcare system."

The associate's degree in nursing through the Connecticut community colleges listed above is designed to prepare students to enter the profession as Registered Nurses. The curriculum is built upon an understanding of pertinent social and biological sciences. It includes the opportunity for individual enrichment through the inclusion of liveral arts and sciences studies. Nursing courses, forming the core of the curriculum, include classroom, college laboratory and clinical laboratory experiences.

Upon successful completion of the associate of science degree in nursing, the graduate applies to take the licensing examination to obtain the Registered Nurse licensure.

People's (peoples.com) is a diversified financial services company providing commercial, consumer, insurance and investment services. Founded in 1842, it is the largest state-chartered bank in Connecticut with managed assets of $13 billion, 150 branches and 230 ATMs. People's is a leader in consumer and commercial banking, residential lending, insurance sales, supermarket banking and is the nation's 15th-largest issuer of MasterCard and Visa credit cards. People's subsidiaries offer brokerage services, asset management, equipment financing and leasing, and insurance services.