November 28, 2002

People's Bank Announces Winners of First "Spirit of Volunteerism Award"

BRIDGEPORT, CONN.
People's Bank today honored three of its employees with the inaugural "Spirit of Volunteerism Award," marking their extraordinary contributions as volunteers throughout the state of Connecticut

Thomas S. Griggs Jr., Marjan Murray and Mary-Jo Wlodecki received the award for their ongoing involvement with not-for-profit and charitable organizations. The Spirit of Volunteerism Award was created this year as a way to recognize the broad range of employees at People's who give of themselves to their communities - principles and values that are deeply ingrained in People's culture.

People's presents three awards: one to an employee of People's corporate offices in Bridgeport and one each to an employee from the organization's East and West regions in the state. A $500 contribution in the name of the recipient is donated to a non-profit organization for which each winner volunteers.

"Since 1983 we have honored a member of the People's family with the Samuel Hawley Award in recognition of a lifetime of public service, personal commitment and a leadership role in the community," said People's President and CEO John Klein. "This new award allows us to recognize employees who are building the foundations of that kind of commitment and to encourage them to continue on that path."

All full-time and part-time employees with at least one year of service are eligible for the award. Criteria for nomination include: the amount of volunteer work done over the previous year;impact on the community;and a positive and professional work attitude.

"This award recognizes People's employees, nominated by their peers, who embrace the heritage of People's commitment to community service," said Barbara Johnson, senior vice president, Corporate Community Relations.

About the Winners
Thomas S. Griggs Jr., vice president, People's Corporate University, is a New Haven resident. He is chairman of the Connecticut Alliance for Arts Education and, in that capacity, serves on the National Governance Committee of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network in Washington, D.C. He has served for the past 10 years as president of Creative Arts Workshop, a non-profit art school, where he recently led a $600,000 capital campaign. He previously served as treasurer of New Haven's inaugural "First Night" and as a member of the fundraising committee for the schooner Amistad. Griggs has been affiliated with the Development Committee for Long Wharf Theatre and the Steinert Society of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. He originated the Adopt-a-School relationship between People's Bank and East Rock Community School and also is an Associate Fellow of Branford College at Yale University.

Marjan Murray, who resides in New Canaan, is a vice president and regional manager in Commercial Mortgage. She currently sits on the board of directors and executive committee for the Housing Development Fund, an organization for which she has served two terms as president. Murray also serves on the board of directors of the Real Estate Finance Association, where she also is vice president, and the Stamford Center for the Arts. Additionally, Murray works on the boards of the Stamford Chamber of Commerce's Finance and Development Committee and the Stamford Downtown Special Services District's Board of Commissioners. In the past, Murray has served on the advisory board of the University of Connecticut @ Stamford School of Business Administration, the board of directors of the Day Care Center of New Canaan and the board of directors of Fairfield 2000 Homes.

Mary-Jo Wlodecki, a Preston resident, is first vice president for the Greater Norwich Market at People's. Wlodecki serves as co-chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut and is on the Three Rivers College Foundation board of directors. She also is a corporator for the Backus Corporation, a director of the Business Industry Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, a Heart Walk Company Leader for the American Heart Walk and a campaign ambassador for the United Way. She is a former board member for both the United Way and the Women's Center of Southeastern Connecticut. A lifelong Connecticut resident, Mary-Jo has participated frequently over the years in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl-A-Thon, the March of Dimes Walk, the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life and the Liz Harris Cannonball Run.

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, 154 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 16th-largest issuer of MasterCard and Visa credit cards. People's subsidiaries offer brokerage services, asset management, equipment financing and leasing, and insurance services.