October 29, 2003

People's Honors Four Employees' Volunteer Efforts

Newtown, Stratford, Fairfield and Groton Residents Recognized

BRIDGEPORT, CONN. - Four employees were honored recently for their community leadership and commitment to volunteer activities during the bank's annual employee volunteer reception.

The bank has nearly 400 employees who regularly volunteer their time and talents in communities throughout the state. The activities they engage in range from building houses for Habitat for Humanity to raising money for various charities by participating in walkathons and bowlathons, in addition to serving on boards of numerous nonprofit organizations.

Each employee received the Spirit of Volunteerism Award, a peer-driven award instituted last year. The award recognizes volunteer and community leadership efforts of People's employees from both the corporate offices in Bridgeport and regional offices throughout the state.

This year's four winners are: Mark Fries of Newtown;Armando Goncalves of Fairfield;Jane Moriarty of Groton and Mary Ann Vlahac of Stratford. Each of the winners received a plaque and a $500 contribution to the charity of their choice.

''Community involvement is an integral part of our 160-plus year history,'' said Barbara Johnson, senior vice president, Corporate Community Relations at People's. ''The volunteer efforts of our employees are important to us, both for the employee's personal development, but also because their efforts represent another link between the bank and its customers.''

John Klein, People's Bank President and CEO, reiterated the bank's commitment to the importance of employees volunteering in the communities the bank serves. ''The depth and breadth of our volunteer efforts truly do differentiate People's Bank. They help our customers understand we're not just their bank, but we're their hometown partner.''

Klein introduced Dr. Claire Gaudiani, former president of Connecticut College and a senior research scholar at Yale Law School, who talked about her recent book, ''The Greater Good: How Philanthropy Drives the Economy and Can Save Capitalism.'' Her book explores the thesis that Americans are not generous because we are rich, but rich because we are generous.

Biographical Information
Mark Fries of Newtown, senior vice president at People's subsidiary Beardsley, Brown and Bassett, currently serves as chairman of the board of directors of United Way of Eastern Fairfield County. In November 2002, Fries ran the New York Marathon with his daughter and raised $32,000 for The Swim Across the Sound Foundation. He also serves on the board of St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation, as well as the Cardinal Shehan Center, the Bridgeport Regional Business Council and the Newtown Scholarship Association, for which he raised $33,000 for scholarships through a golf tournament. Fries serves as a trustee of the University of Bridgeport and received a Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 2003. He is a member of Bridgeport Rotary and was chairman of the International Service Committee.

Armando Goncalves of Fairfield, first vice president, growth manager at People's has been active in the Bridgeport community, serving as: Past president and board member of the International Institute of Connecticut;president of the Vasco da Gama Portuguese Cultural Center;past president of the Portuguese-American Civic League;and past president of the Bridgeport Rotary Club and current chairman of the Rotary's Polio Plus campaign. He is a member of the board of directors and finance committee of The Workplace of Connecticut, and has served on numerous committees for: United Way of Eastern Fairfield County;Bridgeport Regional Business Council, and Junior Achievement of Connecticut. Goncalves was a former Bridgeport city alderman.

Jane Moriarty, assistant vice president and commercial loan officer in People's Norwich Region, is secretary and member of the board of directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Connecticut. She also is treasurer of the Southeastern Connecticut Women's Network. Moriarty also is a member of the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce's Women's Network committee and is chairperson of its annual educational breakfast program. Through the bank's mentoring program, she has been a mentor to a West Side Middle School student for the past three years. She also volunteers at the Garde Arts Center in New London;the Colonial Theatre;the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut;the Southeastern Connecticut Women's Center's Men Against Domestic Violence Program;and the state of Connecticut Department of Social Services Career Clothing Closet Council. In 2003, she was a finalist for the ATHENA Award sponsored by the Mystic Chamber of Commerce.

Mary Ann Vlahac of Stratford, marketing and research planning manager, was recognized for her work with the town of Stratford, including as a member of the board of directors of Perry House. She also volunteers her services with the Bridgeport Regional Business Council and with various Rotary Clubs throughout the area. In addition, she has volunteered with the American Red Cross' ''Ready When the Time Comes,'' program and has served as a mentor to women transitioning off welfare. She has volunteered her services for Playhouse on the Green, the Barnum Museum, the United Way, and has guest lectured at various colleges and universities in the area on the subject of marketing.

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 assets of $12 billion, 155 branches and more than 230 ATMs. People's is a leader in consumer and commercial banking, residential lending, insurance sales, supermarket banking and is the nation's 19th-largest issuer of MasterCard and Visa credit cards. People's subsidiaries offer brokerage services, asset management, equipment financing and leasing, and insurance services.

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