JANUARY 15, 2001

People's Bank, Charles D. Smith, Jr. Foundation Launch Shirley Bean Leadership Award

BRIDGEPORT, CONN.
People’s Bank and the Charles D. Smith Jr. Foundation are collaborating to create a community award in honor of community activist and former City Council member Shirley Bean, who died in September following a long illness.

Each year, beginning this April, People’s and the Smith Foundation will present the Shirley Bean Leadership Award, recognizing a person who has demonstrated strong commitment to the improving and protecting his or her community. A $2,500 donation will be made to an organization selected by the honoree. Creation of the award was officially announced at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast held this morning at Mount Aery Baptist Church.

A familiar figure on the Bridgeport scene, Shirley Bean worked with numerous community organizations and represented the East End of Bridgeport on the City Council until her death in late 2000. She worked for People’s Bank as a mortgage systems specialist.

“Shirley Bean was a beloved member of the People’s Bank family who worked tirelessly on behalf of the East End of Bridgeport and the entire city. This award will help us keep Shirley’s memory alive in the city she loved so much,” said Ruth G. Price, People’s vice president, community reinvestment officer.

“People’s Bank has a strong commitment to the community, just as Shirley Bean did. We’re proud that the Smith Foundation is partnering with People’s in creating and presenting this award,” said Deborah Sims, executive director of the foundation.

People’s Bank is donating $25,000 to fund the award, which will be presented each year at the Charles D. Smith, Jr. Foundation dinner in April. Official forms for submitting nominations can be obtained from the Smith Foundation [(203) 382-0052]. Award selections will be made by a panel of community leaders. Deadline for nominations is Feb. 26.

The Charles D. Smith, Jr. Foundation, established in 1989, was established to promote academic success in a multicultural diverse community. The foundation sponsors an Education Center, located in the East End of Bridgeport, which structures programs to challenge participants to strive for excellence through education and to provide opportunities and information for positive lifestyle choices, focusing on building a track record of success, leaving behind low self-esteem and the destructive behaviors of the streets.

People’s (www.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 more than $13 billion, 146 branches and 225 ATMs. People’s is a leader in commercial banking, residential lending, insurance sales and supermarket banking. An international credit card issuer, it ranks 17th nationally as an issuer of MasterCard and Visa credit cards. People’s subsidiaries offer brokerage services, asset management, equipment financing and leasing, and insurance services.