What Cheer Flower Farm named Champion in Action

What Cheer Flower Farm, a nonprofit transforming an abandoned 2.7-acre factory site in Providence into a flower farm and floristry center, has been named a 2020 Champion in Action® in the category of Environmental Stewardship. The award, announced jointly by Citizens Bank and NBC10, includes $35,000 in unrestricted funding as well as promotional and volunteer support for the organization’s outstanding work.

What Cheer Flower Farm grows, rescues and gives away flowers to underserved people in stress, including patients in hospitals and hospices, at-risk youth, seniors with dementia, and people in recovery centers and shelters. What Cheer Flower Farm is turning this former brownfield land into an urban oasis of organic growing fields.

“We are excited to announce What Cheer Flower Farm as our Champion in Action for Environmental Stewardship,” said Barbara Cottam, RI Market Executive at Citizens Bank. “What Cheer Flower Farm is not only transforming a contaminated brownfield into a beautiful space in an urban area, but it is spreading much needed cheer to those in stressful situations. These past few months, they have brought appreciation and thanks to our healthcare heroes with their flower deliveries.”

Champions in Action is part of Citizens Helping Citizens Strengthen Communities, the bank’s program designed to enhance quality of life and economic vitality in local communities. In partnership with NBC10, the program provides support for nonprofit organizations to recognize their contributions to communities throughout the state.

“They say ‘no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted’. If true, What Cheer Flower Farm is an ever-blooming success,” said Vic Vetters, Vice President and General Manager, NBC 10. “This nonprofit not only makes people feel happy but it demonstrates a creative, new use for abandoned industrial land.”

“Flowers show people they matter,” said Shelby Doggett, Executive Director, What Cheer Flower Farm. “The Champions in Action award will help What Cheer Flower Farm tell Rhode Islanders in stressful situations that they are worthy and deserving of beauty.”

To date, the Champions in Action program has awarded 347 nonprofits across the bank’s footprint more than $9.7 million in contributions and promotional support. In Rhode Island, 55 nonprofits have been honored as Champions in Action, receiving more than $1.5 million.

As a Champion in Action, What Cheer Flower Farm will receive:

• A $35,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from Citizens Bank;
• Media coverage from NBC 10, including public service announcements and television profiles;
• Volunteer support from Citizens’ colleagues;
• Promotional support highlighting the Champion in Action in Citizens Bank branches;
• Exposure on the Citizens Bank and NBC10 websites.

For more information about the Citizens Bank and NBC 10 Champions in Action program, visit

www.citizensbank.com/community/champions-in-action.aspx