MCC and Town Officials Announce $1.3 Million Donation from First Niagara

(L to R): Louis Spadaccini, Mayor, Town of Manchester; Allison Buikus, Student, Manchester Community College; Gene Mazur, President, MCC Foundation; Dr. Gena Glickman, President, Manchester Community College; Frank Polino, Executive Vice President, Corporate Initiatives, First Niagara; David Ring, President, New England Region, First Niagara; Scott Shanley, General Manager, Town of Manchester.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Manchester, Conn. – October 13, 2011 – Representatives from Manchester Community College (MCC), the Town of Manchester and First Niagara held a press conference yesterday to formally announce the bank’s $1.3 million donation to support the school’s expansion into the downtown community and expand educational programming.

The donation includes the gift of a downtown Manchester building, housed at 901 Main Street (known as the “Regal’s building”), to the Town of Manchester, and a $500,000 unrestricted grant over 5 years to the MCC Foundation, which will be used for educational initiatives.

During the press conference, which was held in the hearing room of the Lincoln Center in Manchester, officials from the Town and MCC discussed how this partnership will provide residents of Manchester and the surrounding communities with greater access to MCC’s many educational and cultural programs, while increasing visitors and vibrancy to downtown small businesses in a challenging economic climate.

“Manchester has long had a vibrant and active downtown community,” said Manchester Mayor Louis Spadaccini. “First Niagara’s donation and the arrival of “MCC on Main” will revitalize our downtown, and enhance its role as a retail, cultural and social center for residents and visitors from neighboring towns.”

Manchester Community College President Gena Glickman also discussed what First Niagara’s donation means for MCC. “As the largest of Connecticut’s community colleges, MCC is always seeking opportunities to provide students, faculty and staff with additional resources to expand and improve our infrastructure and programming. First Niagara’s generous gift to the MCC Foundation will allow us to realize the longtime goal of a downtown presence, while providing an economic boost to nearby small businesses, and create a college-town environment for our community.

First Niagara executives discussed the donation as an example of the bank’s commitment to the communities it serves and to educational initiatives throughout Connecticut.

“We heard from the Town and the Special Services District that maintaining and enhancing the vitality of downtown Manchester was a top priority,” First Niagara Executive Vice President, Corporate Initiatives, Frank Polino said. “We also heard from MCC that they needed more space to accommodate their growth and that they wanted a presence in downtown Manchester. Our decision to donate the Regal’s building to the Town, coupled with a $500,000 unrestricted grant to the college’s foundation, was designed to help both parties take a first step on the road to achieving their shared vision.”

About Manchester Community College
Students of any age who possess the desire to pursue higher education are welcome at Manchester Community College. MCC is proud of its academic excellence, new facilities, flexible schedules, small classes, low tuition and faculty with both academic and “real world” credentials. The College offers over 60 programs, transfer options, financial aid and scholarships, as well as access to baccalaureate degrees through guaranteed admissions programs with several universities. MCC is situated on a park-like campus and is easily accessible from I-84.

About First Niagara
First Niagara, through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Niagara Bank, N.A., is a multi-state community-oriented bank that currently has $31 billion in assets, $19 billion in deposits, 346 branches and 5,000 employees providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.fnfg.com.