MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release	Contact	Phone
August 11, 2009	Leslie Schlesinger, CRA Organizer	973-643-8800
	Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, CRA Executive Director	973-643-8800
	Jason Beyersdorfer, PNC Media Relations	732-220-3055

New Jersey Citizen Action and PNC Bank Highlight Self Reliant Loan and Grant Program to Benefit People With Disabilities

TRENTON, N.J. August 11, 2009 — New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA) and PNC highlighted the successful implementation of the Self Reliant Loan program during a news conference today at the New Jersey State House. The organizations jointly developed the program to assist people with disabilities in purchasing items that improve independence and accessibility in their daily lives.

Highlighted during the news conference were some of the first program participants, who include Ms. Debi Thompson, a Toms River resident who shared her bathroom remodeling plans that will support wheelchair accessibility and the empowering effect this will have for her daily lifestyle.

The Self-Reliant Loan program offers personal unsecured loans to qualified individuals with various disabilities for a range of services that enable independent living that can include computers with adaptive software, kitchen and bathroom remodels for accessibility and service animal maintenance. In addition to the reduced interest-rate loan offer, PNC will award a $1,000 grant to borrowers who close on a Self-Reliant loan.

"The current economic environment has further heightened the need for creative solutions and close partnerships in serving the needs of physically challenged individuals," said Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, executive director, NJ Citizen Action. "At a time when it's most needed, what could be more exciting than delivering a solution that advances the independence of people with physical challenges and the additional hurdles that presents?"

"PNC has an established history of working with highly regarded organizations dedicated to improving and strengthening the local communities that we are privileged to support," said Bill Best, senior vice president of Community Development Banking for PNC in New Jersey. "Today we clearly see the benefit and impact that the shared focus of PNC and New Jersey Citizen Action has for the varied communities we serve."

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New Jersey Citizen Action (njcitizenaction.org) is the state's largest citizen watchdog coalition working to protect and expand the rights of individuals and families and ensure that government officials respond to the needs of people rather than the interests of those with money and power.

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (www.pnc.com) is one of the nation's largest diversified financial services organizations providing retail and business banking; residential mortgage banking; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management; asset management and global fund services.