In 1998, the Citizens Savings Foundation was established and funded with 300,000 shares of CFS Bancorp, Inc. stock. The primary purpose of the Foundation is to promote charitable and educational activities within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, within Lake and Porter counties in the State of Indiana and Cook, Will and DuPage counties in the State of Illinois and their neighboring communities.
To that end, the Foundation
- Makes awards, grants or other distributions designed to expand home ownership opportunities and provide access to affordable housing
- Supports youth development programs to improve life options through education and work skills
- Supports community organizations that contribute to the quality of life
Since 1998, Citizens Savings Foundation has provided nearly $2.5 million in awards, grants and support to more than 400 organizations and institutions.
Community involvement is part of the Citizens culture at every level within the Bank. Each year, Citizens' employees participate in over 100 community events. People depend on us and we take their trust to heart. The billions of dollars invested in home loans, and the millions paid in interest on savings accounts certainly helped hundreds of communities and an inestimable number of families attain financial security over the decades. Likewise, the millions of dollars contributed back to our communities in the form of cash donations and a rich history of volunteerism by the Citizens family of employees have left an indelible impression on this region.