Press Release

For Immediate Release

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M&T BANK’S SPONSORSHIP MAKES NAGANO DREAMS A REALITY FOR THREE LOCAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS CHAMPIONS

Bank Raises Thousands in Support of Olympic Victory at the Special Olympics World Winter Games

(March 14, 2005 - Harrisburg, PA) — Local Harrisburg Special Olympics champs, Jennifer Stephens, Derek Eshenour and Reuben Krebs, will return to M&T Bank on Monday, March 14, 2005, to show-off the medals that months of hard work and determination and a generous $10,825 donation from M&T Bank and the surrounding community made possible. In July, M&T announced a partnership with Special Olympics in support of three local athletes, who were chosen to compete internationally at the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games held in Nagano, Japan, February 28 – March 5, 2005.   M&T launched a community-centered fundraising effort by announcing a $5,000 donation which soon inspired bank customers and the community to match the donation.

“We couldn’t be more proud of our local heroes,” said M&T Bank Regional President Michael S. Murchie. “We knew well even before their medal-winning successes in Nagano that we were making a great investment in producing world-class athletes and supporting the types of people we’re proud to call neighbors.”

Athletes compete successfully on the local and state level for the opportunity to compete internationally at the World Games. M&T’s donation supported local training, Team USA training in Colorado, coaching, competition, international travel expenses, equipment, health care, social activities, lodging, meals and other needs. 

M&T Bank

M&T Bank serves customers at more that 675 branches in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Special Olympics Pennsylvania

Special Olympics Pennsylvania provides year-round training and competition in 23 Olympic-type sports to 25,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities.  For more information about how SOPA inspires greatness, visit our Web site at www.specialolympicspa.org.