First Niagara Foundation and KeyBank Foundation come together to assist Niagara County

Officials at the United Way of Greater Niagara received a special gift from the KeyBank Foundation and First Niagara Bank Foundation to support the annual campaign. The foundations each came forward with a $5,000 grant to United Way of Greater Niagara to ensure the United Way can invest in local programs in Niagara County. This funding is in addition to employee donations and a corporate matching gift contributed from each organization.

Both organizations have a long history of giving to the United Way of Greater Niagara.

"First Niagara is proud to step up and ensure that the United Way meets its fundraising goals this year to help them continue to provide high-quality human services programs in Western New York," said Gary Crosby, First Niagara president and CEO. "As First Niagara and KeyBank come together, our combined commitment to United Way is unwavering. We are proud to support their good work and connect people to the resources they need to help them reach their full potential and strengthen our community."

"KeyBank and First Niagara will truly be better together; better for clients and better for our communities. Today's announcement is another example of the investment KeyBank is making in our community. It's an example of how, together with First Niagara, we are working with the United Way to help ensure that every person in Niagara County has the opportunity for productive and rewarding futures," said Gary Quenneville, regional sales executive, Western New York, and president, KeyBank Market, KeyBank N.A.

"We are grateful to First Niagara and KeyBank for their support of the United Way. This gift will allow us to invest in programs right here in Niagara County," said Carol G. Houwaart-Diez, United Way president and CEO.

The United Way of Greater Niagara invests in programs that focus on education, health and income in Niagara County. Through funding 44 programs delivered by 23 program partners, the organization works to improve the quality of life for all in Niagara County. For more information, visit www.uwgn.org.

First Niagara, through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Niagara Bank, N.A., is a multistate community-oriented bank with approximately 390 branches, $40 billion in assets, $30 billion in deposits, and approximately 5,300 employees providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts. For additional information on First Niagara, visit us at www.firstniagara.com.

KeyCorp was organized more than 160 years ago and is headquartered in Cleveland. One of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, Key has assets of approximately $95.1 billion, as of Dec. 31, 2015. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management and investment services to individuals and small and medium-sized businesses under the name of KeyBank National Association. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/.