Citizens and New York Road Runners Announce Inaugural “Miles That Matter Award” and 2025 Award Recipients

10/08/2025

Citizens and New York Road Runners Announce Inaugural "Miles That Matter Award" and 2025 Award Recipients

Four TCS New York City Marathon runners who embody the spirit and determination of the city will receive a donation to the charity of their choice

New York - October 8, 2025 - Four local heroes of the TCS New York City Marathon who are running for charities that make an impact in their local communities will be honored with the inaugural Citizens Miles that Matter award, Citizens and New York Road Runners (NYRR) announced today.

The award seeks to highlight trailblazers whose marathon journey and community commitment show how they've overcome adversity, give back to their community, inspire others, and show what it means to run for New Yorkers. This year's winners' NYRR Official Charity Partner organization will each receive a $26,200 grant from Citizens Philanthropic Foundation, in honor of the 26.2 miles they'll run.

"The Citizens Miles That Matter Award is a tribute to the unwavering determination and spirit of the iconic New York City Marathon," said Rebecca O'Connell, New York Metro Market President at Citizens. "These four runners don't just represent athletic achievement - they embody the resiliency that define New Yorkers and capture why the race is so special to the City."

To support other nonprofits' missions and services, New York Road Runners, the nonprofit that produces 60 annual adult and youth races, has an Official Charity Partner Program that gives organizations the opportunity to offer guaranteed entry to the TCS New York City Marathon for athletes who fundraise on their behalf. Since its inception in 2006, athletes in the Official Charity Partner Program have raised more than $600 million for more than 1,000 worthy causes.

"The TCS New York City Marathon is the best day of the year, in the best city in the world, partly because of the incredible impact more than 14,000 charity runners provide by putting purpose behind their miles," said Christine Burke, New York Road Runners Chief Commercial Officer. "We are proud to partner with Citizens on the Citizens Miles That Matter Award to shine a light on individuals who are uplifting their communities and inspiring action."

This years winners recognize four inspiring New York City residents running for something bigger than themselves - championing causes, supporting neighbors, and demonstrating resiliency - moving New York forward one mile at a time:

• Natasha Whitling, of Brooklyn, is running for The Pink Agenda, a nonprofit committed to funding breast cancer research while inspiring and empowering the next generation of advocates to act and raise awareness. Natasha is running to celebrate 10 years cancer-free and making every mile matter for a cause that defines her journey.
• Erik Lochtefeld, of Brooklyn, is running for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, a nonprofit that channels the generosity and artistry of the theater community and its audiences into providing lifesaving meals, medication, health care and housing for people in need across the country and within the performing arts industry. Erik, a stage and screen actor, is running to embody the resilient spirit of New Yorkers after having recently undergone surgery to remove a brain tumor.
• Bryan Baratian, of Manhattan, is running for iMentor, a national 1:1 mentoring program whose model harnesses the power of long-term, trusting relationships to help first-generation college students navigate a path to college and beyond. Bryan is running to elevate iMentor's mission and expand opportunities to more students in the local community.
• Christopher Jackson, of Manhattan, is running for Ronald McDonald House New York, a compassionate home-away-from-home for families with children undergoing treatment for pediatric cancer and other serious illnesses. Chris will mark 20 years since his own leukemia diagnosis by running 26.2 miles in this years Marathon, mirroring how he approached cancer treatments as a teenager. Additionally, Chris now works as a doctor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, specializing in pediatric brain tumors.

Citizens' Commitment to New York City

Since expanding into New York in 2022, Citizens has been committed to becoming part of the city's fabric, building partnerships that expand economic opportunity, invest in workforce development, and celebrate the culture, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit of New Yorkers. Through collaborations with organizations like New York Road Runners, Queens Night Market, LISC, Pursuit, and New York Restoration Project, Citizens is dedicated to helping create a stronger, more vibrant future for the city.

Since 2022, the bank has invested more than $13 million in philanthropic giving across the Tri-State Metro. As part of Citizens recently announced $20 million national investment to support workforce development programs, more than $5 million will be for organizations in the New York Metro area that enhance educational and career opportunities and promote economic mobility while addressing the affordability crisis.

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation's oldest and largest financial institutions, with $218.3 billion in assets as of June 30, 2025. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,000 ATMs and approximately 1,000 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at https://www.citizensbank.com or visit us on X, LinkedIn or Facebook.