2017 Joe Belew Award Presented to PNC Bank for Fairfax Connection program

The 2017 Joe Belew award was presented to PNC Bank and accepted by Michael Taylor for his submission on The Fairfax Connection program which stood out to members of CBA for having the most innovative and impactful program supporting digital access to financial services, with particular emphasis on the needs of low to moderate - income consumers, the underserved/under banked, minorities, seniors, and rural communities.

PNC Fairfax Connection is a unique, free-of-charge community resource center designed in partnership with the citizens of Fairfax – a traditionally African American neighborhood in Cleveland Ohio’s east side that has long faced severe economic hardships.

The City of Cleveland is considered one of the top U.S. Cities with 100,000+ households that lack broadband access and the Fairfax community has one of the lowest connection rates.

First opened in September 2012, PNC Fairfax Connection was created by and for the community. It serves as a vibrant civic hub connecting residents to all areas of community development-education and workforce development, health, housing, small business development, access to financial services and cultural engagement opportunities through its collaboratively developed programming and partnerships.

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