News

June 9, 2015

$12,500 for Education Awarded at 14th Annual Key4Women Forum; Benita Zahn given first Key4Women Inspire Award

ALBANY, N.Y., June 5, 2015 – KeyBank announced today that Benita Zahn of WNYT News Channel 13 has been presented the first-ever Key4Women Inspire Award at the 14th Annual Key4Women Forum at the Glen Sanders Mansion in Schenectady. KeyBank donated $7,500 in Zahn’s name to Siena College and an additional $5,000 to the Women’s Fund of the Capital Region. 

The Key4Women Inspire Award is given to an individual who has been a vital part of an effort to empower and inspire women in the Capital Region. The award is part of KeyBank’s Key4Women program, which has been recognized by the Kauffman Foundation as a “best practice” for financial institutions serving women business owners.

Zahn’s work has been recognized with numerous awards, including four Emmy nominations. She recently completed her doctorate in Professional Studies/Bioethics from Albany Medical College’s Alden March Bioethics Institute. Zahn has also been an avid volunteer for women’s organizations and has volunteered as emcee of the Key4Women Forum since 2002.

This recognition of Zahn’s outstanding dedication to the Capital Region and her integrity in the field of journalism will allow Siena’s program to purchase two state-of-the-art high definition cameras and related accessories, including microphones, tripods, cables, and cases.  This equipment will give students access to professional caliber equipment, which is critical to their success in the competitive media industry.

“Benita’s commitment to shining a light on women’s issues through her role as co-anchor at WNYT, host of Health Link on WMHT and countless volunteer hours as emcee for women’s events such as the Key4Women forum makes her a natural fit for this recognition,” said Ruth Mahoney, president, Capital Region Market, KeyBank. “She has truly been one of Key4Women’s great champions over the years.”

“Siena College is proud to partner with KeyBank to honor Benita Zahn in recognition of her many contributions to the Capital Region. As a former faculty member, Benita impacted the early development of Siena’s communications program. Today, it is one of the college’s more popular minors,” said Br. F. Edward Coughlin, O.F.M., president, Siena College. “We thank KeyBank for their years of generosity to Siena and congratulate Benita Zahn on her many achievements.”  

The Women’s Fund of the Capital Region will also be receiving $5,000 for their work combatting discrimination, domestic violence, difficulty finding high-quality childcare and inadequate employment training. The Women’s Fund works to inspire change through awarding scholarships that make a difference for the women of the Capital Region.

“The Women’s Fund of the Capital Region is pleased to be recognized by Key4Women as we continue our mission of funding programs that help women achieve economic security and inspire change through education and job training initiatives,” said Paula Marshman, cochair, Women’s Fund of the Capital Region. “We congratulate Benita Zahn on being the first recipient of the Key4Women Inspire Award!”

Also honored at the Key4Women Forum were Dr. Ann Errichetti, CEO of St. Peter’s Hospital and Albany Memorial Hospital, and vice president for Acute Care Albany of St. Peter’s Health Partners. Errichetti was honored with KeyBank’s Key4Women Achieve Award. The Key4Women Achieve Award honors a local woman business leader who has achieved a high level of success in her career while making many contributions to the community. 

Prior to her current roles, Errichetti worked at Advocate Health Care in Chicago, Illinois as the president of Advocate Condell Medical Center. She established the first level one trauma center in Lake County, the first dedicated pediatric emergency room in Lake County and the first hospital in Lake County to be accredited as an Acute Chest Pain Center. 

Under her leadership, Advocate Condell was named to US News and World Reports “Top Chicago Hospitals” and also named as a “Top 100” Hospital and “Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital” by Truven Analytics. Errichetti brings experience working for Day Kimball Hospital, Good Samaritan Medical Center and Memorial Health Care. On top of her experiences in hospitals, she is a fellow in the American College of Cardiology, a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on the board of the Albany Symphony Orchestra and the American Heart Association, Capital District. 

About Key4Women 

Key4Women, officially launched in 2005, is a unique KeyBank program grounded in research and dedicated to helping women business owners achieve success. The program has lent more than $6 billion to qualified women-owned business since its founding. 

In addition to access to capital, Key4Women offers customized solutions through Key4Women Champions in 23 markets, ongoing education to help women business owners build skills and knowledge, and networking opportunities with local and national organizations, including the Women’s President Organization (WPO). Key4Women is free to Key clients and can be joined by visiting www.key.com/women. Interested individuals can learn more about the program and how they can join by contacting Kate Otis at kate.otis@keybank.com.

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp traces its roots back more than 180 years and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. One of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, Key has assets of approximately $91.8 billion. The 10-county Capital Region, one of 23 KeyCorp markets, has 47 branches, approximately 62 ATMs and more than 900 employees. 

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management and investment services to individuals, small and medium sized businesses in 12 states under the name of KeyBank N.A. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. 

For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is member FDIC.