Citizens bankrolls Patrick inauguration

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island-based Citizens Bank did not donate money for Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee’s inaugural celebration, but the bank did open its wallet for Mass. Gov. Deval L. Patrick’s swearing-in party earlier this month.
Citizens was listed among private contributors for Patrick’s inaugural, which also included the bank’s competitors TD Bank and Sovereign Bank. Citizens donated $10,000. The Democratic governor reportedly raised $717,500 to stage the inaugural celebration, which included an evening gala and a day of community service.
In contrast, Chafee raised $55,000 to fund a special WaterFire display, among other things, the night of the inauguration of the governor and other state officers. Of the eight donors, only one – Fidelity Investments – was a financial firm. Boston-based Fidelity contributed $5,000 to Chafee’s Jan. 4 shindig, while chipping in $25,000 for Patrick’s celebration.
While Citizens wasn’t on the donors list, the bank did provide the venue for a celebration in the Citizens Bank Building Rotunda the day of the inauguration, which was hosted by Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis.