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Citi's "Global Community Day" Mobilizes More Than 40,000 Volunteers Across More Than 90 Countries

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November 6, 2009 12:01 AM EST

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Citi volunteers across the world will mobilize for the company's fourth annual "Global Community Day," on Saturday, November 7. Citi expects more than 40,000 volunteers will be participating in hundreds of projects around the world in more than 90 countries.

Many Citi employees volunteer year-round in their communities but Global Community Day provides an annual opportunity to have company employees, along with their families and friends, come together as a global volunteer team. Local volunteer groups will be working in North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa on a variety of projects addressing specific community needs including literacy, housing, environmental protection, nutrition and health care.

"On Global Community Day, Citi employees, together with their family and friends, will volunteer their special skills and expertise in more than 90 countries with one goal in mind - to make a difference in the communities where we live and work," said Pam Flaherty, President and Chief Executive Officer, Citi Foundation and Director, Corporate Citizenship. "Community engagement is very important, especially during these difficult economic times, when the needs are so great. Whether it is teaching financial education to young people; planting trees to combat deforestation; refurbishing schools in poor communities; or serving meals to the homeless, Citi employees will turn out to help because volunteering is one of many ways that Citi strengthens the communities where we live and work."

Highlights of Citi's volunteer projects from around the world include:

    --  In Asia Pacific, volunteers will participate in an International Coastal
        Clean-up initiative in Hong Kong. Hundreds of volunteers will distribute
        relief to families affected by Typhoon Ketsana in the Philippines.
        InChina, Citi volunteers will raise funds to support a campaign to plant
        5,000 trees for Citi Forest in Inner Mongolia, off-setting carbon
        emissions and combating climate change. In Indonesia more than 1,000
        volunteers will spruce up much loved public art space. InAustralia, Citi
        volunteers will collect second-hand clothes, fundraise, paint a homeless
        men's facility and cook lunch for residents at an old age home.
    --  Throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, more than 200 activities
        are planned to help those in need across the region. Citi Volunteers
        will help children with financial literacy training in Poland, Egypt and
        Qatar. Volunteers in the United Kingdom will focus on the 'Next
        Generation' with projects aimed at increasing the skills of young
        people, including delivering resume and interview workshops. In Kenya,
        volunteers will help construct classrooms to enable students to complete
        their secondary school education while others will donate food and
        clothing to drought-stricken residents. In South Africa, Citi volunteers
        will be building homes with Habitat for Humanity as well as planting
        trees.
    --  Across Latin America hundreds of volunteers will work on
        environment-related activities such as a reforestation project in
        ecological reserves in Argentina. In Brazil, volunteers will participate
        in one of 12 GCD activities across the country, ranging from school
        renovations to park reforestations. Others will refurbish schools and
        make visits to elderly homes and orphanages. Over 2000 volunteers in El
        Salvador will participate in activities planned around the country aimed
        at improving the standard of living
    --  Throughout Mexico, in more than 50 cities, Banamex employees have
        organized a national campaign to collect plastic bottles for recycling
        and other ecological activities, mainly at city parks.
    --  AcrossNorth America,volunteerswill be teaching financial education to
        underserved youth and their parents. In Missouri, Citi Volunteers will
        assist Citi customers to stay in their homes through community-wide
        homeowner preservation events. Employees in Texaswill be teaching
        financial education to underserved youth and their parents, cleaning
        parks, painting community clinics, and coaching battered women on job
        seeking skills. In New York, Citi Volunteers will revitalize schools,
        buy and wrap Winter Wishes for children in need, plant trees in city
        parks and revitalize schools. In California, Citi volunteers will team
        up with local Community Development organizations to help increase
        economic self sufficiency. Massachusettsvolunteers will be working in
        shelters preparing and serving food. Citi colleagues across North
        America, the UK and China will collect disused mobile telephones,
        batteries and accessories to refurbish and sell with all proceeds going
        to non-profit groups that work to combat domestic violence.

Citi, the leading global financial services company, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 140 countries. Through Citicorp and Citi Holdings, Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.

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