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

NEW YORK, Nov 06, 2009 (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. In China, 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. In Australia, 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.

-- Across North America, volunteers will 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 Texas will 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. Massachusetts volunteers 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.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6093701&lang=en SOURCE: Citi CONTACT: Citi Andrea Hurst, 212-559-4767 [e-mail] Copyright Business Wire 2009 -0- KEYWORD: United States

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