Capital One Associates Nationwide Will Volunteer More Than 32,000 Hours in Seven Days through 'OneWeek' Community Service Initiative

McLean, Va., October 21, 2013 /3BL Media/ –  Today, Capital One Financial Corporation is kicking off its 4^th annual OneWeek national community service initiative, building on the company’s strong tradition of employee volunteerism and commitment to supporting local communities. During OneWeek, nearly 8,000 Capital One associates will volunteer with hundreds of nonprofit organizations through more than 1,100 events designed to address social and economic needs in communities where they live and work. To maximize impact, the company is strategically pursuing projects with, and allocating human resources to nonprofits with which it has existing partnerships in the areas of education, financial literacy, job training, affordable housing and economic development.

“Volunteering in the community is an integral part of Capital One’s culture and serves as an extension of our philanthropic efforts,” said Carolyn Berkowitz, President, Capital One Foundation and Managing Vice President, Community Affairs, Capital One Financial Corporation. “Through OneWeek, Capital One associates join together in a company-wide effort to strengthen the well-being and economic prosperity of individuals, families and businesses, using their collective talents to address the most pressing needs in communities throughout the country.” 

This year, OneWeek coincides with Pro Bono Week, a global celebration of the pro bono ethic across all professions that use their talents to make a difference. As part of OneWeek, Capital One will work with the Taproot Foundation, a long-standing non-profit partner that makes business talent available to community-based organizations, to host two pro bono volunteer events called “ScopeAthons.” During the ScopeAthons, which are one-day events, Capital One associates will share their specialized business expertise on a pro-bono basis with 25 non-profit organizations to help them address their biggest challenges and translate those challenges into an actionable scope of work that will help the non-profits achieve their goals and succeed. 

OneWeek service initiatives are part of Capital One’s Investing for Good community investment platform, which focuses on four areas that are key building blocks of economic opportunity: Affordable Housing, Education, Small Business and Workforce Development, and Financial Literacy.

Across the country, Capital One associates will participate in hundreds of service projects this week, including:

• In partnership with The Heart of America Foundation, Capital One volunteers will lead seven READesign® Library Makeover projects and distribute thousands of books to children in need.
• In New York and New Jersey, as part of a long standing partnership with Habitat for Humanity, nearly 100 Capital One associates will be participating for three days in home building projects in multiple cities, including Queens, Long Island, Newark and Paterson. Several of these events will support the 35th Anniversary Carter Work Project, which Capital One has supported with a grant for $25,000. The Carter Work Project is a major Habitat for Humanity celebration in honor of President Carter’s 35 years of support for the organization. 
• In Boston, Capital One associates will partner with BUILD, a non-profit organization that uses entrepreneurship to excite and propel disengaged youth, to give their student lab a makeover. Associates will outfit the lab with new technology and facilitate workshops to teach students how they can utilize digital tools and technology to grow their businesses.
• In Dallas and Chicago, Capital One is hosting “ScopeAthons” in partnership with the Taproot Foundation. During these events, Capital One associates will offer pro bono support and work with more than 25 nonprofit organizations to help them develop a plan to address their biggest challenges.  
• In Richmond, more than 300 Capital One associates will volunteer with FeedMore to help provide hunger solutions to neighbors throughout Central Virginia. Additionally, Capital One associates will work with Venture Richmond to help beautify the downtown district. They will also team up with the Heart of America Foundation on a READesign Library at Armstrong High School to provide students with age-appropriate reading materials.
• In McLean, Capital One associates will work with local nonprofit organizations to host a Workforce Development Day for clients and military veterans. Participants will learn new skills in financial education, personal branding and interviewing techniques to help them secure employment.
• In Chicago, more than 95 associates will pack 40,000 meals for families in the local community who are in need through a partnership with The Salvation Army.

Building on Capital One’s strong tradition of employee volunteerism, Capital One associates volunteered more than 260,107 hours in 2012.

[EDITORS NOTE: Members of the media are invited to attend select OneWeek initiatives. Contact shelley.solheim@capitalone.com for event details and press passes.]

About Capital One

Capital One Financial Corporation, headquartered in McLean, Virginia, is a Fortune 500 company with approximately 1,000 branch locations primarily in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Its subsidiaries, which include Capital One, N.A., and Capital One Bank (USA), N. A., offer a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients. We apply the same principles of innovation, collaboration and empowerment in our commitment to our communities across the country that we do in our business. We recognize that helping to build strong and healthy communities – good places to work, good places to do business and good places to raise families – benefits us all and we are proud to support this and other community initiatives.

Contact: Shelley Solheim (917) 589-6203; shelley.solheim@capitalone.com