Citi Announces Citi Community Home Runs Program for 2015 New York Mets Season
Citi to Donate $2,000 for Every Mets Home Run Hit at Citi Field to City Harvest, United Neighborhood Houses, USO, or New York City’s YMCA
NEW YORK, March 19, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Citi announced today the launch of the Citi Community Home Runs Program for the 2015 New York Mets’ season. For the second consecutive year, Citi will donate $2,000 to one of four tri-state area community partners each time a Mets player hits a home run at Citi Field during the regular season: City Harvest, United Neighborhood Houses, USO of Metropolitan New York, and New York City’s YMCA. Each organization will also receive a $5,000 initial donation to kick-off the program. The Citi Community Home Runs Program begins on April 13th, Mets’ Opening Day, and continues through the final regular season home game on October 4th at Citi Field.
To celebrate the start of the Citi Community Home Runs Program, Citi and Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson are taking a United Neighborhood Houses youth member on a trip to spring training on Friday, March 20th when the Mets take on the St. Louis Cardinals in Port St. Lucie, Florida. In addition to attending the ballgame, Anthony Rodriguez and his family will have the opportunity to meet Curtis and Mets players on the field at Tradition Field. A 14-year-old honor roll freshman, Rodriguez volunteers his time to his community through a Counselor-in-Training program and helps local senior citizens through the Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation’s Beacon Community Center, a part of the United Neighborhood Houses network.
Granderson is returning to serve as the brand ambassador for the Citi Community Home Runs Program this season. A Roberto Clemente Award nominee and Major League Baseball representative for First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign, Granderson is recognized for his positive contributions on and off the field.
“It’s great to team up once again with Curtis and the Mets on this exciting program, which will support four outstanding organizations and help kids across the city,” said Ed Skyler, Citi’s Head of Public Affairs. “Last year, Citi donated a total of $138,000 to our community partners for the 59 home runs that Mets players hit at Citi Field. With a new season upon us, we hope to see even more home runs and opportunities for fans to cheer.”
“I am thrilled to team up with Citi to support the tremendous work of these four deserving community partners that are dedicated to improving the lives of New Yorkers across all five boroughs,” said Curtis Granderson. “Giving back in a meaningful way is important to me, and I’m happy to provide more excitement for Mets fans and the community through the Citi Community Home Runs program for the second consecutive season at Citi Field.”
The Citi Community Home Runs Program is the centerpiece of Citi’s community programming at Citi Field that will consist of ticket donations and its annual Citi Kids series, an educational and motivational program that will benefit thousands of New York school students. The program is part of Citi’s efforts to highlight the invaluable work of these community partners in enabling economic progress, with each organization rotating as benefactors at each home game at Citi Field.
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About Citi
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. 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, transaction services, and wealth management.
Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi
About City Harvest
Founded in 1982 as the world’s first food rescue organization, City Harvest is dedicated to helping feed the more than 1.4 million New Yorkers facing hunger. City Harvest will collect 50 million pounds of excess food from restaurants, grocers, bakeries, manufacturers, and farms, and deliver it free of charge to more than 500 community food programs across the city this year. In addition to helping meet the immediate need for food, City Harvest takes a long-term approach to fighting hunger by partnering with residents, local organizations and businesses through Healthy Neighborhoods programs which increase the availability of affordable fruits and vegetables in low-income communities and provide the nutrition education and resources to maintain a wholesome, food-secure diet.
About United Neighborhood Houses
United Neighborhood Houses (UNH) is the membership organization of New York City settlement houses and community centers. UNH’s members – 38 independent nonprofit organizations – comprise one of the largest human service provider systems in New York City, delivering high quality services at more than 400 sites to more than a half million New Yorkers each year. These services include child care, after school programs, adult education, and employment programs, English and citizenship classes, legal services, senior centers and home delivered meals. UNH supports its members through policy development, advocacy, and capacity-building activities. For more information, visit www.unhny.org.
About USO of Metropolitan New York
Millions of times each year at hundreds of locations around the world, the USO lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families. The USO of Metropolitan New York provides valued programs and services to troops and their families, and we help channel the American public’s desire to give back to those who serve our country into programs and services that enrich their lives. A nonprofit, congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities. The USO is not part of the U.S. government, but is recognized by the Department of Defense, Congress and President of the United States, who serves as Honorary Chairman of the USO. For more information, please visit www.usonyc.org.
About New York City’s YMCA
New York City’s YMCA is, and always will be, dedicated to building healthy, confident, connected and secure children, adults, families and communities. With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y nurtures the potential of every youth and teen, improves New York City’s health and well-being and provides opportunities to give back and support neighbors. In scores of neighborhoods across the five boroughs and its camp upstate, the Y makes accessible the support and opportunities that empower more than 500,000 New Yorkers to learn, grow and thrive. Visit ymcanyc.org. Follow us on Twitter @ymcanyc and Facebook at facebook.com/ymcanyc.
Media Contacts:
Kamran Mumtaz
Citi
(212) 793-7682
