Citi Celebrates 10th Annual Global Community Day as More Than 77,000 Volunteers Mobilize to Serve Nearly 500 Cities Around the World
Annual Event Contributed More than Two Million Hours of Service Since Launch
New York, June 15, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Today Citi celebrates its 10th annual Global Community Day, as more than 77,000 Citi volunteers in 487 cities spanning 93 countries and territories engage in service activities to benefit their local communities. In the days leading up to and including Global Community Day, Citi colleagues, alumni, clients, family and friends worked side-by-side on more than 1,200 service projects ranging from urban revitalization to literacy and education, career readiness, environmental conservation and disaster relief.
Global Community Day offers a wide range of service opportunities that harness the enthusiasm and passion of our diverse employees, family and friends, and meet the pressing needs of our communities. Over the past ten years, volunteers have participated in more than 11,000 Global Community Day activities and contributed more than two million hours of service.
As part of efforts to enable progress in cities across the globe, this annual event also highlights the depth of engagement Citi has with its partners. For example, many U.S. youth who are part of the Citi Foundation’s Pathways to Progress initiative are participating and planning volunteer events in 10 cities where the initiative is being implemented. The Citi Skills Marathon, a model developed in 2012 to support non-profit community partners through skill based service, is being leveraged for Global Community Day in five countries, including the Philippines, Singapore, Australia, and Poland.
“As a company, we have shown that our commitment to the communities we serve includes giving our time and energy,” said Citi CEO Michael Corbat. “Global Community Day is now a decade-long tradition of Citi employees, friends and family working alongside community and non-profit partners to help improve our cities and neighborhoods.”
For the first time, Citi is proud to have employees from Bloomberg participating in various Global Community Day volunteer events across the globe, including meal distribution, park and community center revitalizations and senior center visits in New York, San Francisco, Hong Kong and London.
“People want to work for companies that are helping build a better world,” said Mike Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies. “Citi has a long history of civic engagement, and its Global Community Day is extending that tradition far and wide. Bloomberg employees share Citi's commitment to community service, and we are excited to be teaming up with them to support the neighborhoods where we live and work.”
Supporters can learn more about Citi’s proud tradition of volunteerism and join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by following #CitiVolunteers.
Throughout North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Citi volunteers will lead hundreds of community projects. Notable activities across Citi's regions include:
Asia Pacific
In a first for Asia Pacific, Global Community Day activities in Australia, the Philippines and Singapore include the Citi Skills Marathon, which matches the background and areas of expertise of Citi employees with the needs of community partners and social entrepreneurs to help with capacity building. To support children affected by the recent earthquakes in Nepal, more than 2,000 volunteers in Malaysia will participate at Charity Family Day Carnivals in Kuala Lumpur and Penang to raise funds for the United Nations Children’s Fund. In Hong Kong, more than 3,000 volunteers will engage in 27 events in support of the elderly, people with disabilities, and underprivileged children. In China, more than 4,500 volunteers will join in 23 events across 17 cities to support activities related to environmental protection, financial education, and supporting underserved youth. In line with a national “Swacch Bharat” – the “Clean India” – campaign, 1,700 volunteers in India will be cleaning and refurbishing classrooms, school facilities, community shelters, and orphanages across seven cities. In addition, 800 volunteers in Vietnam are building new homes for wild pangolins and turtles at a local national park to support the local ecosystem. In Japan, more than 900 volunteers are participating in 17 events, including one in which volunteers will be revitalizing traditional terraced rice fields near Tokyo.
Europe, Middle East and Africa
In the United Kingdom, more than 3,000 volunteers are taking part in over 100 service activities across the cities of Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. Activities range from working with children’s charities, supporting young people through academic and career mentoring to restoring community parks and playgrounds. Across the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Senegal and Cameroon, there are five volunteer projects planned, which are focused on addressing the urgent needs of children living in orphanages. In Côte d’Ivoire, more than 100 volunteers will spend the day working at the Botanical Garden of Bingerville, which is known for protecting rare species. In South Africa, more than 200 volunteers will be supporting children who have been orphaned by AIDS. In Hungary, more than 400 volunteers will focus on environmental regeneration work, helping to care for the local wildlife park. In Israel, more than 180 volunteers are engaging in numerous activities, including fundraising for ALS research, packing food boxes, and assisting at a soup kitchen. More than 1,000 volunteers across 11 countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates, are engaged in the “MENA for the Children” campaign, a regional dedication to improve the life of children-in-need. In Poland, more than 2,800 Citi volunteers are taking part in 193 events across 56 cities. In Russia, 17 events will also be held focused on the theme of supporting children. In Spain, 200 employees, family, friends and alumni are participating in various activities, including an employability skills workshop with Junior Achievement to engage 250 young people who are preparing to enter their first job.
Latin America and Mexico
In celebration of its 100th anniversary in Brazil, Citi is engaging more than 1,300 volunteers across 10 local cities for Global Community Day, with efforts including renovating and repainting the facilities of several public schools and community centers. Citi in Uruguay is also celebrating its 100th anniversary, and more than 50 volunteers are repainting and repairing the premises of a disabled children’s center. In Colombia, more than 2,500 volunteers across 13 cities are providing children with educational workshops on the benefits of recycling, building solar trees that will provide clean energy, improving irrigation systems and collecting and distributing toys. In Argentina, more than 800 volunteers are enhancing the community through initiatives in 20 cities, which include painting classrooms and sport facilities and hosting employability workshops. In El Salvador, more than 3,000 volunteers are engaged in revitalizing the national zoo through gardening, painting, and the remodeling of key recreational areas. In Trinidad & Tobago, more than 75 volunteers are providing better living conditions to community members by constructing and painting homes and by promoting sustainable practices. In Mexico, Citi is partnering with Cinepolis, a multinational movie theatre company, and community organizations across 71 cities to offer a movie experience and social event for more than 20,000 young people in foster care.
North America
In New York City, Citi CEO Michael Corbat is joining more than 5,500 volunteers participating in more than 50 events, such as park and school revitalization, activities in support of military veterans, coaching and mentoring young people, and environmental conservation efforts. In over 60 activities across Missouri, more than 1,500 Citi volunteers will be creating summertime meals for underserved children, constructing a home with Habitat for Humanity, making fleece blankets for those who need it, and more. In California, more than 350 Citi volunteers are engaging in events across the state – from environmental stewardship activities at a local urban farm to beautification efforts at a senior center. In South Dakota, more than 300 Citi volunteers are partaking in over 15 activities, including mentoring and providing financial education to young people, to serving food to the homeless, to building a home for a family in need. In Florida, Citi is hosting 73 events throughout the state with more than 2,000 volunteers, ranging from working with urban youth at summer camps and a children’s carnival for the local community. In Illinois, more than 350 Citi volunteers are volunteering at over a dozen events, including helping beautify a community center. In Canada, more than 1,000 volunteers will be participating in more than 25 activities from coast to coast, including teaching financial literacy at schools, packing food at a local food bank, and tree planting in a community park.
To learn more about Citi’s citizenship efforts across the globe and to review the 2014 Global Citizenship Report, visit http://citizenship.citigroup.com.
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.
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Media Contact:
Kamran Mumtaz
347-699-4035
kamran.mumtaz@citi.com
