Press release from Business Wire India
Source: Citi
Thursday, November 05, 2009 06:16 PM IST (12:46 PM GMT)
Editors: General: Consumer interest, Environment, Social issues; Business: Advertising, PR & marketing, Banking & financial services, Business services, Education & training
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Citi India Joins 40,000 Volunteers Globally on "Global Community Day"
Over 1000 India Employees will Volunteer at 37 Projects Across 27 Cities
New Delhi, Delhi, India, Thursday, November 05, 2009 -- (Business Wire India) -- Over a thousand Citi India employees will join over 40,000 colleagues on Saturday, November 7, 2009 in more than 90 countries across the world on the company's fourth "Global Community Day". An annual event, "Global Community Day" provides Citi employees a unique, global platform to volunteer in their communities. In India, employee groups, accompanied by their families and friends, will be volunteering their special skills and expertise for a variety of projects addressing specific community needs including climate change, literacy, housing, sports, across 27 cities including Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Lucknow, to name a few.
In order to fully leverage the enthusiasm employees have demonstrated for "Global Community Day" and make a meaningful difference to each local community, Citi India has partnered with several leading NGOs in each geographic location to jointly conceptualize day-long volunteering programmes. Some among these are Akanksha Foundation (Mumbai), Friends of Women's World Banking (Ahmedabad), Pratham (6 cities), SOS Children Village (Bhubaneshwar) and Annamma School in Vijayawada. Each volunteer team, a mix of employees drawn from different Citi businesses across diverse hierarchies and age groups, will accomplish a clearly defined set of tasks assigned to it, such as conducting educational sessions on climate change, construction of houses for underprivileged communities, senior citizen support, cleaning of the Jamuna river and tree plantation.
The over-arching theme for Citi India's "Global Community Day" 2009 is Climate Change. In numerous locations employees will be conducting an educational session on the basics of climate change and its adverse effects on the environment. Additionally, the activity will also end with ways in which all of us, in our way, can make a difference to correct the mistakes that are being made.
"Global Community Day is one of the many ways we demonstrate our commitment and responsibility towards the communities we have lived and worked in during our 107-year history in India. This being my first year in the country, I am very pleased to see the enthusiasm of our employees to join colleagues across the country and the globe to engage in issues where they can make a positive difference." said Mark T Robinson, CEO, Citi South Asia.
"The most noteworthy aspect of Global Community Day in India is its widespread reach and cumulative impact, which covers the length and breadth of the country. The volunteer strength stands testimony to the fact that the Day has become a much-awaited occasion for all of us and this year too, each of us is looking forward to November 7." said N. Rajashekaran, Country Business Manager, Global Consumer Group, Citi India.
"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.
CONTACT DETAILS
Julia Zilberman, Citi India Corporate Affairs, +91 (22) 4001 5056, julia.zilberman@citi.com
Indu Anand, Citi India Corporate Affairs, +91 (124) 418 6766, indu.anand@citi.com
Shahin Dastur, Citi India Corporate Affairs, +91 (22) 4001 5848, shahin.dastur@citi.com
Shreela Roy, IPAN Hill & Knowlton, +91 982 014 9119, sroy@ipanhillandknowlton.com
Rajiv Adhikari, IPAN Hill & Knowlton, +91 982 012 8688, radhikari@ipanhillandknowlton.com
KEYWORDS
CONSUMER, ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL, MARKETING, BANKING, BUSINESS SERVICES, EDUCATION
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