More Than 540,000 Volunteers have Joined Global Community Day Activities Since Launch in 2006 (image: Wikipedia Commons/ Citi Bank)
NEW YORK, June 8, 2014 (Korea Bizwire)–On Saturday, June 7, Citi marked its ninth annual Global Community Day, as more than 70,000 Citi volunteers in 479 cities spanning 93 countries engaged in service activities to benefit their local communities. Working side-by-side, Citi colleagues, alumni, family and friends demonstrated the company’s commitment to supporting and improving communities by leading and participating in more than 1,200 service projects focused on local needs, including urban revitalization, literacy and education, housing, environmental conservation, health and human services, and disaster relief, in the days leading up to and including Global Community Day.
While Citi volunteers have a strong tradition of engaging in community service year-round, Global Community Day is an annual opportunity for Citi colleagues and other participants to join together and use their time, skills and expertise to make a difference in their cities. Since its launch in 2006, more than 540,000 Citi volunteers have participated in Global Community Day activities, creating lasting impacts on cities around the world and reinforcing the idea that active corporate engagement is an essential component of a livable city.
“Volunteer service is one of the many ways Citi shows its commitment to the communities where we have a presence,” said Citi CEO Michael Corbat. “Global Community Day highlights the great work of our community and non-profit partners, and we are excited to join them once again to strengthen our neighborhoods.”
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 led hundreds of community projects. Notable activities across Citi’s regions included:
Asia Pacific
In Hong Kong, 3,200 volunteers participated in 22 service events, such as the Citi Global Community Day Cup, a charity football tournament to support children ages 6-15. In India, more than 1,200 volunteers in seven cities were involved in a variety of activities to revitalize learning spaces, clean up beaches and parks, and build sustainable facilities. Activities in the Philippines included assisting communities recently impacted by Typhoon Yolanda and building homes for victims in Tacloban. In Singapore, more than 5,000 volunteers joined community partners for a range of activities, including a charity carnival with a dollar-for-dollar fundraising match by the local government. In Vietnam, more than 600 volunteers planted trees to help protect coastlines, and spread awareness about environmental protection. Marking Citi’s 50th anniversary in the country, 3,800 volunteers in Taiwan gave back to the community, including spending time with 500 orphans and underprivileged children at a local theme park. In Japan, more than 1,200 Citi colleagues and their families participated in 16 activities across the country, including park and beach clean ups, re-cultivating an abandoned field to provide food for the local community, and bowling with children from a foster home.
Europe, Middle East and Africa
In the United Kingdom, nearly 1,300 volunteers took part in 90 different service projects across Belfast, Edinburgh and London, such as restoring community playgrounds, working with children’s charities, and providing academic and career mentoring and support to young people. In Israel, more than 165 Citi volunteers worked to renovate a foster home and build the confidence and self-esteem of underprivileged youth by teaching them to garden and paint. More than 800 Citi volunteers in 11 countries including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates engaged in the “MENA for the Children” campaign, a regional dedication across the Middle East and North Africa to collect basic necessities and distribute the items to low-income children. In Nigeria, 725 Citi volunteers worked with junior and senior secondary school students to support their academic performance, inspire their career aspirations, and develop their natural talents. In Spain, more than 400 Citi volunteers promoted progress by collaborating with food banks, animal shelters, and children’s hospitals. In Cameroon, 80 volunteers served a local district hospital in Douala with blood donations, refurbishing the pediatric ward and distributing medication to patients.
Latin America and Mexico
In Argentina, more than 1,400 volunteers participated at various events, such as helping families reduce their consumption of water and energy from non-renewable sources. In Ecuador, more than 180 volunteers received training to become tourism ambassadors for the City of Quito, and committed to guide visitors through the city’s historic sites. In Colombia, more than 1,800 Citi volunteers in Bogotá worked on the reforestation and reclamation of wetlands, and volunteers and their families also planted 1,800 native trees. In Brazil, volunteers helped to improve public infrastructure with 1,300 volunteers participating in 11 events to revitalize and repaint public school classrooms and hallways. In Guatemala, more than 700 volunteers engaged in the rehabilitation and construction of seven public schools in Guatemala City. In the Dominican Republic, more than 250 volunteers helped revitalize Mirador Sur Park, including planting trees and give park benches a makeover. In Mexico, more than 3,500 volunteers dedicated the day to teach financial knowledge and education to children at 91 events across 63 cities.
North America
In New York City, Citi CEO Michael Corbat joined more than 4,000 volunteers who participated in more than 50 activities, such as park and school revitalization, efforts to support military veterans, coaching and mentoring young people, and environmental conservation. In California, more than 1,200 Citi volunteers took part in events across the state, including building a 4,000 square foot community garden at a Los Angeles school, park beautification projects, and revitalizing homes for low-income families. In Missouri, more than 800 volunteers participated in projects like summer reading kickoff events, building and stocking mini-libraries for children, feeding the hungry, and constructing a military veteran’s home with Habitat for Humanity. In Florida, more than 1,700 Citi volunteers volunteered at various beautification projects, including at schools, community centers and a local zoo. In Texas, more than 1,300 volunteers honored veterans, assisted youth at various camps, delivered pet supplies to Meals on Wheels clients, conducted financial education training, and built a new home for a family. In Canada, more than 600 Citi volunteers participated in more than a dozen events in cities across the country, including planting trees, cleaning up local parks and working at food banks.
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.
Source: Citi (via BusinessWire)
