Italy: Volunteers for a day set global record

On Saturday 18th November 58 thousand employees became volunteers for a day. From the USA to Brazil, from Japan to India and Europe Citi employees in 100 countries rolled up their sleeves to tackle specific community needs like literacy, housing and environmental protection.

This is the second edition of Global Community day, a programme promoted by financial company Citi that gathers together brands such as Citibank and CitiFinancial. ?Citigroup is committed to mobilizing the enthusiasm and talents of our employees for community service,? said Charles Prince, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Citigroup. ?Global Community Day highlights the power and diversity of Citigroup?s employees and our unwavering commitment to making communities better where we live and work,? said Prince.

In Poland employees built wheelchair ramps at a children?s centre, painted hospital clinics and rehabilitated a sports centre. In Turkey they worked in an orphanage for the day, in Russia safe spaces were created for at-risk youth and in the UK Citi?s volunteers cleaned parks and decorated children?s centres.

But in some countries Community Day is no novelty. In Italy, for example, this is the ninth year running that Citi employees dedicate a day to helping their communities. With the support of Vita Consulting, a Milan based coop that bridges between the non profit and for profit sectors, 85 employees laid their suits and ties aside and donned t-shirts with the slogan ?World charity day? in support of the initiative. In Milan volunteers for a day accompanied disabled people in their free time with Athla, an association that specialises in outdoor activities for the diversely abled, helping them to mow the lawn, whitewash their walls and do some ?spring? cleaning. In Rome Citi?s community volunteers chose instead to dedicate their rime to Tetto Azurro, a shelter for children that have suffered abuse.

Citi?s head manager in Italy, says Giuliano Malacarne, said that: ?This day shows the commitment that Citi feels towards the community. A commitment that goes beyond just handing out donations but that chooses to offer a helping hand enthusiastically, if even for a day?.

More info:
www.citigroup.com