March 30, 2005

Citigroup Announces $100,000 Grant Award and Black History Month Essay Contest Winners

Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland

OAKLAND, California|March 30, 2005
Citigroup Announces $100,000 Grant Award and Black History Month Essay Contest Winners

OAKLAND, California, March 30, 2005 - Citigroup will announce the winners of its Black History Month Essay Contest at a special reception to be held today, March 30, 2005, at 4:00 p.m. at Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland’s Anna Marie Whalen Branch, located at 3300 High Street. The festivities will also feature a check presentation to Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland as part of $100,000 grant by Citigroup businesses in California, including Citibank, CitiFinancial, CitiMortgage and Smith Barney, to support financial education programs for youth in five Boys & Girls Clubs statewide. The event will be attended by Citibank executives, city officials and Club members.

The grant will enable the Clubs to teach the Citigroup Financial Education Curriculum this year to over 1,500 low-income students, ages six to 18. The essay contest will award prizes, including $100 to $500 in cash and sports event excursions, to the Club members who wrote the top essays on “Recognizing African American Influential Leaders.” Judges included Citibank executives and other distinguished city officials and community members.

“We are proud to recognize and celebrate the achievements, history and culture of people of African heritage throughout the year, but especially with the Boys and Girls Clubs during Black History Month,” said Michael Weitzman, president of Citibank West. “Citigroup offered a wide variety of activities nationwide during the month of February that provided opportunities for people to learn more about the contributions that African Americans have made and are making to our society. We feel that we can help enrich peoples’ lives by providing them with a greater understanding of the cultures that make up the fabric of their communities.”

During Black History Month 2005, Citigroup hosted a variety of activities for its clients, employees and residents of the communities where it does business. Partnering with local cultural and educational organizations, Citigroup’s businesses sponsored major African American art and historic exhibitions. One hundred of Citibank’s Financial Centers located around the country also hosted Gospel Brunches in conjunction with community-based churches and nonprofits to showcase musical contributions made by African Americans. And in Washington, DC, Citibank sponsored financial education workshops led by financial lecturer and PBS talk show host Kelvin Boston.

According to Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland President Calvester R. Stanley, “Citigroup’s financial education program will help provide our young Club members with the resources and tools to learn how to save and manage money responsibly.”

The Anna Marie Whalen Clubhouse is one of three Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland branches. Now in its 64th year, the Club continues to provide safe places to learn and grow, opportunities for ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals, life-enhancing programs, and other character development experiences each year for over 2,500 girls and boys, ages 6 to 17. The organization plans to expand its capacity to serve a minimum of 5,000 youth - 10% of Oakland Unified School District’s enrollment.

Please call Karin Seid at 510-444-8211 for more information.

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