| Media Release - 09-08-2001 |
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| Newsroom |
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| Citigroup Grant Assists Australian Education Program |
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| Sydney - The Citigroup Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Citigroup, has donated A$96,730 to Learning Links, a New South Wales based charity assisting children with learning difficulties. |
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| This new grant is in addition to funding of A$483,675 provided since 1999 which has enabled Learning Links to establish a new branch in the Sydney suburb of Fairfield and provide transport to assist children to and from Learning Links. |
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| Citibank Consumer Bank Managing Director, Ron Bunker said Learning Links fits squarely within the Citigroup Foundation's priorities to support community development and education programs. |
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| "This has provided Citigroup in Australia with the opportunity to continue working with Learning Links to extend its services to a greater part of the Fairfield community," Mr Bunker said. |
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| The Citigroup/Learning Links partnership recently won the NSW large business category of the 2001 Prime Ministers Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships. |
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| With the strong support of Citigroup's Australian operations, which embrace the well-known Citibank and Salomon Smith Barney businesses, the grant is again earmarked for Learning Links' Fairfield branch to extend its enhanced literacy and study assistance programs, as well as outreach services. |
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| Citigroup employees are encouraged to participate in Learning Links' activities. In 2000 an innovative email buddy program was launched providing staff and Learning Links children the opportunity to communicate via email on a regular basis. |
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| Learning Links Acting CEO Tracey Webster said the number of email buddies has almost doubled since its inception. |
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| "The email buddy initiative has been a wonderful addition to the Learning Links programs. It helps teach the children to correspond, as well as given them practice in reading, grammar and spelling." Ms Webster said. |
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| Mr Bunker said "The staff at Citigroup have embraced the concept and their involvement in the email buddy program has made such a difference to the children." |
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| Research shows that Fairfield has high levels of learning difficulties, yet government resources in the area are severely over-stretched while access to private therapists and tutors is limited. Fairfield has a higher than average concentration of low-income families, single parent families and non-English speaking backgrounds. |
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| Since its inception, the Learning Links branch in Fairfield has become a welcome source of referral by local schools, seeking either assessment or support for their students with learning difficulties. Many of the students come out of school hours to receive the specialist tuition and therapy they require. |
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| In Australia, in addition to its support for Learning Links, the Citigroup Foundation currently provides grants to two other community groups. |
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| The Australian Indigenous Leadership Program (AILP) is a non profit company established in December 1999 under the auspices of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS). The AILP will deliver certificate and diploma level Indigenous Leadership Development program to 125 Indigenous men and women over the next three years. |
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| In Melbourne, the Ardoch Youth Foundation provides food, clothing and shelter, as well as self-esteem, to primary and secondary school students in need. |
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| For media enquiries: |
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| Please E-mail: newsroom.australia@citigroup.com |
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| Citigroup (NYSE: C), the preeminent global financial services company has some 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 100 countries, providing consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, insurance, securities brokerage, and asset management. Major brand names under Citigroup's trademark red umbrella include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Smith Barney, Banamex, and Travelers Life and Annuity. Additional information may be found at: www.citigroup.com |
