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Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C)
May 06, 2008
Guam: Students Get a Taste of Banking Life in Citi & Junior Achievement "Banks in Action" Program
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During the day-long session on April 16, Citi volunteers hosted eight classes and workshops. Following the teaching, the students were able to put into practice what they had been taught in an online market simulation game. The team with the best strategy and biggest profit was awarded the "Bank of Choice" accolade. In 2008, all top-five teams were from the George Washington High School in Mangilao.
"Citi is delighted to join JA Worldwide to share our knowledge, experience and excitement about the banking industry with students through this program. We hope young people will be inspired to pursue careers in the financial services industry and even more important, that they gain a better understanding about how financial institutions help people manage their money and achieve their life goals," said Madhu Seshadri, Country Business Manager and Corporate Country Officer, Citi Guam.
Mike Naholowaa, Chairman, JA Guam added, "The Banks in Action tournament brilliantly showcases the importance of teamwork and strategic thinking in the business world and we are grateful for the tremendous support of the Citi Foundation in making this program and competition possible."
His enthusiasm was shared by one of the attending teachers, Joann Sudo-Blas, "Our students were very excited and wished more programs were offered like this during the school year. I was pleased with the topics covered because they enabled our students to see how banks work from both sides and also appreciate how to make better decisions as consumers."
Mike Wong, a Citi Volunteer (and former JA student) said, "Having participated in JA programs during high school, I am delighted that the Citi Foundation is supporting this initiative. The educational resources provide students with the financial basics they need to face today's challenges."
The top five teams will represent Guam in an online elimination round run by JA Worldwide on May 7. The students from Guam will compete against schools from the U.S. and Canada in the 2008 "JA Banks In Action" North American Championship. The top ten teams from this competition will attend a final round in New York on June 30 and July 1.
JA Banks in Action was created by Citi Argentina and Junior Achievement Argentina in 1996; the program has been significantly enhanced and updated to become a global program, with students from 28 countries and 16 states participating, thanks to a grant in excess of $2.7 million over three years to JA Worldwide from the Citi Foundation. The grant is part of Citi and The Citi Foundation's ten-year, $200 million commitment to financial education.
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Citi
Citi, the leading 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, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Citi's major brand names include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Smith Barney, Banamex and Nikko. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.
Citi Foundation
The Citi Foundation is committed to enhancing economic opportunities for underserved individuals and families in the communities where it works throughout the world. Globally, the Citi Foundation is focusing its giving on Microfinance and Microentrepreneurship, which helps individuals become economically self-sufficient; Small and Growing Businesses, leading to economic expansion and job creation; Education, which prepares young people for personal and professional success; Financial Education, which helps individuals make informed financial decisions; and the Environment with a focus on sustainable enterprises that generate jobs and stimulate economic growth while preserving the environment. In the U.S. and Canada, the Citi Foundation supports Community Development programs that help build and revitalize neighborhoods and Education programs that prepare students for college and careers. Additional information can be found at http://www.citigroupfoundation.com/.
AJA Worldwide (Junior Achievement)
JA Worldwide is the world's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA Worldwide provides in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12. JA Worldwide offers educational programs that focus on seven key content areas: business, citizenship, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics/character, financial literacy, and career development. Today, 140 individual area operations reach approximately four million students in the United States, with more than 3.5 million students served by operations in 114 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org.