Citi Announces $190,000 Donation to Four New York City Area Community Organizations Through the 2015 Citi Community Home Runs Program
NEW YORK, October 5, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Citi today announced a total donation of $190,000 to four community partners – City Harvest, United Neighborhood Houses, USO of Metro New York and New York City’s YMCA – through the Citi Community Home Runs Program. Ed Skyler, Citi’s Head of Global Public Affairs, and Mets outfielder and program ambassador Curtis Granderson marked the completion of the second season of the home runs program with a ceremonial check presentation to representatives from the four community organizations at the Union Square Citibank branch in New York City.
Through the Citi Community Home Runs Program, Citi made a donation of $2,000 to one of these four tri-state area community partners for every home run by a Mets player at Citi Field during the 2015 season. Each organization also received a $5,000 initial donation to kick off the initiative. The Mets hit 85 home runs at Citi Field, which is the most the team has ever hit in a single season at the ballpark. As a result, Citi is donating a total of $190,000, and Skyler and Granderson presented the organizations with a check in that amount.
“It’s an honor to partner with Citi for the 2nd season of the Citi Community Home Runs program to support four remarkable New York community organizations,” said Curtis Granderson. "It’s incredibly rewarding to have an opportunity to positively influence so many people through baseball, on and off the field. As a result of our team’s record-setting performance at home this season, Citi is donating $190,000 and reinforcing their commitment to serving the New York community.”
“With a record-breaking 85 home runs at Citi Field, the New York Mets’ offense has been integral in propelling the team into the postseason for the first time since 2006,” said Ed Skyler, Citi’s Head of Global Public Affairs. “Through the Citi Community Home Runs program, we have been proud to partner with the Mets and Curtis to help support four outstanding organizations in our hometown.”
For the second consecutive year, Granderson served as the program’s ambassador and helped reinforced Citi’s commitment to working with local organizations to enable progress in the communities where it serves. This season, Citi also held the second annual Citi Small Business Call-Ups program, which enabled Randolph Beer, a modern American fare style restaurant in Manhattan, to feature its cuisine at Citi Field. For more information about Citi’s community initiatives with the Mets Citi Field, please visit: www.Mets.com/Citi.
“In a city of so much, there are nearly 1.4 million New Yorkers who don’t always know when or where their next meal is coming,” said Leslie Gordon, Senior Director, Program Strategies and Operations, City Harvest. “Through the Citi Community Home Runs program, Citi will help City Harvest feed over 58,000 families struggling to put food on their tables. A hundred Citi employees and Mets alumnus Rusty Staub further highlighted the importance of bringing good food to those who need it by helping to repack 40,000 pounds of apples at Citi Field earlier this season. We are thankful for Citi’s partnership as we work to feed our hungry neighbors.”
“United Neighborhood Houses is grateful to once again be a community partner of the Citi Community Home Runs program and thanks Citi for recognizing the important work of UNH and settlement houses in New York City. The donated funds have helped young people become leaders and earners through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP),” said Nancy Wackstein, Executive Director, United Neighborhood Houses. “With the funds raised last year, UNH successfully advocated for more than 10,000 additional summer jobs added to the program. We will continue to work to accomplish the goal of adding 100,000 jobs by 2019 to ensure that more youth will have the opportunity to hold a summer job through SYEP.”
“We are proud to be a Citi Community Home Runs Program community partner,” said Brian C. Whiting, President & CEO, USO of Metropolitan New York. “We thank Citi for their steadfast commitment and unwavering support of our troops and their families – in our community and wherever they serve.”
“It's been a summer of grand slams for the Mets and New York City's YMCA,” said Gary Laermer, Chief Development Officer, YMCA of Greater New York. “Because of the Citi Community Home Runs programs, the Y is able to give even more kids the opportunity to achieve in our after school programs and explore in our day and sleepaway camps. We are truly grateful for the ongoing friendship and support.”
The Citi Community Home Runs Program began this season during the Mets’ Opening Day game and continued through the last regular season home game on October 4th. Last year, Citi donated $138,000 for the 59 Citi Field home runs hit by the Mets during the 2014 regular season.
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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.
Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi
About City Harvest
Founded in 1982 as the world’s first food rescue organization, City Harvest is dedicated to helping feed the more than 1.4 million New Yorkers facing hunger. City Harvest will collect 50 million pounds of excess food from restaurants, grocers, bakeries, manufacturers, and farms, and deliver it free of charge to more than 500 community food programs across the city this year. In addition to helping meet the immediate need for food, City Harvest takes a long-term approach to fighting hunger by partnering with residents, local organizations and businesses through Healthy Neighborhoods programs which increase the availability of affordable fruits and vegetables in low-income communities and provide the nutrition education and resources to maintain a wholesome, food-secure diet.
About United Neighborhood Houses
United Neighborhood Houses (UNH) is the membership organization of New York City settlement houses and community centers. UNH’s members – 38 independent nonprofit organizations – comprise one of the largest human service provider systems in New York City, delivering high quality services at more than 400 sites to more than a half million New Yorkers each year. These services include child care, after school programs, adult education, and employment programs, English and citizenship classes, legal services, senior centers and home delivered meals. UNH supports its members through policy development, advocacy, and capacity-building activities. For more information, visit www.unhny.org.
About USO of Metropolitan New York
Millions of times each year at hundreds of locations around the world, the USO lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families. The USO of Metropolitan New York provides valued programs and services to troops and their families, and we help channel the American public’s desire to give back to those who serve our country into programs and services that enrich their lives. A nonprofit, congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities. The USO is not part of the U.S. government, but is recognized by the Department of Defense, Congress and President of the United States, who serves as Honorary Chairman of the USO. For more information, please visit www.usonyc.org.
About New York City’s YMCA
New York City’s YMCA is, and always will be, dedicated to building healthy, confident, connected and secure children, adults, families and communities. With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y nurtures the potential of every youth and teen, improves New York City’s health and well-being and provides opportunities to give back and support neighbors. In scores of neighborhoods across the five boroughs and its camp upstate, the Y makes accessible the support and opportunities that empower more than 500,000 New Yorkers to learn, grow and thrive. Visit www.ymcanyc.org. Follow us on Twitter @ymcanyc and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ymcanyc.
Media Contact: Kamran Mumtaz, (212) 793-7682
