Citi Smith Barney Scores A Touchdown For Families in Need

BOCA RATON, FL – Monday, February 23, 2009 - For almost 15 years, Diane Irving has worked with her offices at Smith Barney to capitalize on the excitement of the Super Bowl to raise awareness and funds for Boca Helping Hands. This year’s SOUPerbowl at the West Boca Raton Branch #817 generated $1400 in monetary donations from employees in addition to a large collection of non-perishable food items to help feed the hungry through the non-profit organization’s Food Program.

Boca Helping Hands provides compassionate services to benefit individuals, families, and children in the community during times of need, emergency or crisis. “Without the support of partners in the community like Citi, we would not be able to serve the thousands of people that come to us every month,” said Linda Gove, Executive Director of Boca Helping Hands.

SOUPerbowl festivities began with a Jersey & Jeans Day on Friday, January 16, when the office announced that all employees who donated $5 got to wear their favorite NFL team Jersey and blue jeans to work that day. Branch Manager Nicole Rothenberg noted that “Giving back to our communities is a fundamental priority for Citi, and the volunteer efforts of our employees is a key part of our strategy.”

On SOUPerbowl Friday before the big-game in Tampa between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals, raffle tickets were distributed and a second Jersey and Jeans Day was announced. This event helped to generate the bulk of the donations collected. Each employee who made a donation received an admission ticket to a special luncheon along with a chance to win one of the eight raffle prizes given out that day with drawings held every half hour. Food for the luncheon was provided by the employees, who brought their favorite dishes for all to share.

About Boca Helping Hands -- For over 10 years, Boca Helping Hands has empowered volunteers to touch the lives of people in crisis through its various food and assistance programs. Boca Helping Hands collaborates with other local non-profit organizations to work together to provide access to resources and services that educate and build self-sufficiency. Through its Job Mentoring program, volunteer mentors help individuals improve their chances of securing employment as well as obtaining better employment for the underemployed. For more information about Boca Helping Hands and how to donate or volunteer, visit us online at www.bocahelpinghands.org or call 561.417.0913.

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Photos Attached

Photo 1: Citi Smith Barney employees who participated in SouperBowl collection.