Citibank and The Salvation Army Greater New York Division Kick Off 2011 Red Kettle Campaign

Citibank and The Salvation Army Greater New York Division today kicked off the 2011 Red Kettle Campaign. The campaign, the oldest annual charitable fundraiser of its kind and an iconic symbol of generosity and holiday spirit throughout the country, raises funds for those most in need during the holiday season.

Citibank is the first corporate sponsor of the campaign, which has become a holiday tradition in New York City and in cities across the United States. Lt. Colonel Guy D. Klemanski, The Salvation Army Greater New York Divisional Commander and Citibank Eastern Region Commercial Banking Group President Robert W. Koar kicked off the 2011 campaign at an event at the Flagship Union Square Citibank branch, where they were joined by Joe Bartlett, News Director for NewsTalk Radio 710 WOR and The Salvation Army New York Staff Brass Ensemble.

At the event, Colonel Klemanski introduced how an easy-to-use device from Square will for the first time enable donations by credit card at some of The Salvation Army's Red Kettle locations in Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco and here in New York, where Robert Koar made the first donation.

“Citibank’s partnership with The Salvation Army can make a significant difference in increasing awareness of our annual Greater New York Red Kettle Campaign and its success,” said Lt. Colonel Guy D. Klemanski. “It’s our hope that this is the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship with Citibank.”

“Citibank is thrilled to join The Salvation Army to support one of the holiday season’s most heralded charitable campaigns and maximize its impact on the community in which we live and work,” said Robert Koar of Citibank. “Citibank supports The Salvation Army's efforts to create opportunities for all community members to live financially sustainable lives. We are proud to provide financial support to the Red Kettle campaign in New York and to promote the cause on more than 1,000 Citibank ATMs in the region.”

The Red Kettle Campaign is The Salvation Army Greater New York Division’s largest annual initiative, and serves 750,000 individuals by providing basic necessities and helping individuals most in need throughout the area. Last year, more than one million people donated to the campaign, and contributors in the Greater New York area alone gave roughly $2.5 million. Kettles were on the streets for a total of 350,000 hours across 500 sites in the Greater New York area. Of every dollar raised, 89 cents goes directly to supporting programs at 39 community centers throughout the Greater New York region.

Citibank's core value of harnessing the strength of its business, resources, products, and people to help improve neighborhood communities aligns with The Salvation Army's development model and holistic approach to improving lives.

Citibank recognizes The Salvation Army's need to create opportunities for all members of their respective communities to live financially sustainable and productive lives and is providing financial support to the Red Kettle campaign to help promote these common values and make a meaningful difference during this holiday season. In addition to financial support, more than 1,000 Citibank ATMs in the Greater New York region will feature special screens during the holiday season that encourage participation in The Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign.

For the first time at selected Red Kettle locations, Android smartphones donated by Sprint Nextel will be equipped with Square’s postage-stamp-size card reader and two apps, one from Square and the other from The Salvation Army. Donors can swipe a credit or debit card, just as they would at any credit card processing terminal and the money goes into The Salvation Army’s account. Once the donor has made a contribution they can choose where and how to receive a receipt.

The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign dates back to 1891, when founder Captain Joseph McFee was looking for a way to raise money for the poor during Christmas in San Francisco. Since then, The Salvation Army staff and volunteers have annually taken to the streets to raise funds and encourage the spirit of giving during the holidays.

About Citibank: Citi, the leading global financial services company, 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, transaction services, and wealth management.

Additional information may be found at www.commercialbanking.citibank.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://new.citi.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

About The Salvation Army Greater New York Division: An integral part of the community for 131 years, The Salvation Army in Greater New York operates more than 100 community and social service programs serving more than 750,000 people, regardless of race, religion, nationality, or sexual orientation. For more information, visit our website at www.SalvationArmyNewYork.org.

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