In and around Dallas, Citi has been a strong United Way supporter for more than 10 years. Why? Because United Way efforts in the area of Income align with the longstanding Citi commitment to increasing economic empowerment in the communities it serves.
Debbie Taylor, Citi Southwest regional director and Texas state director, says, “Through our partnership with United Way, Citi has brought greater focus and new solutions to the Income impact area. We are proud to help sustain programs that enhance the ability of at-risk families to care for themselves financially.”
In particular, Citi and United Way have worked with other corporations, philanthropists and nonprofit organizations on the issue of financial education and asset building. In 2003, the Citi Fund for Financial Education in Dallas was created with a $150,000 gift from Citi Foundation. Citi employees can elect to direct their United Way contributions to this fund, and Citi volunteers distribute the money to service providers that provide education to improve the financial health and stability of the most vulnerable populations in our region. United Way trains the Citi volunteers and supports the investment process.
Additionally, Citi was also the first major funder behind the Earn It! Keep It! Save It! program, which provides free tax preparation services and financial education to low- and moderate-income families. Citi and other sponsors enable United Way to train hundreds of volunteer income tax preparers and support locations where individuals receive free tax preparation and filing assistance. In its inaugural year, the program returned more than $8 million to approximately 4,700 hardworking individuals.
Citi employees embrace every part of the LIVE UNITED call to action. The company’s active and engaged giving campaign raised more than $1.5 million dollars in 2009. More than 15 campaign leaders and hundreds of vice chairs and team captains make sure every employee hears the United Way message and has a chance to participate. In 2009, there were more than 140 employee education meetings during the campaign. Citi also runs separate Leadership Giving and Tocqueville Society campaigns.
Citi employees are also very active United Way Volunteers. In 2009, more than 75 Citi employees served on various community impact panels and committees. During the 2008 tax season, 98 Citi employees served as Earn It! Keep It! Save It! volunteer tax preparers at 20 sites.
The following Citi employees both give numerous hours to running the employee fundraising campaign and serve in volunteer leadership roles at United Way:
- Debbie Taylor, Southwest regional director: Board of Directors (chair-elect), Resource Development Committee (chair), Resource Development Task Force
- Fred Halfpap, vice president of marketing: Strategic Planning Committee, 2010 Citi campaign chair, 2009 corporate campaign analysis facilitator
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Yousuf Omar, director, commercial banking: Tocqueville Society Cabinet
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Sarah Stoneman, vice president of Citi Holdings Operations & Technology Finance: Young Leaders Society (co-chair); Citi Allocations (chair)
- Rodney Stoneman, vice president of fraud risk: Young Leaders Society (co-chair)
- Lawanda Jones, credit officer, Citigroup Commercial Banking: African-American Leadership Society (steering committee)
- Tracy Canfield Perez, director: Central Allocations (co-chair)
- Angela Garrett, senior vice president of operations, North America Operations & Technology: Central Allocations
- Alicia Hopkins, credit specialist: Central Allocations (co-chair)
- Amanda Hall, associate vice president, instructional designer: Central Allocations (co-chair)
- Vicki Adcock, vice president, Citi Technology Infrastructure/North America Business Continuity and ITIL Program Office: Disaster Preparedness Committee (vice chair)
