Citibank Zrt., a member of Citi

Citibank Zrt., a member of Citi, is committed to being an active and supportive member of the communities in which it does business. In line with Citi's philanthropic strategy we primarily focus on financial education programs, and we have some ongoing programs in the fields of healthcare and arts education.

Financial education programs

• In 2001 Citibank Zrt. launched the "Citibank Financial Education School Program" in partnership with Junior Achievement Hungary, which is an ongoing program. Together with the donation in 2008, the Citi Foundation has donated $940,000 in total so far, which went towards providing technology-based teaching materials to more than 110,000 students in 250 elementary schools across Hungary.
  The aim of the program is to provide schools with modern, technology-based curriculum resources and innovative teaching strategies, which will increase students' knowledge, skills and performance in economics, mathematics, finance and English.
  Educational software in economics and finance for grades five to eight has been prepared by Junior Achievement on the basis of its printed teaching materials developed in the US and adapted to the specific interests of Hungarian students.
  In 2007 the program was enhanced to include setting up and running small student enterprises that will teach students how to operate successfully and in an ethical way a private small enterprise in this challenging market environment.

• Citibank Zrt. has been running a program at the Department of the Enterprise Finances of the Corvinus University of Budapest since 2004. Our aim with this program is to support the Corvinus University of Budapest in its endeavor to continuously increase the level of education and offer their students access to the most up-to-date information and trends in the financial markets. This we achieved partly by financial support of a total of $120,000 from the Citi Foundation, and also, by organizing Citi local volunteers to give lectures and presentations in specific financial and banking subjects.

• Beginning 1991, each year 30 secondary school students and 30 economics teachers participate on the "Economics for Leaders" summer program in Hungary, which is being sponsored by the Citi Foundation. The program, which provides training for future business leaders and economic teachers, is organized in partnership with Junior Achievement Hungary in association with the US-based Foundation for Teaching Economics. The aim of the program is to teach students about the business environment and free market economy and to provide them with the skills that are essential in today's competitive job market.
  
  
• In 2002 Citibank Hungary, together with the Foundation for Developing Financial Culture, co-founded the "Felkai Andras Academic Award". The family of András Felkai, several institutions and individual donors have also contributed to the fund.
  The annual award, which is paid from the interest of the fund, supports the studies of talented students and young professionals selected by a committee. Through this award, Citibank hopes to contribute to the enrichment of the Hungarian economic and financial sector with highly qualified professionals who display personal qualities similar to those of András Felkai including his positive attitude, leadership and international outlook.

Capacity building and microfinance for non-profit organizations

In 2007, with funds from the Citi Foundation we at Citi in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have launched a new community program in close cooperation with NESsT. NESsT is an international, nonprofit organization committed to supporting civil society organizations in their effort to start their own enterprises, the earnings of which enables them to both create their long-run financial sustainability and realize their community goals. Besides financial support the assistance provided by NESsT and Citi extends also or even more importantly to consultation, professional guidance and business mentoring support.
In April 2007 NESsT and Citi announced a Social Enterprise Competition for Central Europe in the framework of which civil society organizations were competing against each other with their business plans for starting social enterprises. Citi volunteers were invited not only to help evaluate the feasibility studies and business plans and in making a decision about who should win the NESsT-Citi award but also to assist the organizations in the first steps of the execution of their plans with their expertise and experience in the field of various areas of business, enterprise analysis and management.
In June 2008 the first place for the strongest social enterprise business plan in Hungary was awarded in the amount of $10,000 to Barka Foundation based in Dunaharaszti, who will enter the NESsT Venture Fund Portfolio. Barka Foundation works to promote the social integration and acceptance of people with intellectual and combined disabilities. Barka will receive a grant and consulting support from NESsT to further develop its social enterprise designed to develop and market a high quality, designer product line of home decoration and gift items created by people with intellectual disabilities.
Motivated by the great success of the first joint project, NESsT requested further support from the Citi Foundation to launch a similar program in the for profit sector in 2009-2010. The new program is the first in the country that aims to support small enterprises that find social responsibility important, the emphasis is on sustainable development and job creation.

Building homes through employee volunteering

Within the framework of the "Habitat for Humanity House Building Employee Volunteering Program", a total of eighteen groups of around 30 employees helped build houses for less fortunate families in Dunavarsany, Szarvas and Hajduboszormeny from 2004-2008. The Citi Foundation has donated a total of $140,000 to Habitat for Humanity in Hungary.

Health care

Since 1998, we at Citibank Zrt. have been selecting a children's hospital every year to support the institution through the hospital's own foundation in buying a state-of-the-art medical equipment selected by the health care institution.

Arts education

Through Association of Friends of Franz Liszt Music Academy, Citibank Zrt. has been supporting further education of young talented Hungarian musicians for seven years. The funding enhances the Academy's efforts to maintain and expand its international reputation for excellence in music education. Specifically, the Citibank grant awards scholarships, which allow students to participate in international master classes and competitions.