CITIGROUP SUCCESS FUND AWARDS $55,000 IN GRANTS TO CENTRAL VALLEY SCHOOLTEACHERS

MODESTO (September 28, 2006)  –  Forty-four public school teachers from throughout the Greater Sacramento Area and the San Joaquin Valley are recipients of grants from the Citigroup Foundation this year.

In awarding the grants, the Citigroup Success Fund (http://www.greatvalley.org/legaci/index.aspx) sought educators with innovative ideas to improve learning experiences for students.  The grants will fund active-learning projects created by the teachers to motivate and inspire their students.  A total of $55,600 was split among elementary and high school teachers at schools in the San Joaquin Valley and Greater Sacramento Area.  Awards ranged from $500 to $1,500 and assistance for the effort was provided by the Great Valley Center, a nonprofit organization based in Modesto.

This year's grant recipients will work with their students on a variety of projects, ranging from establishing a lending library of assistive technology equipment to creating new business ventures.  Organizers hope these efforts will promote interdisciplinary learning by providing ways to involve parents, businesses and community organizations in the well being of young people.  Nationwide, the Citigroup Success Fund has helped thousands of young people and this is the second year the grants have been made in the Valley.   Award ceremonies to honor the teachers will be held throughout the region, and news media representatives are welcome to attend: 
 
Greater Sacramento Area (Sacramento County, Placer County, Yolo County, San Joaquin County)
Thursday October 5, 2006, 5:30-7:30 pm
Citibank Town and Country Financial Center, 2805-4 Marconi Ave., Sacramento.

Northern San Joaquin Valley (Stanislaus County, Merced County)
Tuesday October 10, 2006, 5:30-7:30 pm
Citibank Modesto-McHenry Financial Center, 2929 McHenry Ave., Modesto.

Central San Joaquin Valley (Fresno County, Madera County)
Wednesday October 11, 2006, 5:30-7:30 pm
Citibank Van Ness/Shaw Financial Center, 2270 West Shaw Avenue, Fresno.

Southern San Joaquin Valley (Kings County, Tulare County, Kern County)
Thursday October 12, 2006, 5:30-7:30 pm
Citibank Bakersfield-Stockdale Financial Center, 5554 California Ave., Bakersfield.

About Citigroup

Citigroup (NYSE: C), the leading global financial services company, has some 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 100 countries, providing consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, insurance, securities brokerage, and asset management. Major brand names under Citigroup's trademark red umbrella include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Smith Barney, Banamex, and Travelers Life and Annuity. The Citigroup Foundation focuses its grants primarily in three areas: building communities and entrepreneurs, financial education, and educating the next generation.  www.citigroup.com

About the Great Valley Center

The Great Valley Center is a nonprofit organization working to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of California's Central Valley, in partnership with the University of California, Merced. www.greatvalley.org