Media Contacts:

Erin Moran

646-233-4954

erin@dressforsuccess.org

Andrea Hurst

212-559-4767

andrea.hurst@citi.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CITI AND DRESS FOR SUCCESS LAUNCH FINANCIAL LITERACTY PROGRAM

FOR NEW JERSEY WOMEN

New York, NY – (April 12, 2010) Citi and Dress for Success Worldwide today announced the launch of a Financial Literacy Program to benefit as many as 60 clients of the Dress for Success affiliates in Jersey City, Newark, Madison and Trenton.  With funding, financial expertise and employee volunteer time donated by Citi, Dress for Success, an international non-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women, will offer an 8-session Financial Literacy Program beginning on April 12 and continuing through late July.

“Understanding financial literacy is a major component to achieving self-sufficiency,” said Joi Gordon, CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide.  “We are grateful that Citi recognizes the importance of our Financial Literacy Program and is supporting the curriculum throughout New Jersey.”

The Financial Literacy Program is open to members of the Professional Women’s Group, an international networking association for Dress for Success clients who have demonstrated an interest and commitment to improving their financial lives.  Participants will be educated on a range of financial topics including: budgeting, basic banking, credit and identity theft, taxes, investing and retirement.  Over the course of this program, participants will learn how to take control of their income, become strong self-advocates and champion their own financial future. The pilot Financial Literacy Program that was offered in New York City resulted in numerous achievements, including 100% of participants maintaining a monthly budget, a savings account, a checking account, an emergency action plan, and many significantly reducing their debt.

Women who complete the Financial Literacy Program will be eligible for the Pursuit Beyond the Suit scholarship program.  The scholarship is funded by The AXA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, and will help recipients achieve their education and life enrichment goals.

"Becoming financially empowered is a logical step for Dress for Success clients as they work to achieve economic independence," said Stacey Sechrest, Director of Citi's Office of Financial Capability.  "We are pleased to extend this program to Dress for Success' New Jersey affiliates knowing that with an understanding of how to manage their personal finances, disadvantaged women can establish and stick with a financial plan that helps them build a brighter future for themselves and their families."

“It is inspiring to see a woman who had been managing money under a mattress amass thousands of dollars in a savings account and pay off significant debt as a direct result of our financial literacy program,” said Denalerie Johnson, EVP of Workforce Development for Dress for Success Worldwide.

About Dress for Success

Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to more than 100 cities in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, the UK and the West Indies. To date, Dress for Success has helped more than 500,000 women work towards self-sufficiency. Visit www.dressforsuccess.org to learn more.

About Citi

Citi, the leading global financial services company, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 140 countries. Through Citicorp and Citi Holdings, 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, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com. 

Citi’s Office of Financial Capability combines the strength of Citi’s business, people and partnerships to empower individuals to achieve their personal finance goals and improve their quality of life.  Citi takes a holistic approach to Financial Capability that encompasses four elements critical to achieving sustainable results: 1) increasing financial literacy; 2) developing short-term and long-term financial plans; 3) increasing ability to select appropriate financial products or services to implement those plans; and 4) providing ongoing support that helps consumers redefine their financial goals over the course of their lives.  In 2004, Citi made an unprecedented 10-year, $200 million global commitment to support financial education.  As of 2010, the company has invested over $167 million in these efforts in 73 countries around the world.  

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