Citi Canada and the Citi Foundation Announce a $700,000 Commitment to Youth in Canada through the Pathways to Progress Initiative

Aims to Reduce Youth Unemployment in Cities through First Jobs, Internships, Business Training and Leadership Development

Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C)

TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, Citi announced an expansion of the Pathways to Progress initiative in Canada led by a Citi Foundation investment of CA$700,000. This contribution is part of the Foundation's investment of US$100 million to connect 500,000 young people around the world, ages 16-24, to training and jobs over the next three years. This is the largest philanthropic commitment in the Foundation's history.

Pathways to Progress originally launched in 2014, with a US$50 million effort that helped more than 100,000 young people across ten cities become career-ready through first jobs, internships, and leadership and entrepreneurship training. Through Citi and the Citi Foundation's partners, more than 7,000 Canadian youth will benefit from this investment.

"This is a natural extension of the work we do as a financial institution and our commitment to improving financial literacy, employment readiness and entrepreneurship for youth in the communities we serve. It is our goal to create more opportunities for young people with the help of our community partners, which strengthens our economy," said John Hastings, Citibank Canada CEO.

"We applaud Citi's leadership in helping provide a brighter future for our youth through training and career preparedness," said Toronto Mayor John Tory.  "As Mayor, I believe this is critical to ensuring Toronto can compete and grow our economy. We understand the key to building a fair and prosperous city includes connecting young people to jobs and I am thrilled that Citi's investment will positively impact over 7,000 youth in our region."

"The future economic competitiveness of our cities hinges on the success of our young people," said Brandee McHale, President, Citi Foundation. "Creating competitive cities requires a competitive workforce. That is why the Citi Foundation is committed to investing in career-boosting programs that equip young people to meet their economic ambitions and build a strong financial future in Canada and globally."

Pathways to Progress aims to help reduce youth unemployment in key cities around the world and improve the quality of the youth workforce. Globally, the youth unemployment rate is three times higher than the adult unemployment rate, which reflects a gap in the skills and networks many young people currently possess and what is required by many employers or needed to successfully launch an income-generating business. Through the expansion of Pathways to Progress, Citi and the Citi Foundation continue to work with municipal and community leaders  around the world to help young people secure jobs, begin to engage in the formal economy, and contribute positively to their cities.

Pathways to Progress partners in Canada:

• Youth Employment Services: 'YES on Demand!' will provide employability skills training, entrepreneurship development, career and mentorship counseling, and job placement/internship assistance to 1,330 youth.
  
  
• Pathways to Education: 'Pathways to 21st Century Success' will provide 5,400 students with mentoring, skills training and workshops to help them access meaningful employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
  
  
• RISE Asset Development: 'Rising Young Entrepreneur Initiative' will provide interactive and gamified online tools to empower 200 young people with a history of mental health or addiction challenges in Canada to connect, gain knowledge and experience with entrepreneurship, to launch businesses, and to rebut the stigma around mental illness.
  
  
• Children's Aid Foundation of Canada: 'Youth Empowerment Program' will provide 260 of young people in and from the Child Welfare Sector with the skills and knowledge required to effect lasting positive behavioural changes in their approach to personal finances, and assist them in securing employment, helping them transition from care to sustainable independent living.

For more information about Pathways to Progress and the study visit Pathways to Progress. Follow @Citi on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, and use the hashtag #Pathways2Progress to view more insights from the research and join the discussion with those interested in youth empowerment.

Citi
Citi, the leading global bank, 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, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.

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

Citi Foundation
The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant cities. The Citi Foundation's "More than Philanthropy" approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. For more information, visit www.citifoundation.com.

SOURCE CITIBANK CANADA

Citi, Ashley Parkinson, 416-947-6093, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, [email protected]

Related Links

www.citigroup.com/canada