Citi Foundation, a global foundation of Citi, has given almost USD 1 million to Polish non-governmental organizations. This amount will support the projects addressed to groups particularly affected during the pandemic - women, migrants and young people. The goal of the projects is to help each group become independent, implement development plans and open their own businesses. In addition, this year hospitals in Warsaw and Olsztyn received mobile respirators and PPE thanks to the Citi Foundation.
This is still an unprecedented year, says Sławomir S. Sikora, Citi Country Officer Poland, CEO of Citi Handlowy. The healthcare and education system need support, as does the Polish economy, which is based, among others, on the activity of small entrepreneurs. They are the beneficiaries of our programs implemented together with Polish NGOs. We also reach groups particularly affected during the pandemic - women, migrants and young people. Each of our programs addresses the challenges they currently have to face.
Our global initiative Pathways to Progress supports young people in attaining economic independence. In cooperation with our long-time partners in Poland, we were able to redesign our programs in such a way that can help mitigate the consequences of the pandemic among youth and vulnerable groups, said Florencia Spangaro, Chief Operating Officer, Citi Foundation
For years, Citi Foundation has been working to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities. In the last 5 years alone, the Foundation allocated over USD 390 million to developing local social initiatives in 85 countries across the globe. Thus, it helped improve the quality of life of more than 4 million people. It has been involved in Polish social projects since 2005, during which time it supported the Shesnnovation Academy (Perspektywy Foundation) - which supports young female scientists and students who want to run a business in STEM; Business in Women's Hands- the biggest incubation and acceleration program dedicated to women who dream of having their own business (Foundation for Female Entrepreneurship); program of entrepreneurship development (THINK! Foundation); Hello Entrepreneurship - which supports entrepreneurship among migrants (Ashoka Foundation).
In March 2020, Citi Foundation launched a special Fund of USD 15,000,000 to support humanitarian activities related to fighting the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the program, in Poland we have supported the Polish Center for International Aid (PCPM) by providing mobile respirators and personal protection equipment to the employees of hospitals in Olsztyn and Warsaw.
The professional partner of all initiatives implemented in Poland is the Kronenberg Foundation at Citi Handlowy.
