FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Elise Brooks, (202) 589-2427

Roundtable Member Companies Celebrate National Day of Community Service

January 16, 2009—Washington, D.C. — In 1994 Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, designating the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday as a national day of volunteer service to encourage Americans to give back to their communities as a way to honor the phenomenal philanthropic efforts of King. In recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Roundtable member companies are participating in their own days of service under the auspices of Community Services 2009.

Community Service 2009 unites the year-round efforts of Roundtable member companies to improve the communities in which they work and strengthen partnerships with non-profit partners and public policymakers.

“In addition to the community service work our member companies participate in throughout the year, MLK Day allows us to focus our efforts to honor a man who has given so much to our communities,” said Steve Bartlett, President and CEO of The Financial Services Roundtable.

On January 19, 2009, Roundtable member companies are leading events aimed at improving communities across the country. In Pennsylvania, Bank of New York Mellon associates will be building bookshelves for use at Pittsburgh City Schools. In Michigan, Comerica Incorporated associates will join with City Year to sort food and clothing to local food banks and shelters. In Florida, SunTrust associates are working with the local United Way and other philanthropic agencies to offer free tax returns and financial advice to local residents. In Illinois, Harris Bank Community Affairs will co-sponsor "A Day of Service and Inspiration" with the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs and Writers' Theatre.

Additionally, U.S. Bank associates are participating across the country in blood drives and heart walks, and HSBC associates are encouraged to commit to their own day of service, with available listings of projects being circulated through their offices.

The Financial Services Roundtable represents 100 of the largest integrated financial services companies providing banking, insurance, and investment products and services to the American consumer.  Member companies participate through the Chief Executive Officer and other senior executives nominated by the CEO.

Roundtable member companies provide fuel for America's economic engine, accounting directly for $85.2 trillion in managed assets, $978 billion in revenue, and 2.5 million jobs.