OREANDA-NEWS. October 17, 2011. In October, Alcoa’s global workforce will participate in more than 650 service projects across 24 countries through its sixth annual Worldwide Month of Service initiative that mobilizes employees to make a difference in their local communities.

Alcoa employees, retirees, families and friends will plant trees, beautify parks and schools, prepare meals for the underserved, donate blood and encourage literacy.

To bolster the impact of the company’s volunteer service, 11 Alcoa executives will surprise 11 nonprofit organizations around the world with a USD 10,000 Alcoa Foundation grant at their service event. A total of USD 110,000 will be donated during Month of Service. Alcoa Foundation also will host the “Spirit of Volunteering” photo contest for employees. Five employees will win a USD 5,000 grant for the charity of their choice.

“Community service is a core Value at Alcoa,” said Klaus Kleinfeld, Alcoa Chairman and CEO. “Month of Service is a time when Alcoans come together all over the world to give back to their local communities. At a time that is especially difficult for many people around the world, we are that much more inspired to engage our employees, nonprofit partners, families and friends in this special call to community action.”

Last October, a record 49 percent of Alcoa’s global workforce took part in nearly 1,000 volunteer events, donating their time to nearly 3,000 nonprofit organizations. Alcoa employees, families, neighbors and community groups reached 59,000 children, served 17,000 meals and planted 16,000 trees.

Visit Alcoa Foundation’s Facebook page throughout October to see pictures and videos of employees, families and friends across the world making a difference in their communities. For more information on Month of Service visit www.alcoa.com/monthofservice.

Summary of 2011 Month of Service:

More than 50% of employees across the globe will volunteer during Month of Service

More than 650 events are planned

More than 7,000 hours of service

Employees will partner with more than 800 nonprofit organizations and community groups

More than 45,000 participants, including retirees and members of the community will give back to their communities

More than 8,500 trees will be planted

Regional Highlights of Alcoa’s 2011 Month of Service:

North America

In the United States, nearly 8,000 Alcoa employees are planning to tackle more than 200 community service projects. They will prepare meals for the homeless, host blood drives, paint schools, beautify parks, build wheelchair ramps and participate in cause-related walkathons for charities.

More than 58% of Canada’s workforce will serve meals at a soup kitchen, host food drives and fundraise for the United Way.

Asia

In China, 44% of Alcoans will green the environment by planting 2,000 trees. They will also host a fair for a local home for the elderly and organize an energy efficiency workshop to share more about protecting the environment.

In Japan, 37% of employees will participate in a blood drive and restore a wooden path at a local forest so that visitors can enjoy the landscape.

Australia

In Australia, more than 2,000 employees will participate in 100 service projects to beautify schools, clean-up parks, host a workshop around mental health, plant trees and raise funds for local charities.

Europe

More than 1,000 employees in Hungary will volunteer to paint and plant flowers at local schools, redesign a garden for people with special needs, host a clothing drive for underserved youth and care for animals at a shelter.

In Italy, 68% of employees will renovate a youth center and beautify a playground and garden at a local school.

In Spain, 54% of Alcoa employees will conduct CPR training for community sports clubs, prepare meals and play games with people with disabilities, clean-up rivers and restore a community fountain.

Russia

In Russia, more than 3,000 employees will undertake landscaping and beautification projects at schools, clean-up waterways, participate in a concert to honor veterans, collect books for libraries and donate medical equipment for people with special needs.

South America

In Brazil, more than 3,000 employees will participate in more than 70 service projects including sharing the importance of recycling with students and helping them build recycling bins, planting trees and hosting events for the elderly and youth.