LAS VEGAS, Oct. 14, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- City National Bank recently donated backpacks filled with school supplies to students at several at-risk schools in Nevada. Students at Helen Jydstrup Elementary and Jerome Mack Middle Schools in Las Vegas, Elmcrest Elementary School in Reno, Freemont Elementary School in Carson City and C.C. Meneley Elementary School in Minden/Gardnerville benefited from the bank's generosity.
(For an image related to this story, go to http://www.cnb.com/images/photos/school-supply-donation.jpg)
During the months of August and September, bank colleagues and clients collected a variety of school supplies to donate to students in need at these four elementary schools. In addition to the backpacks, the bank presented students with pencils, pens, glue sticks, erasers, crayons, scissors, folders, ruled paper. At the schools' request, the bank also donated large amounts of tissue boxes and hand sanitizer to help combat the flu and cold season.
"City National Bank continues to be one of our strongest supporters and most generous community partners with both monetary and volunteer support," said Martha Slack, principal of Helen Jydstrup Elementary School. "The backpack donations were a complete surprise to us and a wonderful gesture on the part of the bank, its employees and clients. Everyone at our school, including teachers and students, were so appreciative of the bank's generosity and ongoing concern for our kids and the education they are receiving."
City National began adopting at-risk schools in 2003, with Helen Jydstrup being the first school it adopted. As part of its educational outreach programs, the bank allows its employees three hours a month paid time to volunteer at these and other schools to help tutor students who need a little extra help or assist teachers with a variety of tasks such as grading papers.
"Getting involved in the educational process and helping students receive a quality education is very satisfying, knowing that you're helping shape the lives of future business and community leaders," said Larry Charlton, senior vice president and Nevada regional executive of City National. "We view our involvement in education as an investment in our future, and with the state's budget shortfalls, education needs our support more than ever before."
Charlton added that the bank has also been donating thousands of books to these and other at-risk school libraries as part of its award-winning Reading Is The Way Up(R) literacy program. Since 2002, the bank has donated more than 40,000 books to Nevada, California and New York school libraries, and contributed over $2 million in support of education. For more information about the bank's literacy program, visit www.readingisthewayup.org.
City National contributes financial, in-kind and volunteer assistance to nonprofit institutions and organizations that enhance the quality of life and promote public interest where the company conducts its business. The four main areas of the bank's philanthropic outreach include education, health and human services, community development, and arts and culture.
About City National
City National Bank is the wholly owned subsidiary of City National Corporation (NYSE:CYN). Headquartered in Los Angeles, the company is backed by $17.7 billion in total assets, and provides banking, investment and trust services through 63 offices, including 15 full-service regional centers, in Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Nevada and New York City. City National and its eight majority-owned investment affiliates manage or administer $47.8 billion in client investment assets, including more than $30 billion under direct management.
City National has eight branch offices in Nevada, including four in Las Vegas and one each in North Las Vegas, Reno, Carson City and Minden. The bank also has a loan production office at Stateline in South Lake Tahoe.
For more information about City National, visit the company's Website at cnb.com.
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