2009 Alcoa Worldwide Month of Service: Alcoa Employees Prepare to Set New Volunteering Record

This month, Alcoa (NYSE:AA) employees across the globe are expected to set a new volunteering record, as close to a third of the company’s more than 60,000 employees gear-up to make a difference during the company’s annual Worldwide Month of Service.

Now in its fourth year, Alcoa’s Month of Service is a month-long event that mobilizes Alcoa’s global workforce to make a positive impact in their local communities, while also recognizing employees for their year-round volunteer efforts.

Last October, 24% of Alcoa’s global workforce took part in 700 Month of Service events in 26 countries. They planted 20,000 trees, served 7,300 meals, restored 160 natural areas, repaired 270 community facilities and assisted students in 320 schools.

This year, amidst a challenging economic backdrop, the company expects these efforts to intensify – with 30% of its global workforce planning participation in what Alcoa believes will be its biggest Month of Service yet.

"Alcoa’s Month of Service is an extension of our determination to add real value to everything we do – in the communities in which we live and within our operations,” said CEO and President Klaus Kleinfeld.

"Month of Service is about all of our harnessing collective energy, talent and dedication to bring positive change to the communities where we operate around the globe.

"What we achieve together through this energy and dedication inspires others– both within the company and beyond it – to make a powerful and lasting difference through service – which is even more important during challenging times.”

Alcoa’s Month of Service has an impressive track-record of achievement with over 120,000 people across Alcoa and the broader community participating in the initiative since its inception in 2006.

Month of Service is the centerpiece of year-round volunteer efforts by Alcoa employees, who last year gave 705,000 hours of voluntary service – the equivalent of more than 350 people working full-time.

In addition to supporting communities through the impacts of the economic downturn, the efforts of Alcoa employees this October will further deepen the company’s long-term commitment to environmental sustainability, reflected by the Alcoa Foundation’s $22M commitment to community-based conservation projects since 2006 – and the company’s action to plant 10 Million Trees, to recycle, and to find solutions to global climate change on all fronts.

Highlights of Alcoa’s upcoming 2009 October Worldwide Month of Service:

North America

• In the United States, over 7,000 Alcoa employees are planning to help more than 400 local non-profit and community groups in over 250 events across the country – from building homes and renovating shelters, to improving literacy among school students, to serving meals, donating food, clothes and blankets. Employees at Alcoa’s Pittsburgh Corporate Center kicked off Month of Service early, helping clean-up the city for the G20 summit.
• Across Canada, hundreds of Alcoans will participate in a weekend of simultaneous volunteer action at the start of October. Their efforts will refurbish community facilities and classrooms, collect and serve food to those in need and improve the environment.

Europe

• Across Europe over 4,000 employees across 11 countries will make a difference in their communities. Alcoa’s newest employees in Norway will focus on youth development and encouraging healthy, active lifestyles among young people.
• 900 Alcoans in Spain will work alongside 100 local non-profit and community groups to clean-up rivers and reserves, collect clothing and food donations for the disadvantaged, and refurbish community facilities for the elderly.
• In Iceland, employees will volunteer over 200 hours to improve local facilities for the benefit of all, including refurbishing the community hall, improve sport and health fields, and making a hiking trail accessible for those with disabilities.
• 700 Alcoans in Russia will assist disadvantaged children and make a difference for the environment by delivering conservation awareness workshops.

South America

• Across Brazil, around 3,400 employees will participate in over 80 events to promote volunteerism in the community and undertake local service projects. This will include launching a major education initiative to improve environmental sustainability actions at home, work and in the community, workshops and lectures on sustainability at schools, hosting a sustainability competition with schools, donating trees and planting trees.
• Over 150 Alcoa employees in Suriname will renovate children’s shelters, schools, playgrounds, bus shelters and bridges.

Asia and Australia

• Employees in China are preparing for their biggest Month of Service ever, with over 200 employees set to contribute over 500 hours of service alongside 10 local groups. Their efforts will improve the natural environment through conservation and recycling, and help those in need, including earthquake victims in Sichuan.
• In Australia, over 2,500 Alcoa employees will be involved in working alongside over 400 non-profit and local groups in 70 events. Their efforts will improve school safety and injury awareness among children and increase the capacity of service delivery to those in need - including assistance to emergency services and facilities for the elderly and the disabled. Australian employees will also make a difference in the fight against climate change, holding environmental ‘Make an Impact’ workshops and tree plantings around the country.

ABOUT ALCOA AND ALCOA FOUNDATION

Alcoa is the world leader in the production and management of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina combined. Serving the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, Alcoa brings design, engineering, production and other capabilities to its customers. The company is dedicated to making a sustainable product, with more than 70% of the aluminum ever produced since 1886 is still in use today. www.alcoa.com

Alcoa recognizes that the success of its business is directly connected to the strength of the communities in which it operates and together with Alcoa Foundation, works to address the needs of communities where it has a presence. In addition to addressing locally identified needs, Alcoa Foundation is focused on unlocking solutions to critical environmental sustainability challenges, including global climate change. The company combines funding with hands-on support from its employee volunteers, who gave 705,000 services hours in 2008 to make their communities stronger, more resilient places to live and work. www.alcoa.com/foundation