Company's "Powering Potential" Focus Targets Basic Needs and Workforce Development

BOSTON, December 16, 2009 — BNY Mellon has distributed more than $700,000 in fourth-quarter grants, benefiting a number of New England-area nonprofit organizations. This year, approximately $2 million in corporate and trust grants were awarded to about 50 area nonprofits.

"Our philanthropy program centers on investments that help build strong, lasting community partnerships," said Joanne Jaxtimer, managing director of BNY Mellon's philanthropy efforts in New England. "Our goal is to support organizations and activities that drive positive change where it is needed most."

Powering Potential, BNY Mellon's charitable giving focus, is designed to help others in need by concentrating on basic needs and workforce development. BNY Mellon works with community partners to provide food, clothing, energy and housing assistance to those who require immediate help. The company's workforce development investments are designed to improve access to employment through job training, education, mentoring and skills development.

The current grant recipients are:

• Best Buddies Massachusetts — $75,000 to support a program that matches skilled and qualified individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) with businesses searching for enthusiastic and dedicated employees. Funds also support a program that pairs individuals with IDD with buddies without an intellectual disability, which helps individuals with IDD develop critical social skills that can increase their future chances for integrated employment.
• Citizens Programs Corporation — $40,000 to help fund the Citizens Energy Oil Heat Fund, which delivers heating oil to thousands of low-income and elderly households in the state. This grant is expected to make it possible for nearly 150 eligible households to receive assistance this winter season.
• Greater Boston Interfaith Organization — $30,000 to assist with the Moving from Debt to Assets (D2A) financial education program that helps participants build strong financial futures by stressing the importance of money management and financial goal setting. Upon class completion and one counseling session, low-income participants are eligible to receive a $500 cash grant for debt reduction or savings.
• Roca — $25,000 to support the organization's Youth Star program, which targets young people at very high risk (histories of truancy, substance use, gang involvement, poverty and other risky behaviors) for a year of community service. Participants benefit from computer training, pre-vocational training and career exploration and planning.

BNY Mellon has nearly 3,000 employees in greater Boston, supporting the firm's securities servicing, asset management and wealth management businesses.

BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). BNY Mellon is a global financial services company focused on helping clients manage and service their financial assets, operating in 34 countries and serving more than 100 markets. The company is a leading provider of financial services for institutions, corporations and high-net-worth individuals, providing superior asset management and wealth management, asset servicing, issuer services, clearing services and treasury services through a worldwide client-focused team. It has $22.1 trillion in assets under custody and administration and $966 billion in assets under management, services $11.9 trillion in outstanding debt and processes global payments averaging $1.6 trillion per day. Additional information is available at bnymellon.com.