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Merrill Lynch Connects Senior Citizens With Friends and Family in the U.S. and Overseas During Holiday Season
FIRM CELEBRATES SILVER ANNIVERSARY OF CHRISTMAS CALLS PROGRAM; FREE PHONE CALLS PROVIDED TO LOCAL SENIOR CITIZENS
NEW YORK, December 24, 2004 — For the 25th consecutive year, Merrill Lynch today welcomed senior citizens to its offices in New York City for free use of the firm's telephones to call loved ones anywhere in the world. In addition, the firm opened offices in many cities across the United States and overseas to enable senior citizens to make similar calls.
Created in 1980, the Merrill Lynch Christmas Calls Program is a company-wide initiative that has reached more than 250,000 senior citizens globally.
"The Christmas Calls Program has long been a favorite tradition at Merrill Lynch," said Ahmass Fakahany, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Merrill Lynch. "Now in its 25th year, it is a special day for thousands of employees and volunteers who take time from their holiday celebrations to support the seniors."
Mr. Fakahany was among the more than 300 Merrill Lynch employees and others welcoming seniors visiting the company's 222 Broadway office in New York. Approximately 1,100 senior citizens began arriving at 8:00 am to place their calls worldwide. The seniors are from 29 New York City Department for the Aging senior centers.
"Many local seniors live a great distance from their friends and family," said Commissioner Edwin Mendez-Santiago of the New York City Department for the Aging. "Merrill Lynch's program helps bridge that distance by allowing seniors to place calls to their loved ones all over the globe."
Representatives of Sprint were on hand to answer questions and ensure that the seniors were able to place their calls successfully. Refreshments and decorations added to the festivities.
Earlier this month, volunteers at Merrill Lynch's 101 Hudson Street facilities in Jersey City hosted approximately 1,900 senior citizens for Christmas Calls, and 400 senior citizens participated in the program at the firm's Princeton, New Jersey, offices. Additionally, Merrill Lynch volunteers have visited hundreds of seniors at various centers in New York City during its annual Outreach Program. Employees served lunch and provided cell phones for homebound seniors who would not otherwise have been able to connect with their loved ones during the holiday season.
Merrill Lynch's Christmas Calls Program began in 1980 as a single event at the firm's corporate headquarters in New York. Eight employee volunteers and more than 100 senior citizens participated. This year, nearly 70 domestic and three international Merrill Lynch offices opened their doors to more than 10,000 seniors. The Program was honored in 2002 with a Presidential Award for Private Sector Initiatives, the nation's highest honor recognizing volunteer service and community outreach programs.
Merrill Lynch is one of the world's leading financial management and advisory companies, with offices in 36 countries and total client assets of approximately $1.5 trillion. As an investment bank, it is a leading global underwriter of debt and equity securities and strategic advisor to corporations, governments, institutions and individuals worldwide. Through Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, the company is one of the world's largest managers of financial assets. Firmwide assets under management total $478 billion. For more information on Merrill Lynch, please visit www.ml.com.
Contact:
Terez Hanhan 212.449.2004
terez_hanhan@ml.com