2.26.2008 - 10:47am ET

(CSRwire) NEW YORK - February 26, 2008 - Alcoa announced today that through an Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation supported program, New York City teachers will participate in Amazônia Brasil for Schools, a project that encourages teachers and students to look at the Amazon region's social, cultural, and biological issues with a critical eye. This project is part of the Amazônia Brasil Exhibition, opening on April 17, sponsored by Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation.

More than 600 New York City teachers will be introduced to the Brazilian Amazon teaching guide today in the National Museum of the American Indian as part of the Amazônia Brasil for Schools program. The guide, oriented to elementary school children from 3rd to 6th grade, provides teaching materials with information about the history and culture of the local population, the geography of the region, and the importance of conservation and sustainable development in the Amazon. The aim of is for children to learn about the Amazon in a creative way, incorporating artistic activities for the children.

"Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation are pleased to support this exhibition and special program for teachers. This program will educate children about the Brazilian Amazon region, its people, sustainable livelihoods and the importance of preserving the Amazon ecosystem," said Alcoa Chairman and CEO Alain Belda.

"This teaching project creates awareness of the importance of the Amazon and aims to arouse the interest of teachers and students to discuss the need to preserve this region. The work also offers a better understanding of how the people of the Amazon live and their strategic role in the region's development," said Anna Claudia Agazzi, the producer of the exhibition.

"AmazôniaBrasil is one of the most important exhibitions on this region, and adds to the teaching project the current situation of the Amazon, the vision of the people of the forest, and of those who live there and are working every day to protect it," said Eugênio Scanavino Netto, from Brazil's Health and Happiness Project, the exhibition’s organizer.

Amazônia Brasil Exhibition

The Amazônia Brasil exhibition will take place from April 17 to July 13 in multiple locations in New York City. It is anticipated that 400,000 people will visit the exhibition, which will include an extensive multi-cultural program, with musical artists and crafts-people from the Amazon region, a movie festival, a photographic exhibition, a climate change exhibition, and other activities. The main exhibition will be centered at Pier 17, where Amazônia Brasil will occupy 12,000 square feet of exhibition area, and an Amazonian Village will be constructed.

Amazônia Brasil is an initiative of the Health and Happiness Project and the Amazon Working Group, which represents more than 600 entities from the Brazilian Amazon region. The executive direction is under the responsibility of Fare Arte, sponsorship is by Alcoa and the Alcoa Foundation and support comes from IBM, the American Express Foundation and the Ministries of Culture, Foreign Relations and the Environment. Among the relevant institutions taking part in the event in New York are the World Financial Center, New York University, Central Park, the Smithsonian Institute and the Museum of the American Indian. For more information about the exhibit visit, www.amazoniabrasil.org.br

About Alcoa

Alcoa is the world leader in the production and management of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina combined, through its active and growing participation in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components including flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, Alcoa also markets Alcoa(R) wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building systems. The Company has 97,000 employees in 34 countries and has been named one of the top most sustainable corporations in the world at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com

About Alcoa Foundation

Alcoa Foundation is a separately constituted nonprofit U.S. corporate foundation with assets of approximately $534 million. Its mission is to actively invest in the quality of life in Alcoa (NYSE:AA) communities worldwide. Throughout its history, the Foundation has been a source of positive community change and enhancement, with nearly $437 million invested since 1952. To learn more about Alcoa Foundation, visit www.alcoa.com under Community.

Note to Editors: There should be a circumflex mark over the "o" in "Amazônia" and the second "e" in "Eugênio" above.