4.23.2007 - 04:39pm ET

(CSRwire) PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcoa (NYSE:AA) and Alcoa Foundation, the second largest corporate foundation in the United States, announced that total combined giving in 2006 was a record $42.3 million, up from $39.9 million in 2005 and $28.8 million in 2004.

Highlights of 2006:

Alcoa Foundation made 950 grants totaling $26 million to 1,299 organizations in more than 32 countries during 2006, including investments in new Alcoa communities around the globe such as Iceland and Ghana.

A strengthened focus on employee volunteering, including a global "Month of Service" which involved thousands of Alcoa volunteers at more than 657 events in more than 200 communities in 36 countries (up from 340events and 27 countries in 2005).

Over the year, Alcoa employees volunteered more than 500,000 hours of service to community organizations. This earned non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in 28 countries over $3 million in grants under Alcoa's employee engagement programs.

Alcoa Foundation's $8.6 million Conservation and Sustainability Fellowship Program is a six- year program to advance knowledge and support exemplary work in the field of conservation and sustainability through fellowships to outstanding academics and practitioners from NGOs around the world. The program is supporting research by approximately 30 academic and 60 practitioner fellows.

Launch of Alcoa Foundation’s Global Conservation & Sustainability Network at the first Advancing Sustainability worldwide conference in Brussels. This brought together 140 NGO partners, government officials, diplomatic and business representatives, and Alcoa Foundation fellows--future leaders in sustainability.

Sponsorship of Art in America: 300 Years of Innovation, the first survey of American art ever to be presented in the People’s Republic of China--featuring approximately 130 important works. Organized by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation (New York) in partnership with the Terra Foundation for America Art (Chicago), the exhibit will travel to Russia and Spain during 2007.

Increased focus on programs to foster science, math, and environmental education in students from kindergarten through grade 12 and post-secondary level in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia, Tennessee, Illinois, New York, Texas, California, and Ohio.

Continued Focus on Conservation and Sustainability
In keeping with Alcoa’s corporate leadership in sustainability and conservation, Alcoa Foundation developed partnerships with international organizations with proven track records in addressing global issues in sustainability (economic, environmental, and social):

The Nature Conservancy– $775,000 in multi-year grants for significant conservation projects in the United States, China, and Australia.

World Resources Institute (WRI)– A $1.12 million three-year grant for programs in global climate change, sustainable mobility, and enterprise and community development--key areas where sustainable solutions can reverse harmful global environmental trends. Activities will be implemented in the United States, China, Brazil, and Mexico.

Conservation International (CI)– $1.15 million for projects in Brazil (forest conservation) and China (freshwater conservation planning and accelerating community ecosystem education programs) and the Business and Biodiversity Offsets Program (BBOP) that focuses on potential habitat loss and its effect on biodiversity

World Wildlife Fund (WWF)– A $400,000 multi-year grant for continuation of the Education for Nature (EFN) program with communities and stakeholders from the Yangtze River Basin and in Yunnan Province of China.

Sustainability projects in Russia- $226,000 to support environmental education and non-governmental organization capacity-building.

Community Investments Expand Around the Globe
Alcoa's expanding global footprint has created new communities and partners, and new opportunities to extend our corporate philanthropy. Examples of 2006 investments in new Alcoa communities:

Juruti Region of Brazil: Two projects with the Instituto de Cidadania Empresarial and Conservation International-Brazil will improve the livelihoods of citizens and safeguard the area’s biodiversity.

Iceland: Funding will modernize and update the local hospital in East Iceland, the location of Alcoa’s new smelter scheduled to begin production this month.

Ghana: Construction of a youth health center will improve access to health care and provide vocational training.

Guinea: Drilling and installation of wells to provide a permanent water supply to 10 villages.

Employee Engagement
Alcoa's first Worldwide Month of Service in October 2006 involved more than 14,000 employees in 657 events at more than 200 locations in 36 countries. More than 6,500 employees participated for the first time and the number of events nearly doubled from 2005, including locations in Bahrain, Egypt, Guinea, Honduras, Iceland, India, Ireland, Nepal, and South Korea.

Signature events--such as Australia National Safety Day, Canada St. Lawrence River Cleanup, and the Switzerland Lake Geneva cleanup--were coordinated nationally or regionally with other community partners to increase the overall impact. More than 100 events were dedicated to environmental restoration, rehabilitation, and education, and more than 125 events focused on improving health and safety in local communities.

In 2006, Alcoa employees volunteered close to 500,000 hours of community service through the ACTION (Alcoans Coming Together In Our Neighborhoods) and Bravo! Programs, with grants of $3.1 million to the nonprofits and NGOs they served.

Positive Community Change
Now entering its 55th year, Alcoa Foundation has invested nearly $437 million since its inception in 1952. "While our scope has grown dramatically over the years, our goal has remained steadfast," said Chairman and CEO Alain Belda. "The greatest value we bring is the ability to make a lasting difference in our communities--through commitment, volunteerism, and sustainable partnerships. There is no better testament to a company's values than to improve the lives of our fellow citizens."

About Alcoa
Alcoa (NYSE:AA) is the world's leading producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, and is active 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, Alcoa also markets consumer brands including Reynolds Wrap® foils and plastic wraps, Alcoa® wheels, and Baco® household wraps. Among its other businesses are closures, fastening systems, precision castings, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. The company has 122,000 employees in 44 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 communities worldwide. Throughout its history, the Foundation has been a source of positive community change and enhancement, with nearly $437 million invested since 1952.

The Foundation's grants address global and local needs in over 30 countries by partnering with Alcoa communities around the world to make a difference. Global and local grantmaking is responsive to the needs and aspirations of Alcoa communities and marshals the combined expertise, energies, and values of Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation to provide a world-class standard of excellence in corporate citizenship.

In 2006, Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation invested a combined total of $42.3 million in community programs in 32 countries, focusing on four areas of excellence: conservation and sustainability, global education and workplace skills, business and community partnerships, and safe and healthy children and families. Alcoa Foundation manages the Alcoa employee volunteer programs ACTION and Bravo! For more information, visit www.alcoa.com, under Community.