NEW YORK - This week, more than 6,000 Alcoa employees in over 150 communities around the world will volunteer their time as part of a first-ever worldwide volunteer event focusing on conservation and sustainability--Taking Action--Alcoa's Worldwide Week of Community Service. Alcoans from more than 20 countries will invest in the environment in their communities with volunteer projects such as:

• Cleaning and painting children's playgrounds in Monterrey, Mexico;
  
• Clearing a trail and providing a natural habitat for a fork of the Appalachian Trail from Tennessee to Virginia, USA;
  
• Presenting environmental education programs in schools and at NGOs in Itapissuma, Brazil;
  
• Working with high school students in Romania to clean the Cris River;
  
• Constructing a sail shade in Anglesea, Australia to protect children at a daycare center from prolonged sun exposure; and
  
• Turning an illegal garbage dump into a beautiful community garden in May Pen, Jamaica.

While Alcoans have been volunteering in their communities for many years, Alcoa's programs that began in the past two years--ACTION (Alcoans Coming Together In Our Neighborhoods) and Bravo!--formally recognize and encourage teams and individual employees with grants to the organizations they serve. In 2002, through these two programs, more than 6,000 Alcoans volunteered in nearly 150 communities around the world, earning more than $1.1 million in Alcoa grants in those communities. Alcoa will also recognize 25 ACTION projects and 25 individual volunteers with additional grants to the organizations they serve.

Taking Action is a capstone to Alcoa Foundation's 50th Anniversary year--November 2002-November 2003. For more information on Alcoa's Taking Action events around the world, visit the Community section of www.alcoa.com under Employee Volunteerism.

About Alcoa

Alcoa is the world's leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina, 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(R) foils and plastic wraps, Alcoa(R) wheels, and Baco(R) household wraps. Among its other businesses are vinyl siding, closures, precision castings, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. The company has 127,000 employees in 40 (39) countries. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.

About Alcoa Foundation

Established in 1952, Alcoa Foundation is a global resource that actively invests in improving the quality of life in more than 29 countries around the world where Alcoa operates. The Foundation's grants address global and local need in Areas of Excellence that include: Conservation and Sustainability, Global Education and Workplace Skills, Business and Community Partnerships and Safe and Healthy Children and Families. Alcoa Foundation manages the ACTION and Bravo! Programs. For more information about Alcoa Foundation, visit www.alcoa.com, under Community.

Alcoa Inc.

Alcoa Inc.

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 129,000 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

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