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Press Releases & Updates

27 FEB 2012

State Street to sponsor Oxfam’s popular Trailwalker and Trailtrekker events

Oxfam and State Street Corporation had announced that State Street will become the first Global Sponsor of Oxfam’s popular Oxfam Trailwalker and Oxfam Trailtrekker endurance events around the world. More than 22,000 people will participate in 15 events this year in 12 countries. The events will raise about $18m (in USD) (approximate to HK$ 140 million) for Oxfam’s international development and humanitarian work.

Oxfam Trailwalker was originally conceived as a military training exercise by Gurkhas based in Hong Kong. It is now widely considered one of the world’s toughest charity team challenges, requiring people to walk the 100km as a team of four in under 48 hours, in all weather and some tough terrain.

The announcement comes at a ceremony in Hong Kong marking 30 years of Oxfam Trailwalker events around in the world.

Oxfam International Executive Director Jeremy Hobbs said the partnership would make a very important contribution to Oxfam’s work.

“We’re delighted that State Street has come on board as the first Global Sponsor of our Oxfam Trailwalker and Oxfam Trailtrekker events,” Mr Hobbs said. “State Street’s long-term commitment to sponsor Oxfam Trailwalker and Trailtrekker events is going to make a real difference to our work to help people overcome poverty and injustice worldwide.”

State Street Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Citizenship George A. Russell Jr. said the announcement builds on a long history of partnership between Oxfam and State Street.

“State Street sponsored its first Trailwalker event in Hong Kong in 1999, and since then our employees and clients have embraced this event in our communities around the world,” Mr. Russell said.  We are proud to support Oxfam’s mission to combat poverty and improve the lives of the disadvantaged through these signature events, which are aligned closely with State Street’s values – Global Force Local Citizen, Stronger Together and Always Finding Better Ways.”

The inaugural Oxfam Trailwalker India this month means that Oxfam now stages this event in 12 countries. The trails go through some spectacular locations including mountains surrounding Barcelona, rugged Australian bush, and through a volcanically active national park in Japan, finishing at the foot of Mt. Fuji.

Dates of Oxfam Trailwalker events in 2012:
February 10 – 12: Oxfam India (Bangalore)
March 31 – April 1: Oxfam New Zealand
April 20 – 22 : Oxfam Australia (Melbourne)
May 5 – 6: Intermón Oxfam (Spain)
May 11 – 13 : Oxfam Japan
May 26 – 27: Oxfam GB (North)
June 15 – 17: Oxfam Australia (Brisbane)
July 13 – 15: Oxfam Canada
July 14 – 15 : Oxfam GB (South)
August 25 – 26: Oxfam Solidarity in Belgium
August 26 – 28: Oxfam Australia (Sydney)
September 1 – 2: Oxfam Ireland
September 8 – 9: Oxfam Germany
November 16 – 18: Oxfam Hong Kong

About the announcement ceremony:
Oxfam Trailwalker 2011 Prize Presentation, officiated by Mr. Bernard Chan, Chair of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee, was held on 24 February. Souvenirs, fundraising prizes and speed awards, as well as the “State Street Overcoming the Odds Award” were presented by to all the event sponsors, supporting organisations and Oxfam Trailwalker participants.

The Oxfam Trailwalker in Hong will be held on 16-18 November this year. Walkers in teams of four will take up the 100km challenge aiming to finish within 48 hours. The Start Point is at Pak Tam Chung in Sai Kung and the Finish Point is at Po Leung Kuk Jockey Club Tai Tong Holiday Camp in Yuen Long.

About State Street Corporation
State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) is one of the world's leading providers of financial services to institutional investors including investment servicing, investment management and investment research and trading. With $21.8 trillion in assets under custody and administration and $1.9 trillion* in assets under management at December 31, 2011, State Street operates in 29 countries and more than 100 geographic markets. For more information, visit State Street’s web site at www.statestreet.com.
*This AUM includes the assets of the SPDR Gold Trust (approx. $63 billion as of December 31, 2011), for which State Street Global Markets, LLC, an affiliate of State Street Global Advisors serves as the marketing agent.

-ENDS-

Related captions:
1. Mr. Bernard Chan (left), Chair of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee and Mr Herman, Chairperson of Community Support Program Hong Kong of State Street Corporation was sticking the logos of Oxfam and State Street Corporation respectively onto the map representing that State Street Corporation will become the first Global Sponsor of Oxfam Trailwalker and Oxfam Trailtrekker.

2. Mr. Bernard Chan (left), Chair of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee, Mr Herman Tse (2nd from right), Chairperson of Community Support Program Hong Kong of State Street Corporation and Mr. Richard Pearl, Vice President, Regional Head of Corporate Citizenship were celebrating after the announcement ceremony.

About Oxfam:
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organisations working together in over 90 countries and with partners and allies around the world to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice.We work directly with communities and we seek to influence the powerful to ensure that poor people can improve their lives and livelihoods and have a say in decisions that affect them.