HispanicBusiness

Foundation to match fundraising funds up to $125,000 during the next three years



(From left to right)CRLA Executive Director Jose R. Padilla; Union Bank of California senior vice president Maria Gallo; and Union Bank of California senior vice president George Ramirez

Los Angeles, CA--(HISPANIC PR WIRE-BUSINESS WIRE)--March 9, 2006--The Union Bank of California foundation presented the California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) with a check for $125,000 as part of a three-year program in which the Foundation will match funds raised by CRLA as part of its 40th anniversary fundraising campaign.

Funds from the campaign will support CRLA’s work to ensure safe, affordable and habitable housing for low-income rural populations. These efforts include outreach, education, counseling and legal assistance for housing related services.

“The people from the rural populations throughout the state are in desperate need of legal representation in the classrooms, in the fields and in the legislative rooms of California,” said George Ramirez, market president for Union Bank. “Our grant to CRLA fills a vital need in these communities, and we are pleased that it will help CRLA continue providing these valuable services.”

The check was presented during CRLA’s third annual awards reception held last week in Beverly Hills. At the event, CRLA honored Carlos and Deborah Santana and their charitable organization, The Milagro Foundation, founded in 1998 to benefit underrepresented and underprivileged children around the world.

Based in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation (NYSE:UB) is a bank holding company with assets of $49.4 billion at December 31, 2005. Its primary subsidiary, Union Bank of California, N.A., had 315 banking offices in California, three in Washington, and one in Oregon at December 31, 2005. The company's Web site is located at http://www.uboc.com.

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