Sovereign-Santander and Fernando Alonso - Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 Driver, Ring NYSE Closing Bell to Commemorate Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Jorge Moran, President & CEO of Sovereign Bank, and Santander U.S. Country Head today joined with Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari Driver, to ring The Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to highlight their support of the American Red Cross Hurricane disaster relief efforts.  Sovereign-Santander donated $250,000 to the American Red Cross to help those who have suffered as a result of the storm and will match up to $500,000 for all donations made in Sovereign-Santander branches by team members and clients of the bank.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121120/PH17351 )

"Our hearts go out to those who have suffered from the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy," said Moran, who toured this morning the effects of the Hurricane in the Barrier Islands of New Jersey as well as last week in Staten Island, New York.  "We are grateful for the opportunity to support the American Red Cross as they bring relief to the victims of this natural disaster, and we are honored to be here in New York to further support these efforts."

Over the weekend in Austin, Texas, Ferrari North America auctioned off a F12 Berlinetta to raise money for Hurricane Sandy relief to benefit the American Red Cross.  The Berlinetta is the fastest and most powerful production car ever launched by Ferrari, and officially goes on sale in the second quarter of 2013.

Following the 4:00 p.m. bell ringing, Moran presented Josh Lockwood, CEO of American Red Cross of Greater New York Area with a $250,000 donation to the Red Cross Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund.  Sovereign-Santander also announced that through Santander's relationship with Scuderia Ferrari and Fernando Alonso they will be auctioning off Fernando's signed helmet online next week with all proceeds being donated to the American Red Cross.

"These donations are part of our commitment to helping those in need in the communities throughout Sovereign-Santander's footprint and beyond," said Moran.  We hope these donations will help bring life back to normal for so many people", said Moran.

Sovereign-Santander team members impacted by Hurricane Sandy as well as local business and community leaders were honored at an event following the ringing of the bell to thank them for their tireless support to restore the communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

To see video of Jorge Moran, President & CEO of Sovereign Bank, and Santander U.S. Country Head with Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari Driver, ringing The Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), please click on the following link:

http://exchanges.nyx.com/node/4772 

About Scuderia Ferrari

Ferrari is the only constructor to have competed in every single edition of the World Drivers' Championship (commonly known as Formula 1) since its creation in 1950.  For many years now it has also been the only team to build every part of its single-seaters in-house: chassis, engine, gearbox, suspension.  By the end of 2011, Ferrari had won a total of 15 Drivers' and 16 Constructors' titles.  It also holds the record for the greatest number of wins (219), pole positions (207) and fastest laps (228).  A total of 71 drivers have driven officially for Ferrari in Formula 1, 37 of whom have won at least one Grand Prix.  It should be pointed out that the World Constructors' title was only established in 1958.  Had it been created in the same year as the Drivers' title, Ferrari would have won it in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1956 too.

About Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso was born in Oviedo on 29^th July 1981.  His father had dreamed as a child of racing karts and he tried to instill this passion in his eldest daughter, Lorena, who at the age of eight tried her hand in a kart built by her father.  It was not a great success, so it was time for little Fernando to have a go at the tender age of three.

Thus began a career that would lead to the Formula 1 World Championship Titles in 2005 and 2006.

He began to make his mark at an international level: third in the '95 World Championship and first the following year.  In 1997, the young Spaniard took the titles in his home country and in Italy in the Inter-A category: he took the former title again in 1998, when he also came second in the European championship.  This performance earned him a seat in the Formula Nissan Campos team and won the championship the first time out. 

On the 13^th of December 1999, at Jerez, the Minardi team gave Fernando his first taste of driving a Formula 1 car.  In 2002, his manager, Flavio Friatore, secured him the role of test driver for Renault, which would prove useful experience.  In 2004, he took his first title in 2005, with one round remaining, after a duel with Kimi Raikkonen's McLaren, winning seven races on the way.  He did the double months later, again in Brazil, but this time battling a rival by the name of Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari.  In 2007, his move to McLaren ended prematurely.  Fernando won four Grands Prix, with the title going down to a three-way battle with teammate Hamilton and eventual winner Raikkonen in the Ferrari.  Fernando's second stint at Renault was not so successful.  After a difficult start, 2008 ended with two good wins in Singapore and Fuji, while 2009 was a barren year in which he finished ninth in the championship.

September 30, 2009 marks the date that Alonso announced his move to Ferrari.  In his debut season with Ferrari, Alonso finished ten times on the podium, including five wins.  At the final round in Abu Dhabi he missed out on the Driver's title by the smallest of margins.

In 2011, the Spaniard drove his second season with Scuderia Ferrari, finishing fourth in the Drivers' championship, with ten podiums and one win in the British Grand Prix to his name, a win that came 60 years after the Scuderia's maiden Formula 1 victory, taken by Jose Froilan Gonzalez.

Alonso is now heading into the last race of the 2012 season in Sao Paulo, Brazil where he will battle with Sebastian Vettel for the World Championship.

About Santander Holdings USA, Sovereign Bank and Banco Santander

Santander Holdings USA, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Banco Santander, S.A., and parent company of Sovereign Bank, N.A. Banco Santander is a retail and commercial global bank, with a presence in 10 main markets: U.S., Germany, UK, Poland, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Spain and Portugal.  Founded in 1857, Santander has more than 102 million customers, approximately 14,500 branches – more than any other international bank – and 188,000 employees.  Santander was recently recognized as the Best Global Bank in 2012 by Euromoney magazine.  For more information on Santander, visit http://www.santander.com.

Sovereign Bank, N.A. is among the top 25 banks in the United States with principal presence in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.  Sovereign has 721 branches, 2,195 ATMs and over 8,800 team members.  Sovereign Bank's principal regulator is the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).  Sovereign Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank System and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC").  For more information on Sovereign Bank, visit http://www.sovereignbank.com or call 877-SOV-BANK.

SOURCE Sovereign Bank