PwC Announces $500,000 Contribution to Michigan State University Accounting Program in Memory of Al Arens

Gift will provide resources for introductory accounting education; PwC has given more than $30 million to support colleges and universities since 2008

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Dec 09, 2010, 12:11 ET

NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- PwC US is contributing $500,000 over five years to the Michigan State University Accounting and Information Systems department in the Eli Broad College of Business. The gift to the Al Arens Teaching Excellence Fund will help provide teaching assistants and other resources for introductory accounting classes. Arens, the former PwC Endowed Professor at Michigan State, taught such classes for 40 years and dedicated his professional life to helping students. Arens recently passed away after a long battle with illness and the funds are being donated in his memory by PwC partners and staff, with matching gifts also provided by the PwC Academic Foundation.

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Since 2008, PwC has supported colleges and universities - and the students they educate - with

more than $30 million in funding. The funds have been used for a variety of curriculum enrichment initiatives, such as the incorporation of IFRS into curriculum, faculty learning programs and student case competitions that provide real-world accounting experience. The gift to Michigan State will enable accounting students at the school to receive more personalized instruction in their introductory classes.

"Al Arens dedicated himself to his students and to preparing them for success and leadership in the accounting profession," said Mike Burwell, PwC US Operations Leader, Chief Financial Officer and recent recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award from MSU. "Al was a role model to countless students, a friend to our firm and an ambassador for the profession. There's no better way to honor his memory than to support the sustainability of the programs that he helped build."

"Al was an educator, scholar, philanthropist and a gentleman who had a profound impact on auditing in the United States and around the globe. He will be missed, but in part through PwC's generosity, we'll be able to continue providing the personalized instruction and resources that Al knew were needed to educate and develop tomorrow's accounting professionals," said Sanjay Gupta, Russell Palmer Endowed Professor and Chairperson, Michigan State University Department of Accounting and Information Systems. "We look forward to continued collaboration with PwC.

As one of the largest employers of college graduates in the United States, PwC continues to invest in education and talent development. Beyond financial support for universities, PwC provides a number of resources to help college students launch and develop their careers. For example, the firm recently collaborated with LinkedIn to launch Career Explorer, a tool enabling students to chart potential career paths, build a professional network and gain insights into careers of interest. PwC also created Personal Brand Week to help students articulate their unique qualities and differentiate themselves in the job market. For more information, visit "Career Corner" at www.pwc.tv.

About the PwC Network

PwC firms provide industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to enhance value for their clients. More than 161,000 people in 154 countries in firms across the PwC network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice. See www.pwc.com for more information.

© 2010 PwC. All rights reserved. "PwC" and "PwC US" refer to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership, which is a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each member firm of which is a separate legal entity.

SOURCE PwC