PwC Wins U.S. Chamber's Corporate Citizenship Award for its Commitment to Community Service

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Dec 02, 2010, 03:00 ET

NEW YORK, Dec. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) awarded PwC US the 2010 Corporate Citizenship Award in the category of U.S. Community Service for its longstanding commitment to advancing youth education and developing leadership through community service. PwC was one of five finalists and shared the award with Navistar Diesel of Alabama.

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The Corporate Citizenship Awards have been presented every year since 2000 and are the Nation's premier recognition for companies that demonstrate a commitment to corporate responsibility and community service.

"It's an honor to receive this kind of recognition for our commitment to making a difference by giving back to our communities," said Bob Moritz, Chairman and Senior Partner, PwC US. "At PwC, we focus our volunteer efforts to help strengthen communities and fill gaps in our education system, which we believe are necessary for the US to remain competitive in a global economy."

Throughout the year PwC employees have numerous opportunities to volunteer through firm-sponsored activities, which include:

Summer of Community Service: An annual three-month initiative giving PwC's 30,000 U.S. partners and staff multiple opportunities to give back to communities nationwide. These projects include volunteering with local Boys & Girls Clubs of America, painting classrooms in underserved neighborhoods, collecting food for neighborhood food pantries and tutoring young students as part of a YMCA after-school program. Last year, PwC employees raised $145,000, volunteered in 165 projects, donated 53,400 work hours and impacted almost 70,000 children. In addition to opportunities to volunteer on behalf of the firm, and to promote the spirit of volunteerism, each employee gets 10 additional hours of paid-time-off each year to use for personal service efforts.

Project Make [it] Count: A Firm-sponsored challenge to help local communities, Project Make [it] Count has awarded more than 40 employees $450 each over the past two years. Despite a limited budget, employees are able to stretch those dollars and develop meaningful projects in their hometowns. Employees have touched hundreds of people through their innovative efforts. Examples include creating an environmental program at a local high school in Boston, teaching high school students basic investment concepts in Portland, and sponsoring a career exploration group for middle school girls in Washington D.C.

Impact program: A unique education community initiative that allows PwC employees to guide junior and senior African American students through the rigorous college application process. More than 300 talented African-American high school students from six states have completed the program and gained admission to some of the nation's premiere colleges and universities.

Holiday Giving Campaign: In lieu of 2008 and 2009 holiday parties, PwC donated a total of $1.55 million to more than 300 charitable organizations and gave its people the opportunity to volunteer in their communities across the U.S. Select 2009 initiatives included a donation and holiday celebration with Women's Care Cottage in Los Angeles, a volunteer event for more than 400 homeless and formerly homeless families including meals and toys for every child who attended, and a gift-wrapping event for children at Stofford Home and Operation Breakthrough in Kansas City.

"Encouraging our people to demonstrate leadership by making a difference in our communities is a fundamental value at PwC," said Shannon Schuyler, corporate responsibility leader for PwC. "By providing them with the resources and tools, we can harness the power of our 30,000 people in a way that will have the biggest impact."

PwC has been recognized for creating strategic programs that leverage service to advance youth education and develop future leaders in communities. PwC's service initiative is built into the firm's overall corporate responsibility commitment, which guides PwC's efforts and impacts how the firm serves its community and clients, behaves ethically in the marketplace, supports diversity and development among employees, and creates a healthier environment.

"Over the years, PwC has been an exemplary corporate citizen in a variety of ways," said U.S. Chamber BCLC Executive Director Stephen Jordan. "We are pleased that the 2010 Corporate Citizenship Award recognizes their work on youth education – the latest in the company's long track record of making a difference where they operate."

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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" refers 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 and independent legal entity.

SOURCE PwC