Ernst & Young LLP Joins Forces With U.S. State Department to Provide E-Mentors for Entrepreneurs Around the World

NEW YORK, May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Ernst & Young LLP has joined the U.S. State Department's new E-Mentor Corps, a program designed to provide mentorship to entrepreneurs around the world.  U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Ernst & Young LLP's participation in the program during the closing remarks of the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship on April 27 in Washington, D.C. The E-Mentor Corps is part of the Obama Administration's larger Global Entrepreneurship Program, an initiative designed to provide concrete support to new entrepreneurs.

Studies indicate that mentorship is vital to entrepreneurs' ability to be successful. The E-Mentor Corps will help to provide mentorship and in the process advance entrepreneurship, innovation and economic opportunity around the world.

"We are proud to be a part of the new E-Mentor Corps," said Maria Pinelli, Ernst & Young's Americas Director, Strategic Growth Markets.  "We work very closely with the entrepreneurial community and strongly believe in their power to reshape society for the better.  In these times, supporting entrepreneurship and innovation is more important than ever."

Excerpts from Secretary Clinton's remarks on the new E-Mentor Corps:

"I'm pleased to announce the launch of a new effort to expand access to mentors for aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs. We're calling it the e-Mentor Corps. Mentors provide invaluable support and advice, but for too many entrepreneurs, good mentors are hard to find. You may be doing something that nobody else you know has ever attempted before. Through the e-Mentor Corps, an entrepreneur seeking a mentor can go online and find a person with the expertise they need on everything from securing financing to writing a business plan."

"Several private sector groups have pledged to supply mentors from their global networks, including Intel, Ernst & Young, the Kauffman Foundation, Endeavor, TechWadi, the Young Presidents' Organization, and Babson College. The State Department has worked with several existing groups to create and develop online portals for the e-Mentor Corps. And in the days ahead, we will post links to those sites on the State Department homepage."

For the E-Mentor Corps, Ernst & Young LLP will tap into the expertise and passion of its broad network of successful entrepreneurs who have been finalists, winners, or judges in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® program. For more information, visit www.ey.com/us/eoy.

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 144,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

About Ernst & Young's Strategic Growth Markets Practice

The Strategic Growth Markets (SGM) practice guides high-growth companies to market leadership worldwide. Our multidisciplinary teams of dedicated professionals provide perspective, advice, and insights to help our clients accelerate their growth. Ernst & Young is the undisputed leader in guiding Russell 2000® companies, IPO-bound companies and Forbes' largest private companies. SGM delivers assurance, advisory, tax and transaction advisory services to thousands of companies in numerous, selected industries.

About Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year®

Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the unique way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.

For more information, please visit www.ey.com.

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This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.

SOURCE Ernst & Young LLP