Ernst & Young LLP Makes Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Youth through Expansion of College Mentoring for Access and Persistence Program

DENVER, June 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Ernst & Young LLP announced its involvement in a new multi-stakeholder Clinton Global Initiative America (CGI America) commitment to accelerating the access to and the creation of employment pathways for at-risk youth yesterday at CGI America.

5.8 million Americans ages 16 to 24 are disconnected from opportunities that can prepare them for economic self-sufficiency and full-time employment. The goal of this commitment is to reconnect "Opportunity Youth" to meaningful pathways that lead to employment.

To address this gap, the firm has made a three-year commitment to expand its existing College MAP (Mentoring for Access and Persistence) program to four additional schools each year to impact a total of more than 1,100 students at 35 schools across the United States, when including existing College MAP sites. The program was launched in 2009 with the non-profit College for Every Student (CFES). Since then, 675 EY professionals have provided mentoring and support to underserved students as they pursue the dream of higher education. The program helps students navigate the application and financial aid process, provides access to resources, and exposes them to the benefits of higher education. Ernst & Young LLP also will launch the College MAP Collegian program to support college students who have completed the College MAP program during their high school years. The goal of this component is to make certain that once students enter the pipeline of higher education, they are able to thrive and complete college. This commitment is valued at more than $1 million per year.

Additionally, the firm will work with MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership -- an organization  that gives voice to the youth mentoring movement through policy and advocacy efforts, sets standards to ensure mentoring is safe and effective, and works to connect more youth to mentors -- to develop a white paper on best practice in corporate involvement in youth mentoring in the United States.

Mark Weinberger, Chairman and CEO of the Global EY organization, comments: "EY's purpose is to build a better working world. Ensuring today's young people have the opportunities to develop the skills needed in today's job market is critical to the nation's future. Using the passion of our people to mentor underserved youth and expand access to higher education is one of the ways we're fulfilling our purpose."

Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton is prioritizing youth employment as one of the key issues for her work at the Clinton Foundation, and believes that business-led initiatives will play a critical role in addressing this important economic challenge.  The Clinton Foundation is working closely with businesses and leading nonprofits, economists, and advocates across the country to identify and scale effective ways for companies to address their core business needs through engaging our nation's opportunity youth. At the 2014 CGI America meeting, Secretary Clinton announced Job One, a major set of commitments - including EY's - focused on improving job pathways for youth in the United States.

"Six years after the financial crisis, nearly six million young people in the United States are out of school and out of work. And for those who do not earn a high school or college degree, the doors are closed, no matter how hard they knock," said Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. "EY will expand its intensive college mentorship program for high school juniors and seniors to new American cities and extend its mentoring efforts to follow students through their college careers so they graduate on time and have a chance for meaningful jobs."

Today's commitment is the ninth that EY has made with CGI since 2008, including:

• In 2008, EY pledged to provide $1 million in pro bono services to Kiva, the world's first and largest microfinance organization aimed at connecting people through lending money to alleviate poverty.
• In 2011, EY became a founding member of Third Billion Campaign -- a global organization of corporations, government leaders and NGOs dedicated to advancing economic opportunities for women worldwide.
• In 2013, EY, in conjunction with WEConnect, Vital Voices and other leading businesses and non-profits, committed to increase the spend on women-owned businesses in their supply chains and to support the development of women-owned businesses.

To read about the 2013-2014 school year expansion of College MAP and to learn more about the program, please visit: http://www.ey.com/US/en/Newsroom/News-releases/news-EY-expands-college-map-program--to-10-more-schools

To learn more about EY's Corporate Responsibility efforts, please visit: http://www.ey.com/US/en/About-us/Corporate-Responsibility

For future updates around EY's commitment to youth employment please visit: www.ey.com/youthjobcreation.

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a member firm of EY serving clients in the US.

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)

The Clinton Global Initiative America (CGI America), a program of the Clinton Global Initiative, addresses economic recovery in the United States. Established in June 2011 by President Bill Clinton, CGI America brings together leaders in business, government, and civil society to generate and implement commitments to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, foster innovation, and support workforce development in the United States. Since its first meeting, CGI America participants have made over 300 commitments valued at more than $15 billion when fully funded and implemented. To learn more, visit cgiamerica.org.

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), an initiative of the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, convenes global leaders year-round and at its Annual Meeting to create and implement solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. CGI also convenes CGI University, which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their communities and around the world. To date, members of the CGI community have made more than 2,800 Commitments to Action, which are already improving the lives of more than 430 million people in over 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at $103 billion. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.

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