KPMG Announces Nationwide Community Service Campaign at More Than 200 Non-Profits to Mark 9/11 Anniversary

NEW YORK, Sept. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, announced today that it has launched a nationwide employee volunteer campaign, titled "Service in Remembrance," to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11.  

As part of the "Service in Remembrance" campaign, taking place from September 6-11, thousands of KPMG partners and employees will volunteer at more than 200 non-profits across the country.

"We look forward to being a part of something extraordinary, as the KPMG family proudly joins millions of Americans in support of the National Day of Service," said KPMG LLP Chairman and CEO John Veihmeyer.

"One of the lasting legacies of 9/11 was the way people came together to support those in need through service – and our people across the country will honor the victims and heroes of 9/11 by volunteering in the communities in which we live and work on this 10th anniversary,"  Veihmeyer said.

All members of KPMG's U.S. firm have been provided with "volunteer time off" for participation in service projects, in addition to the 12 hours of volunteer time KPMG grants each person annually. KPMG's 85 offices across the country identified more than 200 local non-profits to support for the "Service in Remembrance" initiative. KPMG partners and employees also have the option of volunteering at the non-profit of their choice.

KPMG Volunteers at 200 Non-Profits

From Sept. 6-11, for example, KPMG will be leading significant volunteer initiatives for non-profits across the country, including Phoebe Hearst Elementary School in Chicago; A Million Thanks in Houston; Back To School Clothing & Supply Drives in Princeton and Short Hills, New Jersey; the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Washington, DC; and Meals on Wheels and New York Cares in New York.

"Our firm has a rich history of volunteerism in our communities, and our efforts to commemorate 9/11 will build upon that strong record," said KPMG Deputy Chairman and COO Henry Keizer.  "Supporting communities and worthy causes is part of the fabric of KPMG.  We are committed to giving back to our communities and we look forward to making a positive impact through our "Service in Remembrance" volunteer campaign."

KPMG Supports Flag Tour

Through grassroots fundraising efforts and firm contributions, KPMG has given more than $1 million to help fund the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero in New York and contributed to the Pentagon Memorial. Additionally, KPMG is a national corporate partner of the New York Says Thank You Foundation's National 9/11 Flag Tour, a grassroots restoration and nationwide display of The National 9/11 Flag, the tattered flag rescued from Ground Zero.

On Sept. 9, 30 KPMG employees are headed to Joplin, Missouri, to take part in the flag tour's final 10th anniversary commemoration, which pays tribute to the people impacted by tornado devastation in May.  Before the flag occupies its permanent home in the 9/11 Memorial, hundreds of KPMG partners and employees will have joined local service heroes at 36 locations nationwide to donate time and support to restore the torn and tattered flag rescued from Ground Zero in lower Manhattan.  

KPMG Volunteer Outreach

Beyond KPMG's 9/11 program, the firm's employees are generous in giving their time to hundreds of other organizations through the firm's "Involve" volunteer program. In 2010, KPMG partners and employees donated 151,000 hours of community service.

Of note, thousands of its employees and their family members and friends have volunteered to read to children as part of the firm's Family for Literacy program, a core focus of KPMG's corporate responsibility agenda.  Launched four years ago, through its collaboration with First Book, an award winning non-profit organization, KPMG has given nearly 1,600,000 books to children to make an impact on the literacy crisis in the United States.

"Service in Remembrance" and the personal engagement of our people are examples of KPMG's core values and our understanding of the crucial relationship between businesses and society in creating a sustainable future," said Kathy Hannan, KPMG national managing partner, diversity and corporate responsibility.

The firm also recently announced that it has teamed with The National Academy Foundation in a move to strengthen high school accounting education at NAF's Academies of Finance nationwide. Through this collaboration, in addition to a substantial cash contribution to NAF by the KPMG Foundation, KPMG partners and professionals will assist NAF in updating its accounting curriculum and interact directly with students through work-based learning experiences, such as job shadowing, mock interviews, guest speaking, and resume/portfolio reviews.

About KPMG LLP

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm (www.us.kpmg.com), is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International").  KPMG International's member firms have 138,000 professionals, including more than 7,900 partners, in 150 countries.

Contact:
George Ledwith
KPMG LLP
(201) 307-8498
[email protected]  

Megan Dubrowski
KPMG LLP
(201) 307-8237
[email protected]  

SOURCE KPMG LLP