PwC Charitable Foundation Donates $770,000 to Support Higher Education

NEW YORK, May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The PricewaterhouseCoopers Charitable Foundation, Inc., a section 501(c)(3) organization, has announced $770,000 in new funding to support higher education in the United States.  The PricewaterhouseCoopers Charitable Foundation, Inc. makes charitable contributions to the people of PwC in times of financial hardship, and to nonprofit organizations that support and promote humanitarianism and education causes.

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The grants are being awarded through the PwC INQuires program to help domestic colleges and universities incorporate important updates and issues facing the accounting profession into their curricula.  Grants will also help fund diversity initiatives, aimed at increasing the number of diverse students entering the profession, as well as applied research projects conducted by faculty.

"We recognize the critical role that higher education plays in creating opportunities and prosperity," says Mary Ann Cloyd, PwC partner, member of the PwC academic advisory board and president of the PricewaterhouseCoopers Charitable Foundation, Inc.  "Targeted funding of innovative curriculum and programs to bring new talent into the accounting profession will help to create another vibrant group of leaders in business and communities across the country."

Facing mounting debt and budget shortfalls, state and federal funding for higher education has come under increasing pressure.  The latest PricewaterhouseCoopers Charitable Foundation, Inc. grants complement PwC's support for education related causes and help bridge gaps in public funding.  Since 2008, PwC has contributed more than $35 million to colleges, universities and student-focused educational programs.

"The PwC INQuires Program is a great example of how universities and public accounting firms can work together to improve the professional competence of accounting graduates," said Al Talarczyk, accounting professor, University of Wisconsin Madison, and recipient of a PwC INQuires grant.  "The funding will assist in the development of an exciting new corporate tax course in the tax track of the masters program."

"San Jose State University, Department of Accounting & Finance is honored to be a recipient of the 2011 PwC INQuires Grant," said Janis Zaima, Chair of the Department of Accounting and Finance.  "Dr. Ashley Davis will use the grant to revamp the Advanced Accounting Information Systems course in the Master of Science in Accountancy program to focus on IT Audit & Internal Controls. By collaborating with PwC systems and process assurance professionals from the local office, she will incorporate issues that are germane to the accounting practice."

About The PricewaterhouseCoopers Charitable Foundation, Inc.

The PricewaterhouseCoopers Charitable Foundation, Inc. makes charitable contributions to the people of PwC in times of financial hardship, and to nonprofit organizations that support and promote humanitarianism and education causes.

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.

© 2011 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