KPMG’s US literacy programme with First Book enters 2nd year
Last updated 30/11/2008 15:47:07
KPMG’s US literacy programme with First Book
This year 350,000 new books were placed in the hands of children in need under a programme that collaborated US audit, tax and advisory services firm KPMG with non-profit organisation First Book.
The two-year collaboration is committed to improve literacy for "economically disadvantaged children" by contributing $500,000 over this period and First Book's efforts to distribute books across the US.
In the past year KPMG partners, employees, spouses and other family members donated more than 11,000 hours to sort, distribute and read books.
Under this programme an initiative ‘KPMG's Family for Literacy' will see the entire KPMG community of spouses and family, partners and employees, interns, retirees and alumni acting together to fund the purchase of books, conduct reading programs in schools. They will also work with existing literacy programs to provide brand new books supplied by First Book to disadvantaged children in KPMG communities nationwide.
Each KPMG office has a community involvement lead that focuses the firm's volunteer efforts in assisting those in need. "For every child in a middle income home there are on average 13 age appropriate books," said Tim Flynn, KPMG chairman.
He added: "in a community of need there is on average one age appropriate book for every 300 children. With over 350,000 new books now in the hands of children in need, the first year of collaboration with First Book and KPMG's Family for Literacy program has exceeded our expectations."
"KPMG's extensive vision of community participation reaches well into towns and cities across the land and expands on the very idea of corporate responsibility," said First Book president Kyle Zimmer. "With KPMG on board, more children can become readers, which means more readers that can grow up to join the workforce and participate in our democratic society."
source CSRwire