Firms giving back: KPMG donates $100K toward India COVID-19 relief

April 30, 2021 11:42 AM

KPMG US donates $100,000 toward India COVID-19 relief; Mazars USA names its 2021 Giving Theme; Plante Moran helps build California's Homeless Data Integration System; and the VSCPA participates in CEO Action's Day of Understanding.

KPMG

The offices of KPMG in Chicago

Tannen Maury/Bloomberg

Big Four firm KPMG US announced a $100,000 donation to directly support COVID-19 relief efforts in India.

The firm said it will work closely with its Indian colleagues to ensure the donation will support on-the-ground relief as the country battles a large rise in COVID cases.

"Our thoughts are with the people of India and those here in the U.S. who have family and friends there," said Paul Knopp, chair and CEO of KPMG US, in a LinkedIn post. "We will continue to extend support for relief efforts in the country as we stand together with our colleagues and friends."

MAZARS USA

Courtesy of Mazars USA

Top 100 Firm Mazars USA announced its 2021 Giving Theme will be "Supporting First Responders."

First launched in 2018, Mazars' annual Giving Theme involves the firm donating $100,000 to organizations related to the year's particular cause.

“We believe that businesses have a responsibility to be a positive force in their communities and the world," said Mazars chairman and CEO Victor Wahba in a statement. "I’m proud of how our giving efforts have grown over the years. This year we’re privileged to be able to support the brave first responders who commit their lives to helping others.”

Organizations that will receive financial and volunteer support from Mazars include:

NYC Health & Hospitals COVID-19 Relief Efforts;
First Responders Children's Foundation;
Families Behind the Badge Children's Foundation;
Stephen Siller Tunnel Tao Towers Foundation;
Brotherhood for the Fallen;
Chicago Fire Department Foundation;
The Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Sacramento;
Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association - The Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund;
COVID-19 Employee Relief Fund at Frederick Health;
Loma Linda University Health; and
Friends of the Dallas Police.

PLANTE MORAN

Top 20 Firm Plante Moran announced it has helped the state of California build and launch the Homeless Data Integration System, a resource that will provide access to data relevant to the prevention and ending of homelessness.

The Homeless Data Integration System (HDIS) will support the state by eventually providing permanent housing to almost 100,000 Californians experiencing homelessness each year.

“This is a monumental step,” said California business, consumer services and housing agency secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez, who chairs the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council, in a statement. “The partnership with local continuums of care to establish the HDIS warehouse gives the state and local governments greater visibility and a unified view of California’s homelessness response system.

Forty-four regional continuums of care (COCs) collect data on the people they serve and the services they provide according to federal standards set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The integration of this data into the HDIS will establish the first statewide database of homelessness data and streamlines information and analysis.

“Plante Moran is excited to release HDIS, which will help organizations better serve individuals with some of the greatest needs in our community,” said Trevor Brown, management consulting partner at Plante Moran, in a statement. “We believe this initiative will be nationally recognized for its concept and approach to driving data-informed responses that address so many challenges that exist not only in California, but across the United States.”

More information on the HDIS is available here.

VSCPA

The Virginia Society of CPAs recently participated in the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion Day of Understanding, which promotes conversations about topics covering race, gender, sexual orientation and mental health.

The Day of Understanding, now in its third year, sees approximately 2,000 of the CEO Action signatories engage in conversations on diversity and inclusion. The VSCPA's Day of Understanding was held on April 20 and included training from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities on having open and honest communications on DE&I, as well as a session for staff to share personal stories.

“During our first Day of Understanding, our goal was to listen and learn with each other and build a deeper understanding of our unique differences, challenges and experiences,” said VSCPA president and CEO Stephanie Peters in a statement. “We are encouraging all VSCPA members to implement their own Days of Understanding at their organizations to promote open and honest communication among team members to build stronger relationships.”

The VSCPA will also launch Day of Understanding Listening Sessions for its members, offering a series of free, one-hour virtual events featuring the VSCPA and a guest speaker, followed by a Q&A. Sessions will be held monthly starting June 18.

More information on the Day of Understanding and CEO Action pledge is available on CEO Action's site here.