NEW YORK, June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) today launched Project "Make [responsibility] Count," a two-day community outreach initiative in New Orleans involving 150 partners, staff and college students from across the country to assist in the city's ongoing recovery efforts after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The project supports PwC's larger commitment to responsible leadership in the community by promoting a culture of volunteerism, youth education and leadership development.

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The initiative is being coordinated locally with HandsOn New Orleans and will provide assistance at four locations in the city, each relating to one of the four core pillars of PwC’s Corporate Responsibility commitment: Marketplace, People, Communities and Environment.

Students participating in the program were randomly selected through a nationwide campaign that PwC conducted using Facebook and on-campus events at colleges and universities across the country. One Hundred different schools are represented. The students will be teaming with PwC partners and staff on four projects: revitalizing Oretha Castle Haley (OC Haley) Boulevard; renovating several storm-damaged homes in the Ninth Ward; repairing the exterior of Warren Easton High School, the oldest public high school in New Orleans; and restoring George Washington Carver Park.

"PwC recognizes that college students today are actively looking for an employer whose brand and reputation is synonymous with being a responsible corporate citizen," said Shannon Schuyler, Managing Director for Corporate Responsibility at PricewaterhouseCoopers. "Being a leader is about taking deliberate actions that help to build a sustainable future for our communities, which is why we are committed to a long-term investment in community service efforts in New Orleans that started immediately after Katrina."

Yesterday, Schuyler addressed the plenary session at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in San Francisco. She cited Project "Make [responsibility] Count" as one example of the firm's commitment to provide impactful community service programs. Since 2007, PwC has donated hundreds of hours of service in New Orleans to help rebuild the city after Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, during fiscal year 2008, PwC's partners and staff donated 96,000 service hours to local communities through firm-sponsored community service projects.

PwC also tripled the time dedicated to firm-sponsored community service programs for all 31,000 partners and staff by creating a "Summer of Community Service." This community service program spans the months of May through July. Previously, the program occurred during June and was called the Month of Community Service. Additionally, the firm will continue to provide 10 hours of paid time off for staff to donate their time and skills toward personal causes in the community.

"Today, students are looking at a company's investments in community outreach and sustainability," added Schuyler. "Our CR efforts allow us to give the full picture of the PwC experience -- there are high expectations to deliver superior quality work products, but also to demonstrate responsible leadership by excelling in an inclusive work environment, giving back to our communities, and respecting the environment."

To learn more about PricewaterhouseCoopers and the firm’s Corporate Responsibility efforts, please visit pwc.com/us/CorporateResponsibility.

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PricewaterhouseCoopers (www.pwc.com) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 155,000 people in 153 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice.

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(C)2009 PricewaterhouseCoopers. All rights reserved.

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PricewaterhouseCoopers

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 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 and independent legal entity.

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