Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu launched its inaugural Corporate Responsibility (www.deloitte.com/2009crreport) Report today, in conjunction with the 2009 Annual Review (www.deloitte.com/annualreview). The report details Deloitte's corporate responsibility agenda, including its commitments to solving global challenges, community investment programs, and environmental sustainability practices.

"Deloitte's corporate responsibility agenda contributes to the long-term success of the member firms. Commitment in this area is key to attracting and retaining people-allowing them opportunities to solve challenges facing their communities and the world," said John Connolly, Chairman of the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Board of Directors and the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Corporate Responsibility Council. "By showcasing the organization's accomplishments and aspirations, the corporate responsibility report marks Deloitte's progress and raises the bar for performance."

The report also announces Deloitte's focused global commitment to education and skills building, known as Deloitte21. Deloitte21 is a global advocacy and collective action initiative aimed at driving innovation in education to better prepare underserved young people for success in the 21st-century economy. The initiative will concentrate on arming students with the skills that are most sought after and relevant to the world today, such as leadership, ethics, problem solving, financial literacy, technology, global awareness, and others.

"We believe that conventional education is in need of improvement to adequately prepare young people for success and achievement in the 21st-century economy, and Deloitte is in a position to help," Mr. Connolly said. "Through Deloitte21, Deloitte professionals can apply their intellectual capital, professional skills, and experience to support innovative programs that are achieving success in developing young people’s talents and skills."

Many Deloitte firms already support education and skills-building initiatives in their local communities. For example, Deloitte Southern Africa offers employability training programs to assist university graduates in becoming ready for the workplace. Partners and other employees at Deloitte Germany act as mentors to high school students who form mock companies and learn how to run an enterprise for a year. Additionally, Deloitte Turkey partners and professionals spearheaded a mentorship and scholarship program to provide university students with educational guidance and funds.

The objective of Deloitte21 is to shape the dialogue with leaders and influencers in education and skills building, and to help scale up innovative programs that are supporting students to achieve higher education, become entrepreneurs, develop life skills, and gain employment.

The Annual Review outlines various milestones achieved by Deloitte throughout the past year. Additionally, Deloitte member firm professionals give their perspectives on working at the Deloitte organization, including opportunities to work abroad, volunteerism, collaborating with clients, investigating career options, and pursuing interests outside work.

"Deloitte" as used in this release shall mean DTT and its member firms.

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Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. With a globally connected network of member firms in more than140 countries, Deloitte brings world-class capabilities and deep local expertise to help clients succeed wherever they operate. Deloitte's more than 168,000 professionals are committed to becoming the standard of excellence.

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

"Deloitte" is the brand under which tens of thousands of dedicated professionals in independent firms throughout the world collaborate to provide audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, and tax services to selected clients. These firms are members of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (DTT), a Swiss Verein. Each member firm provides services in a particular geographic area and is subject to the laws and professional regulations of the particular country or countries in which it operates. DTT helps coordinate the activities of the member firms but does not itself provide services to clients. DTT and the member firms are separate and distinct legal entities, which cannot obligate the other entities. DTT and each DTT member firm are only liable for their own acts or omissions, and not those of each other. Each of the member firms operates under the names "Deloitte," "Deloitte & Touche," "Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu" or other related names. Each DTT member firm is structured differently in accordance with national laws, regulations, customary practice, and other factors, and may secure the provision of professional services in their territories through subsidiaries, affiliates and/or other entities.

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