Firms giving back: Global Tax Management honored alongside Autism Speaks

Global Tax Management and Autism Speaks were recognized as recipients of the 2019 Faces of Philanthropy awards, which recognizes notable philanthropic initiatives between for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations.

Partnerships for the Faces of Philanthropy awards can involve community involvement, monetary donations and social impact campaigns.

For the last 10 years, GTM staff members, joined by their families and friends, have participated in the Philadelphia Autism Speaks Walk, along with a series of yearly fundraising events that raised over $248,000. The firm also provides work-readiness internships for students on the autism spectrum.

"Working with a charity that is as passionate as we are to make a difference and spread awareness in the region has been a tremendous motivation for GTM," stated Dave Laurinaitis, CEO and executive director at GTM. "We are driven and inspired by every child we see at Autism Speaks Walk Day and every family that our donation helps through their lifelong journey on the spectrum. GTM celebrates World Autism Awareness Day today, and we hope our actions encourage future corporate partnerships focused on creating a more inclusive world for people with autism."

"Support from partners like GTM is vital to the autism community," said Ida Miller Ayala, senior director of field development at Autism Speaks, in a statement. "Through the efforts of their dedicated employees, GTM takes the lead each year in making significant financial contributions to help Autism Speaks continue enhancing lives today and accelerating a spectrum of solutions for tomorrow. They are also putting their commitment into action by setting an example for better employment opportunities for all. The CDC estimates that one in 59 children is affected by autism. This must be everyone's cause. We are grateful to the employees of GTM for making it theirs!"

GTM and Autism Speaks will be honored at the 2019 Faces of Philanthropy Awards breakfast on April 11, 2019, at the Crystal Tearoom in Philadelphia.

The Institute of Management Accountants has been named a new sponsor of the PhD Project, a program designed to bring more diversity to the corporate world by diversifying business school faculty.

Launched in 1994, the PHD Project looks to encourage more diverse business school students by promoting more diverse instructors. The KPMG Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Big Four firm KPMG, is the founder and lead sponsor of the program.

“IMA is proud and honored to be a sponsor of The PhD Project," stated IMA president and CEO Jeff Thomson. "The call to action is a more diverse pool of PhD academic influencers in business schools, who in turn inspire a more diverse group of students and ultimately, business professionals who make a difference in society. IMA will do its part, and then some, to expand this pool with our full set of benefits including the CMA scholarship program. Additionally, we hope to attract a more diverse pool of future IMA volunteer leaders through this collaborative partnership."

“IMA’s support speaks volumes about its understanding of our mission: diverse business school faculty attracts a diverse student body to study business," said Bernard Milano, president of the PhD Project and the KPMG Foundation. "This, in turn, enables employers to improve the diversity in their workplace and all students to be better prepared to function in our diverse society. IMA’s support of the Project will help carry on our momentum, which has more than quintupled the number of minority business professors over the past 24 years. We receive great support from the accounting profession with KPMG Foundation, Dixon Hughes Goodman, AICPA, American Accounting Association, NASBA and now IMA as sponsors.”