Members of the accounting profession are rallying to aid victims of the tsunami that devastated South Asia.
KPMG, Grant Thornton and Liberty Tax Service are among those that have already set up relief efforts.
New York-based KPMG LLP, which has about 18,000 partners and employees in the U.S., launched a partner and employee fundraising drive under which the firm will match all individual employee contributions for disaster relief. Contributions are being made to the KPMG Disaster Relief Fund. In addition to the matching campaign by the U.S. firm, global network KPMG International has pledged to donate an additional $1 million to relief efforts.
Grant Thornton LLP in Chicago is donating $50,000 to international development and relief agency Oxfam America to aid in the disaster relief effort. Grant Thornton is also collecting personal contributions from employees to include with the firm's donation. In addition, many Grant Thornton International member firms are planning group donations. The United Kingdom firm has pledged £25,000 ($46,906), while the Indonesian firm is giving clothes, water and food to areas of their country.
Liberty Tax Service founder and chief executive John Hewitt said that he will donate money to tsunami relief for every tax return his company prepares in tax season 2005. The contribution will be made to Stop Hunger Now, a charity co-founded by Hewitt in 1998 to help fight world hunger.
The American Institute of CPAs has also compiled a list of links for members interested in contributing to relief efforts at
