CPA FIRMS LAUNCH TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORT: Joining KPMG, Grant Thornton and Liberty Tax Services in relief efforts for the victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami disaster, national CPA and business consulting services firm Crowe Chizek and regional New England firm Gray, Gray & Gray have lent their support to the global cause.Crowe collected funds from its partners, directors, executives and staff members and, at press time, the firm's fundraising and matching program had collected $126,932 for relief efforts in South Asia.
"I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of concern the Crowe Chizek family has for the victims of the tsunami," said chief executive Mark Hildebrand. "Part of Crowe Chizek's core values involves providing an environment that enables its personnel to make a difference, achieve their full potential, have fun and be a part of building something they really care about," Hildebrand said. "Most days that revolves around providing accounting and consulting for our clients. Many times, it includes being a good corporate citizen and supporting social values that are important to all of us."
Meanwhile, Gray, Gray & Gray helped support relief efforts via a company-wide fundraising campaign. Like Crowe, Gray matched employee donations and sent the monies to the American Red Cross and Oxfam America.
"We are all very much aware of the hardships, demands and urgency brought on by the unprecedented string of tsunamis and hope that our company-wide fundraising effort will help," said Gray, Gray & Gray managing partner Neil Krug.
Meanwhile, Washington-based nonprofit the Tax Council Policy Institute pledged to donate 10 percent of the registration fees from its 2005 Institute Symposium to organizations that are providing tsunami relief.
The American Institute of CPAs has also compiled a list of links for members interested in contributing to relief efforts at www.aicpa.org/news/2005/tsunami_relief.htm.
