Hyderabad|India|June'2009:
It’s been said that “no man is an island”. The same applies to
organizations. We understand that we have a social responsibility not only
to our people and our clients, but to the world beyond our workplace.
Corporate responsibility at Deloitte starts with the Shared Values that
form the foundation of our culture: integrity, outstanding value to
markets and clients, commitment to each other, and strength from cultural
diversity.
In addition to IMPACT Day and year-round skills-based volunteer projects,
over 90% of its professionals have been involved in the community through
our other programs such as Problem Solvers Fund, signature partnership
with Junior Achievement India and Pro Bono. Also, over 50% of its partners
and directors serve on non-profits boards in the U.S. and in India ;
Deloitte has also committed $50 million towards pro bono services in both
countries. With this skills-based ‘outcomes-focused’ approach, and driven
by the contribution of core competency - which is intellectual capital -
over 42,000 Deloitte professionals re-define one of the key attributes of
its Talent Experience each year. They uphold Deloittes philosophy by being
impassioned community citizens, who are seeking to make a positive and
meaningful difference in the local and global communities. In 2008, U.S.
President George W. Bush recognized Deloitte as exemplary corporate
citizen.
Deloitte recognizes that corporate responsibility is a never-ending
journey; at the heart of community involvement at Deloitte is a genuine
desire to drive change and improvement where the needs are most critical
in our communities. On June 5, 2009, Deloitte marked the tenth IMPACT Day
in the U.S. and seventh IMPACT Day in India (initiated in 2003) with over
42,000 professionals demonstrating their continual commitment to corporate
responsibility. Their innovative leadership in the area of community
involvement is an important measure of our overall commitment to
responsible corporate citizenship.
“As a professional services organization, the skills and experience that
make us successful with our clients are also our greatest means of
effecting meaningful change in our communities. By volunteering our
skills, we empower the non-profits to implement their own long-term
solutions and, enable them to more effectively address critical social
issues. I am proud to be part of it,” said Hari Kumar, managing director,
Deloitte.
IMPACT Day, a celebration of Deloitte’s year-round commitment to workplace
volunteerism, highlights the skill-based contribution of its people to
hundreds of non-profits nationwide. It also provides our people with a
chance to develop important skills such as leadership, teamwork, and
networking. Year on year, we have the opportunity to achieve significant
change in our communities that is sustainable and as a result,
strengthening for our business and our people.
“It is important to remember that IMPACT Day does not represent just a
single day of giving. It is a celebration of our year-round commitment to
our local communities. It is an opportunity to share our best thinking to
spark advances in supporting communities and skills-based volunteerism -
through advocacy, awareness and influence. I am proud to be a part of it,”
said Parag Saigaonkar, regional managing director - Consulting, Deloitte
U.S. India offices.
The number of IMPACT Day volunteers in India has increased from 1,200 in
2004 to 6,000 in 2008. These numbers have had a significant impact on the
growing number of lives we touch-- from 7,000 in 2004 to 121,000 in 2008.
This year, over 7,200 professionals in Hyderabad and Mumbai devoted a full
working day to volunteer their time and skills to make a meaningful
difference to more than 1,41,000 lives in over 260 locations.
“Community involvement is an expression of our values. It is a commitment
that defines who we are at Deloitte and will always remain a priority. I
am proud to be a part of it,” said SV Nathan, director - Talent, Deloitte
U.S. India offices.
Last year (2008), Deloitte was recognized for the third consecutive year
by the Limca Book of Records for breaking their own record for “the most
number of community service hours on a single day by any corporate in
India .”
Deloitte’s approach to its corporate day of workplace volunteerism was as
unique this year as it has always been - traditional hands-on
volunteering. A wide range of activities such as painting and clean-up
projects are coupled with skill-based projects that leverage the
organization’s intellectual capital to deliver measurable business and
social impact. Overall, 38 projects covering education, women, health,
safety, environment, and social awareness issues were accomplished on
IMPACT Day.
Reachout's News Bureau
June' 2009
