KPMG
KPMG Disaster Relief Fund
The KPMG Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) was established to provide a vehicle for employees and partners to help those who have suffered as a result of a natural or other type of disaster. The DRF dispenses funds directly to qualified charitable organizations that are on the front lines of relief and recovery efforts. The fund was most recently activated in connection with Haiti following the January 12, 2010 earthquake. The DRF also provides funds to KPMG partners and employees who have sustained a financial loss due to a natural disaster. For Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, that amounted to more than $1 million.
Since being formed in 1992, the DRF has also enabled KPMG employees and partners to provide timely financial assistance in the wake of events, such as the September 11 terrorist attacks, the tsunami that devastated the Far East in 2004, the tragedies in Myanmar and China’s Sichuan province in 2008, and others.
The DRF is designed to focus effectively and move quickly. Just hours after the world outside of Haiti grasped the enormity of the tragedy, leaders at KPMG LLP, including Chairman Tim Flynn, CEO John Veihmeyer, and National Managing Partner of Diversity and Social Responsibility Kathy Hannan, began coordinating fundraising efforts with KPMG member firms around the world. Communications were immediately sent to KPMG employees and partners explaining the situation and advising them on how they could help.
KPMG International made an initial donation of $500,000 and by the end of February, the DRF had received $1.3 million from KPMG partners, the firm’s matching funds, and contributions from other KPMG member firms. Additional KPMG member firms’ contributions made directly to relief agencies reached $1.2 million, making a total of more than $2.5 million to help provide relief and begin to restore and rebuild the island.
Since being formed in 1992, the DRF has also enabled KPMG employees and partners to provide timely financial assistance in the wake of events, such as the September 11 terrorist attacks, the tsunami that devastated the Far East in 2004, the tragedies in Myanmar and China’s Sichuan province in 2008, and others.
The DRF is designed to focus effectively and move quickly. Just hours after the world outside of Haiti grasped the enormity of the tragedy, leaders at KPMG LLP, including Chairman Tim Flynn, CEO John Veihmeyer, and National Managing Partner of Diversity and Social Responsibility Kathy Hannan, began coordinating fundraising efforts with KPMG member firms around the world. Communications were immediately sent to KPMG employees and partners explaining the situation and advising them on how they could help.
KPMG International made an initial donation of $500,000 and by the end of February, the DRF had received $1.3 million from KPMG partners, the firm’s matching funds, and contributions from other KPMG member firms. Additional KPMG member firms’ contributions made directly to relief agencies reached $1.2 million, making a total of more than $2.5 million to help provide relief and begin to restore and rebuild the island.
Funds donated to the DRF for Haiti were distributed directly to a variety of agencies working closely with the people of Haiti, such as Save the Children, UNICEF, and World Vision. At the same time, the DRF board worked with organizations on sustainable recovery and reconstruction solutions for the island. KPMG’s commitment to Haiti followed a similar distribution of funds that aided recovery after the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, which included the building of 1,500 homes.
“The KPMG Disaster Relief Fund offers hope in the wake of heartbreaking tragedy,” said John Veihmeyer. “Utilizing its resources to the best of our ability is the right thing to do. The fund helps ensure that our people are just one step away from being able to help disaster victims begin the process of recovery.”
