NEWS

PricewaterhouseCoopers Invests in Chicago Marketplace Through $5 Million Gift to College

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP announced a major investment in the Chicago marketplace through a $5 million donation to the Department of Accountancy and the College of Business. Half of the donation will be a cash contribution and the other half will be spent through dedicated partner time, which involves collaborating to develop Chicago-based initiatives over the next five years to support accountancy education and research.

Every partner at PWC who graduated from the University of Illinois--no matter where he or she now resides--donated his or her own money to support this effort. Those dollars were then supplemented by PWC.

The cash contribution portion of the donation will be used to support the Accountancy Student Center that will be located in a new instructional facility planned for the College. The Center will serve as a home for accountancy students throughout their campus experience as well as after they complete their degree.

"We see this as a great opportunity to develop a market-leading approach for the long-standing relationship between PWC and the University of Illinois, one that will also benefit the Chicago marketplace," said Jay Henderson, managing partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers' Chicago office, in early May. "Partners who've graduated from UIUC have cultivated their connections with the school and its students over many years. With our pledge, we are now able to significantly impact the education of future accounting graduates, graduates of the school who are already part of the fabric of the Chicago business community as well as future students from the Chicago metropolitan area."

PWC will collaborate with the College to develop, sponsor, and offer various programs for the Chicago business community, accounting students, faculty, and alumni. Among these programs are workshops and seminars on emerging accounting and finance issues, alumni activities to strengthen connectivity with Chicago-based graduates, a mentoring program for student leaders of College business organizations, and programs aimed at attracting a more diverse student population to the accounting profession.

"The breadth of these programs will benefit many constituents of the College," commented Dean Avijit Ghosh. "We're excited that PricewaterhouseCoopers is growing its involvement on campus, as well as in the Chicago area. And we are delighted that this commitment includes solid support of students through new programs in mentoring, diversity, thought leadership, and career development. The investment underscores the firm's leadership in the accounting profession."

Tim Reierson '81, PWC lead relationship partner, said he was thrilled with the outstanding support the initiative received from PWC partners who graduated from Illinois. Many of them will devote significant time to the programs and strategic initiatives in the relationship.

Attending the Leighton Lecture and the PWC ceremonies were many Illini and many self-proclaimed "Illini wannabes." Shown here at the dinner celebrating the gift from the partners and PWC are: (first row, l-r) Jay Henderson, Managing Partner, Chicago; Tim Reierson '81, Chicago; Brad Oltmanns '79, Managing Partner, Los Angeles; (second row, l-r) Brent Inman, Partner, New York; Jin Lee '80 MAS '82, Partner, Chicago; Dennis Howarter '83, Partner, Chicago; Bill Kelly '88, Partner, Chicago; (back row, l-r) Jeffrey Johanns '77, Partner, San Jose; John Oleniczak, Partner, Chicago; Robert Filek '86, Partner, Chicago; Ray Wilson '84, Partner, Milwaukee; Dave Erickson '86, Partner, Chicago; Ed Machir, Partner, Dallas; and Andy Dahle '83 MAS '84, Partner, Chicago.

Leave your legacy with an engraved
brick or classroom chair in
the new Business Instructional Facility
College Brick Program