Grant Thornton this week donated US$60,000 to UNICEF, the leading children's organisation, as part of its ongoing partnership through the International Business Report (IBR). This takes the total donation made through the project over the past six years to over US$250,000.
The IBR surveys 12,000 businesses in 44 economies every year, providing insight into the economic and commercial issues affecting both listed and privately-held businesses.
For every interview completed Grant Thornton makes a donation of US$5 to UNICEF UK.
Ed Nusbaum, CEO of Grant Thornton International, said: "We are delighted to continue supporting the very important work done by UNICEF. IBR is growing all the time – in 2012 we started surveying businesses in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway, significantly boosting our coverage of European business. Aside from the benefits of providing more value to our member firms, it also happily means that our annual donation to UNICEF is always increasing.
Handing over the cheque to UNICEF, IBR project manager Dominic King said: The donation to an internationally recognised charity is a key driver for business leaders to undertake the survey. US$5 does not sound like a lot but when multiplied by the ever increasing number of respondents, the figures are very impressive.
Ali Jeffery, Corporate Relations Manager at UNICEF UK said: "We are most grateful that Grant Thornton has chosen to continue its association with us through IBR. UNICEFs work for children depends entirely on voluntary donations as we do not receive any funding from the UN budget. The annual donation is incredibly valuable in our mission to ensure every child has the best start in life.
"For example, the total donation over our association with the Grant Thornton IBR project is equivalent to the provision of 52 mobile school kits including Early Childhood Development materials benefiting 1560-5200 mobile school students in Kenya. These kits include learning materials, portable blackboards and tents, lamps, and jerry cans for storing water."
Notes to editors
The Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) provides insight into the views and expectations of more than 12,000 business leaders per year across 44 economies. This unique survey draws upon 21 years of trend data for most European participants and 11 years for many non-European economies. For more information, please visit: www.internationalbusinessreport.com
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