Grant Thornton International continues its commitment to UNICEF
Grant Thornton International has continued its commitment to UNICEF with its latest donation of US$39,980. It gave US$5 for each completed response by businesses all over the world to the Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) 2008. This is the second year Grant Thornton International had raised money for UNICEF in this way and donations to date amount to more than US$70,000.
UNICEF is dedicated to giving children equal learning opportunities - around the world some 115 million children miss out on their right to go to school. UNICEF focuses on gender equality and works towards eliminating disparities of all kinds with their programmes targeting the world's most disadvantaged children.
David McDonnell, chief executive officer of Grant Thornton International said, "We are proud to continue our support of UNICEF, in particular their educational activities. Education is a valuable investment in the future of economic development and social stability. A total of 7,800 businesses responded to our International Business Report, and we are pleased to contribute to such a worthwhile cause."
Anne Shinkwin, head of corporate fundraising at UNICEF said, "We are delighted to accept this wonderful donation and continued support from Grant Thornton International. UNICEF is not funded by the UN and we rely on voluntary donations to fund our work for children. These funds will allow UNICEF to continue providing vital services to the world's children and help them to reach their full potential."
For further information please contact:
Jess Koslow
Senior Public Relations Executive
Grant Thornton International Limited
T: +44 (0)207 391 9564 / 07989 358864
E: jessica.koslow@gtuk.com
About Grant Thornton International
Grant Thornton International is one of the world's leading organisations of independently owned and managed accounting and consulting firms. The strength of each local firm is reflected in the quality of our organisation. All Grant Thornton International member firms share a commitment to providing the same high quality service to their clients wherever they choose to do business.
Grant Thornton International does not deliver services in its own name. Each member and correspondent firm of Grant Thornton International is a separate independent national firm. These firms are not members of one international partnership or otherwise legal partners with each other, nor is any one firm responsible for the services or activities of any other. Each firm governs itself and handles its administrative matters on a local basis.
All references to Grant Thornton International are to Grant Thornton International Ltd. Grant Thornton International Ltd is a non-practicing, international umbrella entity organized as a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales.
About IBR
Grant Thornton International started a major annual survey of the attitudes and expectations of small and medium-sized businesses in 1992 called the European Business Survey (EBS). In 2003 the research project was widened to an international perspective covering medium-sized businesses and renamed the International Business Owners Survey (IBOS).
In 2007, the survey’s name was changed from IBOS to the International Business Report (IBR). The IBR survey draws upon 16 years of trend data for original EBS participants and 6 years for original IBOS countries. The 16 year trend data is available for: France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, while the 6 year trend data is available for Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, South Africa and the United States.
IBR 2008 surveyed over 7,800 small to medium privately held business leaders from 34 economies. None of the businesses were publicly listed or open to government investment.
Grant Thornton International will donate US$5 to UNICEF for every completed IBR questionnaire. In 2008, this will result in a donation of over US$39,000.
The research was conducted by Experian Business Strategies Limited. To find out more about IBR and to obtain details of IBR reports and results please visit www.internationalbusinessreport.com.
