PwC Foundation: A more purposeful and engaging involvement in the local community

Konstantina Logotheti, Director of PwC Foundation and Head of Marketing & Communications PwC Cyprus recently talked to CBN about the organisation’s aims and contribution, also revealing some of the important work carried out so far.

“The establishment of the PwC Foundation arose from the organisation’s peoples’ desire to have a more purposeful and engaging involvement in the local community,” Konstantina Logotheti, Director of PwC Foundation and Head of Marketing & Communications PwC Cyprus, recently told CBN.

Logotheti went on to underline, “We strongly believe as an organisation that giving and volunteering are the ideals and values needed to solve the critical problems facing humanity today.”

This, she explained meant that the past year had been a decisive one for PwC Cyprus, “Since the actions of the organisation that were part of the axis of Corporate Responsibility were further bolstered and incorporated in a specific context. The establishment of the PwC Foundation is a milestone in our efforts to enhance our contribution to society, which is aligned with our vision for a better world for everyone.”

As noted by Logotheti, the non-profit PwC Foundation has a high sense of responsibility and contribution and so focuses its social action on strengthening the local community and improving the quality of people's lives by providing diverse support in three pillars.

More specifically, these three pillars are ‘Education & Culture,’ ‘Youth Entrepreneurship,’ and ‘Offering our hearts & minds.’

“It is worth mentioning that the people of PwC Cyprus spent more than 1,500 hours in voluntary actions last year,” Logotheti noted.

Sharing more information on the actions already carried out by the foundation so far, the Director underlined that, “The PwC Foundation believes in the power of education and culture, youth entrepreneurship, and volunteerism, as these are the driving forces behind growth, employment, and prosperity.”

She elaborated that the ‘Education & Culture’ pillar initiatives included the introduction of the provision of scholarships to excellent, economically vulnerable first-year students at the University of Cyprus and the Cyprus University of Technology, as well as the offering of financial awards to students who excel at various academic institutions.

“In addition, the PwC Foundation implemented the ‘Tech We Can’ initiative at the Heritage Private School, to inform and raise awareness among students aged 12-14 about the opportunities and challenges of careers in technology,” Logotheti continued.

As part of the Global Money Week campaign, meanwhile, PwC’s volunteers participated in briefings for students of all levels to raise awareness and empower young people’s necessary financial knowledge. The initiative was in collaboration with Junior Achievement and took place under the auspices of the Ministry of Education.

“In addition, we support the ‘Girls in STEAM Academy’ initiative which aims to reduce the gap in the representation of women and girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, in Cyprus and abroad,” the Director of the PwC Foundation continued.

The ‘Education & Culture’ pillar also includes the support of cultural institutions that promote Arts & Culture, such as the Pharos Arts Foundation and the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra as well as the documentary ‘Treasures of Cyprus’ by Bettany Hughes, Logotheti added.

“The ‘Youth Entrepreneurship’ pillar includes PwC's strategic partnerships with important educational, academic, and business bodies such as the University of Cyprus, Junior Achievement Cyprus with which we collaborate for ‘The Company’ programme, and ‘Our community’ programme, Chrysalis LEAP, and the CYENS Centre of Excellence in Research and Innovation,” she also shared.

“Last but certainly not least the ‘Offering our hearts & minds’ pillar includes the active participation of PwC people in various actions like the annual blood donation, the ‘Movember’ campaign of Europa Uomo Cyprus, the organisation's Easter Bazaar, the collection of first-rate items of need for families in need, the collection of specific items to support the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria in cooperation with the Civil Defence, the support of the ‘I cook and I offer’ programme of the Sophia for Children Foundation, and many others so as to support our community offering our expertise, experience and time,” Logotheti concluded.

Click here to learn more about the PwC Foundation and its work.