The PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. Donates $1.25M to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation to Support Education Scholarships for Military Children

ALEXANDRIA, VA (January 14, 2015) – Today, the PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. announced a $1.25 million donation to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, the Nation’s oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to military children. The donation will help provide hundreds of higher education need-based scholarships over the next five years to children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen, whose parents have selflessly served our Nation to protect our freedoms at home and abroad. For the 2014-2015 academic year alone, the Scholarship Foundation awarded 2,200 scholarships, totaling more than $6.6 million.

“We all must prevent our Nation’s heroes from sacrificing their children’s education given rising costs,” said Scholarship Foundation President and CEO, Margaret B. Davis. “The foresight and generosity of this gift makes the post-high school dreams of countless Marine families a reality. The PwC Charitable Foundation is investing in children raised on honor, courage, and commitment. The Charitable Foundation is committed to seeing our recipients graduate and thus, working with us to help strengthen America’s future.”

As tuition costs have inflated 121 percent over the last decade, according to the Department of Labor, college education is often out of reach for military families. The Scholarship Foundation awards a scholarship to every eligible applicant, investing in our next generation of leaders who are committed to bettering themselves and our country. The Scholarship Foundation’s recipients are resilient and dedicated to their studies, plus:

• 50 percent of the recipients are first-generation college students,
• 45 percent are pursuing majors in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and health sciences, 17 percent major in social science, and 14 percent in business.

“Our Charitable Foundation is focused on making investments that can have a profound effect on underserved populations, including those who have sacrificed for our country – veterans and their families,” said Shannon Schuyler, principal, corporate responsibility leader, PwC and president, PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc.

The PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. donation is a part of a $5 million commitment for a series of grants to support U.S. veterans and their families over the next five years to provide scholarships for education as well as support with the transition to the workforce. PwC US also has a deep commitment to veterans. It has an active Veterans Network that collaborates with the Department of Defense’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership and has presented best practices on veterans programs to Joining Forces at the White House. These programs, and more, have contributed to PwC US being named as a Top 100 Military Friendly Employer® for the fifth year in a row, as well as the Seven Seals Award and the Above and Beyond Award from the Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve (ESGR).

“By helping support these students, we are providing an investment in America’s future and our next generation of leaders,” said Frank Gaudio, U.S. deputy tax leader, PwC; trustee and veterans’ liaison for the PwC Charitable Foundation.

Since 1962, the Scholarship Foundation has awarded more than 33,000 scholarships valued at nearly $90 million. Currently, the Scholarship Foundation is accepting applications for the coming 2015-2016 academic year, with a submission deadline of March 3, 2015. To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be the child of an active duty, reserve or veteran U.S. Marine who has received an honorable discharge or was killed while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.
• Be the child of U.S. Navy Corpsmen who is serving, or have served with a U.S. Marine Corps Unit, or a veteran U.S. Navy Corpsmen who served with a U.S. Marine unit and have received an honorable discharge or was killed while serving in the U.S. Navy.
• Have a GPA of at least 2.0.
• Meet an income requirement.
• Plan to attend an accredited undergraduate college, university or career technical institution in the upcoming academic year.

The Scholarship Foundation gives particular attention to children whose parent has been killed or wounded in action. To apply, visit www.mcsf.org/apply.

About The PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc.

The PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc., a section 501(c)(3) organization, makes contributions to the people of PwC in times of financial hardship, and to nonprofit organizations that support and promote education and humanitarianism. To learn more about the PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. click here.

About the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation

The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is the Nation’s oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to military children. Since its inception in 1962, the Scholarship Foundation has provided more than 33,000 scholarships valued at nearly $90 million to Marine and Navy Corpsman children whose parent has been killed or wounded in combat or have demonstrated financial need. For more information on the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, please visit http://www.mcsf.org.

Media Contacts

For the PwC Charitable Foundation
Megan DiSciullo
609-903-4394
Megan.disciullo@us.pwc.com
For the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
Kelsi Morris, Hill+Knowlton Strategies
202-944-5108
Kelsi.Morris@hkstrategies.com