PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Hub employees are partnering with 14 nonprofits today at the Seaport World Trade Center to try to help the state’s foster child and under-served populations.
More than 1,600 PwC workers will help tackle such activities as resume-building with Chelsea High School students; making snack bags for the Greater Boston Food Bank; and assembling 250 back-to-school backpacks for the Foster Kids of the Merrimack Valley.
“What I see us trying to do is help these kids know other people do care about them. As cruel and as hard as their life may be … it’s easy for these kids to give up and be very angry,” said Frank Graziano, 39, a newly named partner at PwC and a Foster Kids of the Merrimack Valley board member. “It’s about caring, and nurturing and love.”
Graziano, who has three adopted children, said his company’s “Boston Celebrates” day grew out of its holiday gift drives for foster kids that started after 2004 conversations he had with co-workers about his children and the nonprofit.
“The roots have grown pretty deep as people have left the firm who still drop off gifts during the holiday drive,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for more of the firm. In fact, I’ve never asked of them. They seek it out.”
The accounting and consulting firm is placing 26 workers alongside the Foster Kids of the Merrimack Valley today, while 500 employees will assemble activity books for pediatric patients for the Boston Medical Center, Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House.
“PwC Boston believes in and supports the commonwealth of Massachusetts — it’s people, businesses, schools and charitable organizations,” said Barry Nearhos, the firm’s Northeast managing partner. “We are dedicated to making a difference where it matters most and supporting a culture of giving back.”
Founded in 2006, Foster Kids of the Merrimack Valley provides luggage and bookbags for foster children transitioning from one home to another. The Lawrence-based nonprofit, which also helps children in Methuen, North Andover and Haverhill, offers a mentoring program that teaches older foster kids how to apply for jobs, write resumes, and set up bank accounts.