Professional-services firm PwC Bermuda has released a summary of the organisation’s community engagement and environmental stewardship initiatives during 2018.

The firm’s Corporate Responsibility Highlights document reveals that PwC Bermuda last year donated more than $1 million to island non-profit and charitable organisations, and awarded $150,000 to Bermudian students, while its staff provided nearly 3,000 volunteer and pro-bono hours for the benefit of charities and non-profits.

PwC’s community engagement programme saw employees give more than 1,000 volunteer hours to various initiatives including Family Centre’s homework and study academy at Dellwood Middle School, clean-up projects at locales including Southlands Park in Warwick and the Railway Trail near Shelly Bay, and in support of a variety of other initiatives.

Meanwhile, PwC staff gave more than 1,700 pro bono hours to assist non-profit organisations by providing professional skills and solutions.

Sponsorship initiatives included support of the Ocean Tech marine research organisation, Family Centre, Endeavour Community Sailing, Kappa Classic — the largest youth sports event on the island — as well as the UT7 Football Series, a memorial to their late PwC colleague Uthmani Talbot.

Scholarships are given through the firm’s HeadStart initiative as well as via a partnership with the Association of Bermuda International Companies.

PwC’s commitment to environmental stewardship included a 100 per cent offset of air travel and energy use, the collection of more than 50 per cent of its building water supply from rainwater collection, and no single use plastic items in PwC office kitchens or single use plastic water bottles at PwC Bermuda corporate and social events.

The firm has adopted new meeting technologies, has invested in research to advance greener air travel, has run internal awareness campaigns, and has reviewed travel policies in order to reduce overall travel emissions.

Arthur Wightman, PwC Bermuda leader, said: “As a firm we are committed to playing a leading role in achieving a sustainable future and empowering communities by solving important problems and building trust in society, in line with our purpose. We believe our people — our greatest asset — have the power to create significant change and make a meaningful impact on our local community and environment.”

Scott Watson-Brown, PwC Bermuda partner, said: “With increased frequency we are seeing the effects of climate change on our ecosystems. Healthy ecosystems are critical to healthy economies. Real and lasting change is needed at both a local and global level.”

• For more information about the firm’s corporate responsibility programme, see www.pwc.com/bermuda