PRESS RELEASE
The doors of the Olympians Reunion Centre by EY (No. 3 on the Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list) have officially opened in Rio de Janeiro. This signals the start of a busy schedule for the organization as it sets into motion a packed set of events and activities aimed at supporting its Brazilian organization, EY Brasil, as an Official Supporter of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The Olympians Reunion Centre (ORC) by EY, hosted in association with the World Olympians Association (WOA), the member body for Olympians worldwide, is designed to further the EY ambition to provide real value and leave a positive, lasting legacy following the Games. The ORC celebrates Olympians of all ages and from all countries and is the only venue designed for Olympians from past Games to reunite. Through its support, EY is aligning its broader purpose of building a better working world with the Olympic promise of building a better and more peaceful world through sport.
The Olympians Reunion Centre, situated at the iconic Clube de Regatas do Flamengo in Rio for the duration of the Games, will officially open today, ahead of the start of the Olympic Games tomorrow. Mark Weinberger, EY Global Chairman and CEO, will join WOA Patron, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco; International Olympic Committee (IOC) Vice President, Nawal El Moutawakel; and WOA President, Jol Bouzou, to declare the venue open.
Mark Weinberger, EY Global Chairman and CEO, says:
“As proud supporters of the Olympians Reunion Centre in Rio we are looking forward to opening its doors to Olympians from around the world. The Olympics is an opportunity to build a better and more peaceful world through sport and the connections that unite us as a global community. Joining forces with the World Olympians Association to host the Olympians Reunion Centre which is all about celebrating the legacy of Olympians and forging connections between them represents the perfect opportunity to help us achieve those aims.”
EY’s Olympic legacy
For the past five years, as the official professional services provider of the Rio 2016 Olympics Games, EY Brasil has had hundreds of professionals assisting the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee to help deliver the Games, not only through strategic projects but also with activity focused on social and environmental impact to create a sustainable legacy.
As part of this focus on sustainability, EY announced today the EY Rio Legacy Volunteer Program, a corporate responsibility initiative that provides skills-based volunteerism from EY professionals to six high-impact Rio de Janeiro-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
EY volunteers from several countries have been participating in the program since April, sharing their time, energy and valuable skills with organizations in Rio. The volunteers formed high-performing, cross-border, virtual EY teams to support the NGOs on specific social development projects. By volunteering with these NGOs, EY hopes to leave a positive, lasting legacy for Brazil and a better world for future generations, while also nurturing a global mindset and career skills among the program’s volunteers.
Luiz Vieira, EY Brasil CEO, says:
“The Games showcase the best that the city and its people have to offer. Every four years, the world marvels at the energy, enthusiasm and organizational and engineering excellence of the host city, but the Games can also be a time to shine a light on social issues and improve the lives of local communities, which is a goal of the EY Rio Legacy Volunteer Program.”
All of the Brazilian NGOs selected have a mission that is aligned to EY corporate responsibility strategy: growing the positive effects of entrepreneurs; developing future generations of talent; and building a more diverse and inclusive society, with a focus on the empowerment of women and racial minorities. Participating NGOs were selected for three reasons: their reputation by national and international institutions for their impact on the community where they operate; their in-depth knowledge of the context of Rio de Janeiro; and their well-established and solid structure to accommodate EY volunteers to maximize the benefits of the program. The NGOs that EY volunteers are supporting include:
- Fundao Gol de Letra Provides educational programs for children and adolescents in socially vulnerable communities.
- Instituto da Criana Supports social initiatives and conducts educational programs across low-income communities in Rio de Janeiro.
- Observatrio de Favelas Develops initiatives, projects and public policy aimed at overcoming social inequalities in low-income communities.
- Rede Asta Reduces social inequality in Brazil by empowering female artisans from low-income communities, providing them with training, networks and access to the market.
- CIEDS Promotes more effective public policies and strategic social investment in four main areas of focus: education and citizenship; inclusion and welfare; integrated development; and entrepreneurship and community development.
- Viva Rio Supports social initiatives and develops public policies to benefit low-income communities in Rio de Janeiro.
Jennifer Andrews, a volunteer for the Rio Legacy Volunteer Program and a manager in the Ernst & Young LLP Advisory Services practice in New York, said:
“Rede Asta, a part of the EY Entrepreneurial Winning WomenTM program, won a bid to provide decorative cushions for the Games. The team of EY volunteers worked to build on the great work the organization is already doing by helping them construct an annual budget framework. I was able to grow my on-the-job skills and global mindset while helping an entrepreneur to build a lasting legacy in Rio that will ripple out around the world.”
The EY Rio Legacy Volunteer Program is one of many initiatives at EY that are designed to develop leadership skills of EY people and leave a lasting legacy for society as well. To learn more about the Rio Legacy Volunteer Program and the NGOs supported, please visit www.ey.com.br/volunteersatrio.
