KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm, and professional golfer and Metro Atlanta resident Mariah Stackhouse announced that Stackhouse is joining the "Blue for Books" program, the firm's nationwide charitable initiative that puts thousands of books into the hands of children in need through the sale of blue KPMG golf hats, just like the KPMG hat that Stackhouse will wear on the LPGA Tour.
Celebrating this announcement today on Martin Luther King Day, Stackhouse joins local volunteers from KPMG to enhance Thomasville Heights Elementary School's library in advance of grand reopening events tomorrow morning.
KPMG will provide new furniture, repaint the library, reorganize its bookshelves, and stock them with over 600 brand new books provided through KPMG's Family for Literacy (KFFL) program. The firm also will distribute more than 1,300 new books to the school's 450 students to take home.
"We are proud to have Mariah Stackhouse join KPMG's Family for Literacy program to help us benefit the lives of more children," said Lynne Doughtie, Chairman and CEO, KPMG LLP. "It's our mission to improve childhood literacy in America by providing access to new books."
Tomorrow morning, KPMG leaders and volunteers—including the head of the firm's Atlanta office, Milford McGuirt, as well as Stackhouse—will join students, school officials, and other community leaders for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:00 a.m.
"We are so proud that a hometown hero and role model such as Mariah has joined our KFFL family to help improve the prospects for children in need, especially with her making her name here in Atlanta," said McGuirt, office managing partner for KPMG's Atlanta office. Part of the Carver Cluster Area Schools, Thomasville Heights Elementary is among the least supported and most in need in the Atlanta area.
"Research shows that most of the academic achievement gap in high school is already visible by kindergarten," says McGuirt. "And it shows that kids from low-education families can do as well as children from high-education families if they have access to books at home and as well as at school."
Stackhouse adds, "I'm very excited about joining KPMG's Blue for Books program and contributing to KPMG's Family for Literacy initiative—especially starting out right here in my hometown of Atlanta. I'm passionate about giving kids every chance to succeed in life, and the ability to read is so crucial to making that possible."
Since 2008, KPMG has delivered 2.9 million new books to children across the country, in cooperation with First Book, an award-winning nonprofit.
Stackhouse Joins KPMG's "Blue for Books" Program
Stackhouse's authentic blue golf hats that she will wear in competition are now available to the public at KPMG.com/Mariah. The hats will be sold for $25.99 each, with 100 percent of the net proceeds ($7.50) from each sale going to childhood literacy nonprofit organization First Book to purchase three new books for children from low-income families.
This year marks the five-year anniversary of Blue for Books, during which time the program has refurbished nine libraries and donated over 173,000 books through blue hat sales.
About Mariah Stackhouse
Stackhouse, 22, grew up in Riverdale and resides in Alpharetta.
Among many other early distinctions, Stackhouse in 2009 became the youngest PGA Georgia champion and in 2011 was named a first-team All American by the American Junior Golf Association.
As a Stanford University freshman in 2013, she shot an NCAA record 61. As a sophomore, Stackhouse became the first African-American named to a USA Curtis Cup team, which she led to victory. Stackhouse helped the Stanford women's team capture its first national championship in 2015 and last year graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications.
Stackhouse debuted on the LPGA tour in last June shortly after she signed her sponsorship agreement with KPMG. She earned her LPGA Tour card for the 2017 season with a T21 finish at Stage III of LPGA Tour Qualifying School last December. For more information about KPMG's sponsorship of Mariah Stackhouse, please visit KPMG.com/Mariah.
About KPMG LLP
KPMG is one of the world's leading professional services firms, providing innovative business solutions and audit, tax, and advisory services to many of the world's largest and most prestigious organizations.
KPMG is the fastest-growing Big Four professional services firm in the United States and is widely recognized for being a great place to work and build a career.
Our people share a sense of purpose in the work we do, and a strong commitment to community service, diversity and inclusion, and eradicating childhood illiteracy.
Learn more at www.kpmg.com/us.
