May 04, 2017

Accenture Announces U.S. ’Innovation Challenge’ Undergraduate Winner

University of Southern California team focused on Habitat for Humanity

LOS ANGELES, Ca; May 4, 2017 – A student team from the University of Southern California (USC), in conjunction with Accenture (NYSE: ACN), will provide pro-bono management consulting services to help Habitat for Humanity International design and create an initiative to boost volunteer retention as part of Accenture’s annual U.S. undergraduate Innovation Challenge.

The winning team from USC was selected in April 2017 following multiple rounds of competition. The 2017 competition included 253 teams from more than 50 undergraduate campuses and diversity partner organizations, with 1,625 total competitors.

"It was incredibly rewarding to help mobilize exceptionally talented and committed students in assisting Habitat for Humanity International with strategies for how to build lifelong support that sustains long after a volunteer’s first build," said Marty Rodgers, managing director of Accenture’s nonprofit practice. "Habitat exemplifies high performance delivery, and Accenture is honored to play a role in advancing its important mission,"

The USC team’s winning proposal included a multi-pronged approach for Habitat for Humanity International to establish a consistent volunteer experience across affiliates, such as a structure for volunteers to advance through defined experience and loyalty levels. Areas of emphasis involve strategic leveraging of databases, enhanced social engagement with families and creation of new mentorships and workshops.

Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, said "Being chosen to participate in this year’s Accenture Innovation Challenge has been both rewarding and an honor. I am confident the concepts surfaced by the student teams will help ensure we build not only safe, decent and affordable houses, but also deeper and lasting relationships with the volunteers so critical to achieving our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live."

Accenture’s Innovation Challenge, launched in 2012, provides college students from across the United States an opportunity to put their community spirit and creative ideas to the test by participating in a case competition to support a priority goal of a nonprofit organization. Winning teams help implement their proposal with the nonprofit organization and a pro-bono Accenture consulting team.

Accenture in the United States
Accenture is a leading professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. With more than 50,000 people and operations in 41 cities in the United States, Accenture serves 93 of the Fortune 100 and more than 70 percent of the Fortune 500. In the United States, Accenture has innovation hubs which bring together key elements of the Accenture Innovation Architecture – including labs, studios and innovation centers – to help clients develop and deliver disruptive innovations to drive growth. With an unwavering commitment to inclusion and diversity, Accenture is consistently recognized on FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For and DiversityInc’s Top 50 Companies for Diversity lists. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

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Contact:

Joe Dickie
Accenture
+ 1 512 694 6422
joseph.r.dickie@accenture.com