Deloitte Foundation Announces National Rollout of 'LIFE, Inc.' Schools Initiative Designed to Guide Pre-College Age Students in Career Planning

WILTON, Conn., March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Deloitte Foundation, a not- for-profit arm of Deloitte LLP, announces the national rollout of "LIFE, Inc. -- the Ultimate Career Guide for Young People" an interactive educational program designed to assist middle and high school students create a pathway to an exciting business career that maps to their personal interests and abilities. The Deloitte Foundation initiative is expected to reach more than two million students within the first several years of implementation.

A package consisting of a student journal, career and teachers' guide, and web site serve as the core of the LIFE, Inc. program. The career development and identification program initially will be donated by the Deloitte Foundation at no charge to targeted educational institutions, after-school programs and other non-profit organizations.

Among the national organizations that are developing plans for LIFE, Inc. curriculum are the Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), and the YWCA, with other major affiliations to be announced within the next few months.

The LIFE, Inc. content was developed by New York Times best-selling author Neale S. Godfrey, who has written 16 books that deal with money, life skills, and values. A highlight of the program is its "Virtual Role Models," experienced workers who provide a look back on their careers paths and development. VRMs, featured on the Web site and in the printed materials, are used to assist students with career research.

LIFE, Inc. Research

Research commissioned on behalf of Deloitte LLP by Deloitte Services LP's Next Generation Initiatives Group showed that young people are making career- related decisions earlier than ever, and that the ideal time for parents and teachers to have conversations with students about careers is as early as the sixth to ninth grade when they are considering the widest range of career options.

"We have learned that students are often skeptical about taking on business careers," said Shaun Budnik, President of the Deloitte Foundation and partner Deloitte LLP. "We feel it is important to show students a range of exciting career options and assist them in envisioning themselves in those careers through the use of positive Virtual Role Models. Our LIFE, Inc. program uses online components such as interactive games and personal assessment tools to reach a generation that is comfortable in the online world."

The LIFE, Inc. program materials were distributed to more than 37,000 Deloitte employees to use at home or in their communities.

For more information about this program, inquiries may be directed to: usnationallifeinc@deloitte.com.

Additionally, you may go to: www.deloitte.com/us/df.

About the Deloitte Foundation

The Deloitte Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that supports teaching, research, and curriculum innovation in accounting, business, and related fields within the U.S. The Foundation, founded in 1928, supports an array of national programs, which are relevant to a variety of professional services, and which benefit middle/high school students, undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. For more information, please visit the Deloitte Foundation web page at www.deloitte.com/us/df.

About Deloitte

As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte LLP. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries.