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A Professional Tradition of Service

Accountants and CPAs are well-known for giving back to their communities with donations of time, money, expertise and more. To celebrate that – and to give you some ideas for contributions of your own – we’re highlighting the ways 11 different firms of all sizes from across the country are having an impact.

And don’t be surprised if you notice certain trends – golf and a commitment to education at all levels among them … .
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Golfing for Good, Part I: California

Over 23 years, NSBN CPAs & Business Consultants’ Annual Charity Golf Tournament has raised over $1 million for charities in its community, the firm announced this spring – along with the date and location of its 24th tournament: Nov. 14, 2016, at the Valencia Country Club in Valencia, Calif. (For more, see our story.)
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Teaching in Connecticut

In June, 21 employees of West Hartford-based Top 100 Firm BlumShapiro gave over 200 elementary school students at Webster Elementary School a full day of interactive classroom lessons on work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy as part of Junior Achievement’s “JA in a Day” program. This is the seventh year that BlumShapiro has lead the JA in a Day program at Webster Hill. (For more, see our story.)
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Fostering Financial Literacy in New Jersey

The Mercadien Foundation of New Jersey-based Mercadien Group presented its 2nd annual Money$peak competition in mid-June with Rider University. The competition challenged nearly 60 teams of high school students to create short, innovative presentations on one of several specific personal finance topics to be judged for cash prizes and school grants. (The winners, from Hopewell Valley Central High School, and their school advisor, are pictured above.)
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Puppies and Pools in St. Louis

Anders CPAs + Advisors’ 29th Annual Hoops for Hope tournament attracted over 500 participants who raised $9,500 to support the 2016 Anders Charity of Choice, Stray Rescue of St. Louis. Hoops for Hope is Anders' NCAA basketball pool, and draws participation from staff, clients, referral sources and friends of the firm from all over the U.S.

Each January, members of the firm vote on a Charity of Choice and work throughout the year to support the organization through dress-down days, penny wars and other fundraising events, with Hoops for Hope the largest of those efforts.
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Supporting Scholarships in New Jersey

Bowman & Co. LLP supports the New Jersey Society of CPAs’ Lisa A. Donahue Scholarship, which was named after a partner of the firm – whose daughter Sarah (second from left, above) received the scholarship this March.
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Bowling for Big Brothers (and Sisters) in Illinois

Professionals from Illinois firm Scheffel Boyle CPAs raised $5,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois at the annua Bowl for Kids' Sake fundraiser. We particularly admire the two bowling teams’ names -- the Tax Manian Devils and the Ten-Key Strikers – but their donation is pretty impressive, too. (For more, see our story.)
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Golfing for Good, Part II: New Jersey

Top 100 Firm CohnReznick LLP held its 25th Anniversary Charity Golf Invitational in mid-June June 13 at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, which helped raise a total of $150,000 to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation. (For more, see our story.)
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Inspiring Tomorrow’s Accountants in Delaware

Belfint, Lyons & Shuman CPAs partnered with William Penn High School to help students experience the public accounting industry. First, students from the Penn Accounting Team had a half-day immersion program at the firm’s office, with an office tour, a service offering overview from members different departments, and rotations through each department for shadowing sessions.

A few days later, with BLS team members went to the high school to attend the year-end financial presentation the Penn Accounting Team gave to the leadership of Penn Bistro, where WPHS culinary students prepare for college and careers in a restaurant-style educational kitchen. 
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Win-Win-Wins in Kentucky

Over the past three years, Dean Dorton Allen Ford audit director Bill Kohm has led more than 20 University of Kentucky accounting students through real-world internal audit projects, guiding projects at three different businesses that lacked an internal audit function: a nonprofit, a restaurant, and veterinary practice. The students gained a resume-building experience and their clients benefited from value-added services at no cost, while Ohm (pictured above at the far right of the back row) got to give back to both the community and his alma mater, while boosting Dean Dorton as both a service provider and a talent recruiter.
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Making a Day of It in Kansas City

Kansas City accounting and consulting firm MarksNelson holds an annual Volunteer Day; this year’s was on June 16, and involved over 130 staff members working with eight Kansas City nonprofit organizations to "paint, clean, sort food and do yardwork." (For more, see our story.)

It’s all part of the firm’s Marks of Kindness program, which aims to bring professionals together in support of the local community and charitable endeavors therein.
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In Illinois, Helping Launch Careers

In mid-April, the Illinois CPA Society held its annual Jumpstart to Accounting event, which helps students representing 25 colleges and universities learn more about the transition to the professional world with the help of some of Chicago's biggest accounting firms. The program is now in its second year, and was created to show soon-to-be graduates what they can expect in the first couple of years of their careers. (For more, see our story.)
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