Firms giving back: Sax gifts $15K to inspiring nonprofit

Sax LLP awards $15,000 to an inspiring nonprofit; a Warren Averett staffer is named chairperson of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity; and other charitable initiatives from firms across the country.

THE BONADIO GROUP

The Bonadio Group’s Albany and Rochester offices helped raise funds for local Habitat for Humanity chapters as part of the recent Upstate New York Construction Summit held across the two cities.

The Habitat for Humanity Capital District and Flower City Habitat for Humanity were each gifted $3,500 at the annual gatherings. The construction summits share market trends and best practices to guide regional construction firms.

“Our team’s generosity and commitment to helping others through this donation to Habitat for Humanity is a reminder of the impact we can have on the communities where we live and work,” stated Thomas Bonadio, CEO of the Bonadio Group. “This is truly a ‘win-win.’ We’re giving back to an organization supporting affordable, quality housing in conjunction with our construction summits, which offer valuable industry insight on issues affecting firms of every size in both the private and public sector.”

FRIEDMAN LLP

As part of the Top 100 Firm's staff-led philanthropy initiative Friedman Gives Back, Friedman LLP professionals participated in this year's Equinox Cycle for Survival on Sunday, Feb. 10.

Cycle for Survival sees cancer patients, survivors and their friends across the country ride stationary bikes in four-hour marathon sessions. The event raises money to fund research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for rare forms of the disease. Friedman's team ultimately raised more than $2,000.

SAX LLP

Clifton, N.J.-based accounting firm Sax announced the winner of its second annual Founder’s Award, which recognizes a top nonprofit organization with a $15,000 unrestricted gift. This year's winner is Oasis – a Haven for Women and Children, which looks to change the lives of women and children with programs designed to feed, clothe, educate and empower those in need.

Approximately 150 nonprofit organizations submitted essays and videos detailing how their organization inspires those around them. Five judges reviewed submissions to determine the winner, who was announced at the Founder’s Award ceremony on Jan. 24, 2019 at the Stony Hill Inn in Hackensack, N.J. The top 75 nonprofit organizations who applied were also invited to the event.

“Oasis is so grateful to the be the recipient of Sax’s Founder’s Award this year," stated Jennifer Brady, executive director of Oasis. "It is the 700 women and children who walk through our doors each day looking for hope and help that motivate us to do more and to be better. This award will help to ensure we can respond to the needs of this community and help some of our most vulnerable neighbors create brighter futures. Thank you to Sax for the support of our organization and recognizing our efforts to inspire others!”

Todd Polyniak, a partner at Sax, launched the Founder’s Award in 2017 as a means to to honor the legacy of Sax’s founders — Sander Sax, Morris Macy and Egon Fromm — who helped support local organizations.

“I would love to see all our competition imitate this event," said Polyniak in a statement. "If I can spur people into copying us, and donating money to not-for-profits, great, because this event was to help people. The for-profit world needs to support the not-for-profit world because their positive impact benefits us all.”

WARREN AVERETT

Warren Averett has announced that Cindy Ethridge, a member of the firm’s Audit Division in its Atlanta office, has been appointed the new chairperson of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity chairperson.

“It is an honor to serve as a member of, and now lead, the Atlanta Habitat Board of Directors," said Ethridge in a statement. "Our board members are all dedicated and talented people who believe in helping families achieve their home ownership goals and helping neighborhoods become thriving communities. It is an exciting time to be part of the board as the organization expands its reach to impact more families and communities.”

The Atlanta Habitat Board of Directors comprises 25 volunteers who set the direction of the organization including strategic goals, finances and government policies.

“Our new board appointments support Atlanta Habitat’s trajectory to expand our reach in neighborhoods on the Westside and to build affordable, innovative developments that will help us to change the economic mobility of low-income families in Atlanta and South Fulton,” stated Lisa Gordon, Atlanta Habitat president and CEO. “I am honored and thrilled to have a powerful board to affirm our mission to serve families.”

Ethridge is also a board member of the City of Refuge and an audit committee member of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church.

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