BDO United States - 100 Good Deeds

#1: Leadership Conference Attendees Team Up to Make Inaugural Good Deed a Memorable Success

The corridor of the Gaylord Texan Hotel in Dallas looked like a holiday bazaar with 17 tables piled high with an assortment of goodies just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. But when conference attendees began pouring out of their sessions to fill BDO bags with items ranging from shampoo and coloring books, to office supplies, hats and scarves, it became clear that this was much more than a bazaar: rather, it was a concerted and enthusiastic altruistic effort to provide everyday necessities to those in need.

#46: Good Deed #46: BDO Miami’s Second Good Deed Marks Fifth Consecutive Year of Autism Walk Participation

Autism research and awareness are causes near and dear to the hearts of those in the BDO Miami office. The office has been a longtime participant in the Walk for Autism Now, a major fundraiser for the national nonprofit organization Autism Speaks, inspired by Southeast Assurance Regional Business Line Leader Albert Lopez, whose 13-year-old son is autistic. To make this year’s event even more special, BDO Miami designated its fifth consecutive year of participation in the walk as the office’s second good deed.

#90: Good Deed #89 and #90: As Part of a Major Coordinated Volunteer Effort, BDO New York Packages Goods for Homeless

BDO’s two New York offices don’t stare down a challenge. In an effort to bring the 100 Good Deeds countdown to the finish line, the two offices, through some very impressive coordination efforts, have completed a series of volunteer events for the Food Bank for New York City. For these two good deeds, two groups of volunteers spent time sorting food at the pantry on two separate occasions. Stay tuned to BDO News to learn more about this major coordinated effort by the two offices – which included nearly 100 professionals representing nearly every New York business line, practice and job level – and what other good deeds the New York offices have completed to support Food Bank for New York City.

#23: Good Deed #22-23: BDO Austin Volunteers at a Food Bank and Delivers Holiday Gifts to Families in Need

Austin may be one of the smaller BDO offices, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in heart by completing two good deeds in one month. For its first Good Deed, BDO Austin supported the Capital Area Food Bank, one of Texas’ oldest and largest food banks. And for its second Good Deed, BDO Austin made the holidays a little brighter for families in need by helping Operation Blue Santa deliver meals and gifts to those less fortunate.

#98: Good Deed #98: 14 New York Volunteers Serve More Than 100 People Nutritious Meals

A few weeks following Good Deed #97, the 14 BDO volunteers arrived at the Community Kitchen & Food Pantry of West Harlem, and the staff was again pleased to see the number of BDO employees who took time out of their busy schedules to volunteer.

#95: Good Deed #95: BDO’s Board of Directors Packs School Supplies, Makes a Difference in the Lives of Kids at Ronald McDonald House

BDO’s board of directors holds quarterly off-site meetings to discuss firm strategy and performance. At the most recent meeting in New York, firm leadership took a break from a full day of meetings to support the young residents of the Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH NY) and their families.

#21: Good Deed #20-21: BDO 770 Kenmoor Adopts Two Families in Need and Helps Fix up a Home

BDO 770 Kenmoor in Grand Rapids wanted to brighten the lives of people in need during the holiday season and help turn their lives around, so it was a natural fit to adopt two families through Arbor Circle, an organization that helps people help themselves through the formation of healthy relationships.

#35: Good Deed #35: BDO Grand Rapids Offices Keep Community Roads Clean

Road-side litter can quickly destroy the beauty of a community. It piles up fast and furious, requiring dedicated workers and volunteers to help clean up the area. Thankfully, a mile of Forest Hill Avenue, between Cascade Road and Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Mich., has a great group of volunteers in place – employees at the BDO Grand Rapids practice and 770 Kenmoor offices.

#22: Good Deed #22-23: BDO Austin Volunteers at a Food Bank and Delivers Holiday Gifts to Families in Need

#20: Good Deed #20-21: BDO 770 Kenmoor Adopts Two Families in Need and Helps Fix up a Home

BDO's 770 Kenmoor office in Grand Rapids wanted to brighten the holidays and help turn around the lives of those in need, so it was a natural fit for the office to adopt two families through Arbor Circle, an organization that helps people help themselves by forming healthy relationships. But little did the volunteers know that this relatively straightforward good deed would result in a major home repair and an even larger sense of accomplishment and satisfaction for a job well done.

#14: Good Deeds #13-15: BDO’s IT Group Completes Three Good Deeds During National Conference

BDO’s Information Technology (IT) Group wanted to make a splash with its contribution to the firm’s 100 Good Deeds. So the group decided to take advantage of the extra time together provided by its weeklong national conference in Grand Rapids, Mich., to complete not just one, but three good deeds! For two hours on Jan. 13, 62 of the 140 conference-goers took a break from a full day of presentations, knowledge sharing and training to complete the good deeds, with many working on more than one.

#61: Good Deed #61: Dallas Office Chili Cookoff Raises Funds for American Heart Association in Employee’s Memory

When longtime BDO Dallas employee Mike Becker passed away over the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday from an apparent heart attack, his co-workers wanted to do something meaningful to honor his spirit and memory. The result was a chili cookoff and jeans day fund-raiser. Combined with a generous donation from the BDO Philadelphia office, a grand total of $395 was raised for the AHA.

#88: Good Deed #88: BDO Leadership Institute Attendees Support Literacy, Pack Children’s Lunch Bags

When National Training & Development (T&D) held its BDO Leadership Institute (BLI) in June in Evanston, Ill., it recognized the opportunity to perform another good deed for Christopher House, a BDO client and local nonprofit serving low-income children and their families. Learning of the organization’s upcoming Child/Teenage Literacy Night and the need for support, T&D decided to take advantage of all the helping hands on-site to perform another good deed for the deserving nonprofit.

#55: Good Deed #55: BDO Westchester Bowls Over the Competition While Helping a Local Youth Organization

For the past 10 years, BDO’s Westchester office has contributed, both financially and through volunteering, to Junior Achievement of the Hudson Valley, Inc. (JAHV), the local branch of the nonprofit economic education organization that gives students a hands-on economics education. So when the opportunity came for the office to sponsor and participate in a bowl-a-thon in support of JAHV as its second good deed, it was a no-brainer.

#5: Good Deed #5: BDO Milwaukee Turns Yard Work into a Meaningful Task

For many of us, fall yard work can be a difficult task. However, for elderly people, the strains of this regular chore can be life-threatening. That’s why BDO Milwaukee chose to participate in Make a Difference Day through the Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee and InterFaith Older Adult Programs, helping elderly people with fall home clean-up.

#57: Good Deed #57: BDO Melville and New York Team Up to Support a Client and a Community

The challenging economy of the past few years has had a profound impact on home ownership nationwide, with foreclosures devastating communities across the nation. Many are just now starting to get back on their feet. So when BDO’s New York and Melville offices wanted to do something to help locally, they turned to Sofia Blair, New York Assurance senior manager. Blair is the lead engagement manager for BDO New York client Community Development of Long Island (CDC LI). Blair’s contact at CDC LI, which is committed to revitalizing hard-hit communities, told her about a weeklong community initiative in nearby Wyandanch, N.Y. – an area that has seen many foreclosures – that could use some volunteer assistance.

#7: Good Deed #7: BDO Miami Lends a Helping Hand to the Community

With budgets running thin for many nonprofits, it is easy for important tasks to fall by the wayside. That’s why BDO’s Miami office jumped at the chance to volunteer for Hands on Miami (HOM) day – an event it has participated in for three years running – when it learned that one of its projects this year was beautifying and adding to the sustainability of historic Virginia Key Beach.

#16: Good Deed #16: BDO Phoenix Brings Holiday Cheer to a Local Family of Six

When BDO Phoenix volunteers completed their Good Deed, they knew they had made a difference, but they were surprised and touched when a special thank-you note from the family of six they “adopted” this past holiday season arrived. The simple, hand-written card said: “We want to thank you for all the joy and love you all brought to our home this season. You guys are our holiday angels.” It’s a sentiment each of the volunteers treasures deeply.

#28: Good Deed #28: BDO San Francisco Provides Free Tax Services to Families in Need, Generates Refunds In Excess of a Quarter Million Dollars

Tax season can cause stress for many individuals and families when it comes time to file. However, this stress is often magnified for families who don’t have the resources to prepare their own taxes or to hire a professional. That’s why BDO San Francisco, when looking to complete its third good deed, decided to carve out time during the height of busy season and put their collective accounting skills to work at Tax-Aid – a nonprofit organization that provides free income tax preparation to low-income families throughout the Bay Area.

#49: Good Deed #49: BDO Grand Rapids Runs for Charity at Client-Hosted Event

For many of us, running a 5K is an accomplishment in and of itself. However, 11 BDO Grand Rapids volunteers, along with a former BDO Grand Rapids professional and an Alliance firm member – Keith Pfeifle, a manager from Maner Costerisan – took this challenge to the next level by teaming up to run in support of several local nonprofit organizations. To top it off, this event was hosted by a longtime BDO client, making it not only an energetic Good Deed, but a great networking opportunity.

#60: Good Deed #60: BDO’s Chicago Practice Office Finds a Novel Way to Support a Nonprofit Fundraiser

For many, old books may collect dust on the shelf and seem to have little value. But for Little City Foundation, these books helped raise $150,000 for the nonprofit organization at a recent fundraising event, and BDO’s Chicago practice office spent an afternoon helping this highly respected group reach this total.

#2: Good Deed #2: Greater Washington, D.C. Volunteers Help Lead Kids to Happy Trails

Even the threat of rain couldn’t stop BDO Greater Washington, D.C. employees from smiling after a day of hard work. But this wasn’t a typical day – instead of sitting at computers, these employees were covered in mud from weeding, moving logs and lifting heavy boxes.

#53: Good Deed #53: Greater Washington, D.C. Volunteers Donate Sweat Labor to Help Preserve Historic Farm

For its fifth (yes, fifth!) good deed, the Greater Washington, D.C. office continued its annual tradition of working outdoors to help preserve the grounds of the Menare Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Germantown, Md., that helps preserve Underground Railroad history, historic sites and environments.

#36: Good Deed #36: BDO Conference Attendees Give Homeless Children Sweet Dreams

Homeless children often spend most of their childhood afraid, not knowing where their next meal will come from or where they’ll be sleeping on any given night. Focused solely on survival, they don’t have the chance to do things most children do, such as learning to read or playing with toys.

#13: Good Deeds #13, 14 and 15: Participants in BDO's National IT Conference Complete THREE Good Deeds

#39: Good Deed #39: San Diego Office Supports Local Civic Organization, Takes to the Water for Outrigger Challenge

Members of BDO San Diego showed their civic pride – and revealed their competitive side – by participating in an outrigger challenge or canoe race across San Diego’s Mission Bay. Proceeds from the event supported the Holiday Bowl, a post-season college football game organized by the nonprofit San Diego Bowl Game Association (SDBGA) that boosts the local economy.

#47: Good Deed #47: BDO Boston and Gardner Notch 100 Percent Participation in Food Drive Good Deed

When BDO’s Boston and Gardner offices teamed up for a friendly competition, they showed that two offices are better than one. The results: a huge donation of canned goods to the Greater Boston Food Bank during the holiday season, and a good deed that every single professional from both offices – as well as a number of clients – participated in.

#79: Good Deed #79: BDO Boston Races to Support Leadership Development of Inner City Youths

BDO Boston hit the pavement on June 24 as participants in Boston’s J.P. Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge, a 3.5-mile running event held in six countries on five continents. Participation is open to groups from organizations in the business and public sectors and BDO Boston signed up for the second consecutive year. Each year, a portion of the entry fees from each individual racer goes to support a local charity. This year, the Boston race beneficiary was Camp Harbor View, a day camp that serves more than 700 inner city youths each summer.

#71: Good Deed #71: BDO New York Offices Join Together to Provide Comforts of Home for Displaced Victims of Domestic Abuse

Safe Horizon, a victim assistance agency, helps New York City’s residents who have been affected by domestic violence through a variety of services and programs, including acting as New York City’s largest provider of domestic violence residences, with more than 425 beds available throughout the five city boroughs. When Assurance Administrative Assistant Maritza Varacalli learned of this group and the great things they do for the New York City area, she knew she wanted to do something to support. The result? A joint good deed by BDO’s New York City offices, making BDO Cares kits for residents of one of the domestic violence residences.

#81: Good Deed #81-82: BDO Las Vegas Doubles Its Efforts, Performs Two Good Deeds for Muscular Dystrophy Association

For the first good deed, the Las Vegas office gathered much-needed medical and camping supplies for the MDA summer camp – an annual camp in Lake Tahoe attended by children diagnosed with MD and related diseases, allowing them to have fun and build relationships. Cohen distributed a list of requested supplies, which included bug spray, children’s Tylenol, Sudafed, juice, band-aids, diapers and sun screen, giving everyone in the office two weeks to make their contributions. Several people contributed items and money, and Cohen used the money to buy additional items. Altogether, 10 BDO bags were stuffed full of supplies.

#44: Good Deed #44: BDO Seattle Supports Women in Need with Combined Good Deed/ConnectIn Event

When BDO’s Seattle office was looking for a good deed to coordinate, planners felt they could have the greatest impact by combining their good deed with an event for ConnectIn. The result: a unique and enlightening volunteering and networking event at the 18th Annual Art of Dining, a fundraiser for the Women’s Funding Alliance (WFA), which provides critical services to women in the Puget Sound region.

#78: Good Deed #78: BDO Consulting Dunk Tank Fundraiser Puts Partners and Directors in (Cold) Water to Benefit Youth Development

BDO Consulting used the occasion of its traditional summer outing to host a family-friendly fundraiser that doubled as the office’s fourth good deed. For this year’s outing – a family picnic hosted at a park, which happened to have a dunk tank – BDO Consulting decided to use the opportunity to raise money for charity. The charity chosen was Project Morry, a nonprofit, yearround youth development organization that focuses on building teamwork skills and positive core values for inner-city youths.

#58: Good Deed #58: Chicago Practice Office Goes to the Dogs by Supporting Local Shelter

BDO Chicago Practice exercised the four-legged residents of Chicago Canine Rescue, taught basic commands, and provided love and attention through walks and outside play time during Shelter Volunteer Days July 15-16.

#48: Good Deed #48: BDO Westchester ‘Goes the Distance’ to Support Local Children’s Hospital

On a sunny Sunday morning, 10 members of BDO’s Westchester office, joined by eight family members, walked to support Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital (MFCH) . This event, called “Go the Distance,” helped raise both funds and awareness for the hospital, a highly regarded, all-specialty pediatric hospital that treats the region's most critically ill and injured children.

#86: Good Deed #86: Facilitation Skills Training Attendees Help Make Life Easier for Teen Parents at Chicago’s Christopher House

Attendees at the Facilitation Skills event, a train-the-trainer session that teaches client service professionals the ins and outs of facilitating training, wanted to use their time together to give back to the community and embraced the idea of supporting Christopher House’s teen parent program as an official good deed.

#19: Good Deed #18-19: BDO San Francisco Office Helps Local Organization Throw a Holiday Party and Adopts a Family in Need

Homelessness is spreading in major cities, especially given the difficult economic realities of the last few years with layoffs and foreclosures taking their toll on families. BDO’s San Francisco office wanted to do something special to make the holidays a bit happier for families facing significant hardships as a result of these conditions – so it completed two good deeds.

#96: Good Deed #96: BDO Orange County Strikes Up Support for Junior Achievement

BDO’s Orange County (OC) office helps the firm roll its way to 100 good deeds (we’re almost there!) with its latest volunteer effort: a fun-filled bowling outing supporting Junior Achievement (JA) of Southern California, the local branch of the nonprofit economic education organization that gives students a hands-on economics education. Each year, companies can help raise funds for Junior Achievement through an event called the Inspiration Bowl.

#12: Good Deed #12: BDO San Diego Feeds the Hungry and Helps Change Lives – All Before Reporting to Work

Since the BDO San Diego office is a relatively new addition to the firm and to the community it serves, it wanted to make a powerful impression by completing not just one, but two, good deeds - all before the end of 2009. Father Joe’s Villages, a multi-city homeless rehabilitation organization dedicated to addressing the immediate and ongoing needs of underprivileged children, families and individuals, provided the perfect opportunity to make a difference.

#40: Good Deed #40: BDO Chicago Takes a Polar Plunge for Children

Most people would consider plunging into the below-freezing waters of Lake Michigan on a cold, winter morning a punishment they wouldn’t wish on their worst enemy. However, more than 1,700 people did just that in early March – including 13 volunteers from the Chicago practice office who willingly ran screaming into the subarctic water. Why would anyone in their right mind do such a thing? Fortunately there’s a logical answer. The Chicago Polar Plunge is a three-week fundraising effort for Special Children’s Charities – the fundraising arm for the Special Olympics in Chicago, and BDO was participating for the fourth consecutive year.

#70: Good Deed #70: BDO Greater Washington, D.C. Takes the Cake to Benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Shared interests and experiences can help build office camaraderie, even if those commonalities are rooted in adversity. The lives of at least five members of the BDO Greater Washington, D.C. office have been touched by leukemia and/or lymphoma – a devastating form of blood cancer. This shared struggle inspired BDO's Miracle Team, a group of BDO volunteers who have raised money and awareness for leukemia and lymphoma research since 2006.

#63: Good Deed #63: BDO’s Chicago Practice Takes On The Corporate Challenge For Charity

Sixteen members of the Chicago practice office dusted off their athletic shoes to combine a good deed with a citywide running event. The JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge is a well-known running series that encourages businesses to register and run together. And each year, a portion of the entry fees from each individual racer goes to support a local charity. This year, the charity was the Greater Chicago Food Depository – a nonprofit food distribution and training center that provides food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in the greater Chicago community.

#56: Good Deed #56: BDO Memphis Finds Holiday Gift Giving Elementary

It’s almost back-to-school season, but BDO Memphis is still glowing over a holiday gift-giving good deed that brightened the spirits of inner city schoolchildren. Gathering for what has become an annual holiday tradition for the Memphis office, volunteers took part in “Share the Spirit of Giving,” a Volunteer Mid-South activity, for the third consecutive year. Volunteer Mid-South was established in 2009 to serve as a comprehensive "all things volunteer" organization.

#9: Good Deed #9: BDO Charlotte Sorts Clothing for Families in Need

BDO Charlotte volunteers wanted to help less fortunate people in their community, and with assistance from six friends and family members, they volunteered at the Crisis Assistance Ministry (CAM) Free Store, where Charlotte’s poorest residents can get clothing, housewares, furniture and appliances at no cost.

#75: Good Deed #75: BDO Westchester Nourishes Those in Need Through Food Collection and Sorting

An individual’s passion for a particular cause can inspire others to embrace it as well. Last fall, when Westchester Assurance Office Business Line Leader George Whitehead attended a local food bank benefit, he learned of programs that his office could assist with.

#92: Good Deed #91 and #92: BDO Philadelphia Whips Up Culinary Feasts for Ronald McDonald House

#87: Good Deed #87: BDO Consulting Honors Late Colleague Through Golf and Tennis Fundraiser

For 25 years, Jerry D’Amato was with the firm and served as a partner in New York’s Business Restructuring Services (BRS) group. He was a friend to many. In late 2005, D’Amato passed away from esophageal cancer. As a result, a group of BDO Consulting colleagues, family members and friends formed the Jerry D’Amato Charity Foundation, a nonprofit group committed to raising funds for esophageal cancer research as well as to promote awareness of early detection and possible triggers of this cancer.

#26: Good Deed #26: BDO Philadelphia Makes Holiday Dreams Come True for Family in Need

Perhaps no one looks forward to the holidays more than children, who are filled with a sense of anticipation as they gently shake gift-wrapped packages wondering what the season will bring. But some families are not so fortunate. When BDO Philadelphia Assurance Manager Joanne Szupka learned that Youth Services, Inc. (YSI) faced a shortage of gifts to give to needy families, she knew the office had found their good deed. Adopting the family turned into a deeply personal experience for the BDO volunteers, as well as for the family of four.

#24: Good Deed #24: BDO Grand Rapids Helps Seniors in an Emergency by Preparing 2,000-Plus Meals

Senior citizens who rely on Meals on Wheels every day need assurance that they won’t go hungry should inclement weather interrupt those deliveries. BDO Grand Rapids came to the rescue, helping the local Senior Meals on Wheels program package 450 boxes, each of which included five emergency meals – or a total of 2,250 meals! And they completed this good deed in just three hours, helping BDO reach the one-quarter mark milestone in its quest to perform 100 Good Deeds in the firm’s centennial year.

#32: Good Deed #32: BDO Los Angeles Becomes Volunteer All-Star at Local Food Bank

Some of today’s hottest celebrities, such as Teri Hatcher, Nick Jonas and Mario Lopez, recently pitched in at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank’s food sorting center, and now BDO Los Angeles volunteers are stars in their own right after volunteering their time to help those less fortunate.

#62: Good Deed #62: BDO Grand Rapids Goes Bingo for Veterans’ Home

BDO Grand Rapids volunteers helped a group of local veterans enjoy an evening of bingo and snacks, offering a welcome break away from their normal routines as residents of Grand Rapids Home for Veterans.

#64: Good Deed #64: 770 Kenmoor Helps Give Long Overdue Welcome Home to Michigan’s Vietnam War Vets

War veterans often feel a special connection with each other. So when Chris Leaver, a Gulf War veteran and QA technical analyst at 770 Kenmoor, learned of an event to welcome home Michigan’s Vietnam war veterans – 40 years after the fact – he knew it was a perfect good deed opportunity for his office.

#74: Good Deed #74: BDO Detroit Adopts a Soldier

In spring 2010, BDO Detroit “adopted” Corporal Jeffrey Burke of the U.S. Marine Corps so that in the words of Soldier’s Angels motto, “no soldier goes unloved.”

#38: Good Deed #38: Orange County Volunteers Clean Up Rare Ecological Preserve

Under a perfect blue sky on a recent Saturday morning, 16 volunteers from the Orange County (OC) BDO office – along with family members – spent two hours picking up trash and small plant debris from the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve.

#3: Good Deed #3: At BDO Boston, Halloween Means Raising Money for Kids in Need

Doing one good deed wasn’t enough for BDO Boston. This office found a way to help two organizations through one activity – and give children a very special Halloween, to boot.

#4: Good Deed #4: BDO Houston Helps Fundraiser Run Like a Well-Oiled Machine

BDO Houston has been making a difference for the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation for years: the organization is a client of the Houston Assurance department, and volunteers from the office assist at the center’s annual fundraiser, NovemberFest, held in San Felipe, Texas. So when it came time to prepare for this year’s event, the office knew it would be a perfect fit for one of the firm’s good deeds.

#6: Good Deed #6: BDO San Jose Helps Feed Families in Need

While many of us eagerly await our next paycheck, imagine what it would feel like not to be able to put food on the table for you and your family.

#33: Good Deed #33: BDO 770 Kenmoor Saves 36 Lives by Donating Blood

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and, according to the Red Cross, more than 38,000 blood donations are used every day. With only a five-week shelf life, blood supplies quickly expire.

#67: Good Deed #67: BDO New York Grants Wishes for Underprivileged Kids

For the past decade, BDO’s New York offices have participated in New York Cares’ “Winter Wishes” program that helps fulfill the holiday wishes of thousands of disadvantaged children, teens and families from shelters and community organizations throughout New York City. Administrative Assistant Margaret Adams, who helps coordinate the event each year, considers it a highlight of the holiday season: “Because we’ve done this event for so many years, whenever holiday time approaches, I’m always asked if we’re doing it again,” she says. “People around here genuinely look forward to helping make the holidays brighter for those less fortunate.”

#34: Good Deed #34: BDO Austin Helps Teach Old Dogs New Tricks

Individuals living with mobility or hearing challenges can find everyday tasks, such as crossing the street or retrieving dropped items, a frustrating – or even life-threatening – obstacle. However, a properly trained service dog can be a faithful companion, assisting them with these tasks while looking out for their well-being. And BDO Austin helped support Texas Hearing and Service Dogs - an organization that trains these dogs and provides them at no cost to those in need.

#84: Good Deed #84: Southern California BDO Offices Slog Out a Challenging Course in Armed Forces Mud Run

When BDO’s three southern California offices – Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego – were looking for a good deed that required teamwork, they turned to the Armed Services YMCA and learned about the annual 10K Mud Run, which raises funds for military families through individual and team entry fees.

#15: Good Deeds #13-15: BDO’s IT Group Completes Three Good Deeds During National Conference

#73: Good Deed #73: BDO’s Houston Office Prepares Home-Cooked Lunch for 42 Families

Sometimes, a home cooked meal is all anyone needs to feel a bit better. With this spirit in mind, the Houston office helped brighten the day for families staying at the local Ronald McDonald House (RMH) by planning, purchasing, preparing and serving a home-cooked lunch – a BDO Counts event the office has participated in for several years.

#10: Good Deed #10: BDO San Diego Shows Appreciation to Wounded Soldiers, Entertains Families with Sick Children

When BDO San Diego employees offered to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) of San Diego’s new facility on Dec. 17, they were honored to find out they also would be involved in the Wounded Warriors holiday party – an annual event at RMH for those who served and were injured in the line of duty.

#89: Good Deed #89 and #90: As Part of a Major Coordinated Volunteer Effort, BDO New York Packages Goods for Homeless

#91: Good Deed #91 and #92: BDO Philadelphia Whips Up Culinary Feasts for Ronald McDonald House

The Ronald McDonald House has a special place in Joanne Szupka’s heart. That’s because the BDO Philadelphia Assurance manager has fond memories of how the staff and other families at the house nurtured her mother during a stay there in the 1990s. So when the 100 Good Deeds initiative was launched, Szupka jumped at the opportunity to do even more for the worthy organization, enlisting her colleagues to prepare meals for the local Ronald McDonald House.

#76: Good Deed #76: Chicago National Steers Make-A-Wish Foundation Event Participants in the Right Direction with Sign-Correcting Project

The Make-A-Wish Foundation (MAW) of Illinois’ annual Ride and Stride for Wishes is a family-friendly fundraising event to grant the wishes of Illinois children living with life-threatening medical conditions. This year’s event was smoother thanks to the help of BDO’s Chicago National office, which came together to correct signs that caused confusion in last year’s event.

#8: Good Deed #8: BDO Las Vegas Prepares Families a Home-Cooked Meal

On Dec. 3, BDO volunteers planned, purchased, cooked and served dinner at the Ronald McDonald House® of Greater Las Vegas. This temporary housing community serves up to 15 families who have children receiving treatment for serious diseases or injuries at a local medical facility but who live more than 25 miles away.

#43: Good Deed #43: BDO High Point Lends a Hand at a Local Elementary School Fundraiser

When High Point Credit Coordinator Amy Scutari heard about Union Hill Elementary School from her sister’s neighbor, she had a feeling it would make for a compelling office-wide volunteering activity – High Point’s first.

#31: Good Deed #31: BDO Las Vegas and Greater Washington, D.C. Team Up to Help Students and U.S. Troops

Sometimes, good deeds come together in unexpected ways. That’s what happened when members of BDO’s Las Vegas office contributed their professional knowledge to help a group of underprivileged schoolchildren raise funds for a trip to our nation’s capital.

#52: Good Deed #52: BDO Charlotte Channels ‘I Love Lucy,’ Packages Food Assembly-Line Style for Local Charity

For its second good deed, the Charlotte office took a page out of a classic “I Love Lucy” episode, substituting a prep kitchen at a worthy organization for the chocolate factory of sitcom fame. The result: a whopping 700 meals packaged by volunteers for delivery by Friendship Trays, an organization that provides food trays for sick, elderly and handicapped individuals.

#93: Good Deed #93: 38 BDO Dallas Volunteers Make School Cool for Kids from Low-Income Families

For its third good deed, BDO Dallas decided to provide much-needed supplies for children returning to school, allowing the kids to concentrate on their classes and making friends, rather than being concerned about not having the proper equipment.

#41: Good Deed #41: BDO Spokane Puts the Pedal to the Metal to Raise Money for Three Local Nonprofits

Benefiting three charities is always better than just one. And for the past six years, BDO’s Spokane office has been participating in an annual event that supports a trio of local nonprofits – while letting BDOers let out some road rage in a fun team-building experience. So when the Spokane office signed up again this year, volunteers decided to register it as a good deed.

#18: Good Deed #18-19: BDO San Francisco Office Helps Local Organization Throw a Holiday Party and Adopts a Family in Need

#97: Good Deed #97 – #100: BDO New York Offices Coordinate Efforts, Serve Meals to Nearly 1,000 NYC Homeless for Four Good Deeds

In an effort to bring the 100 Good Deeds countdown to the finish line with gusto, BDO's two New York offices completed a series of volunteer events for the Food Bank for New York City – one of the country’s largest food banks.

#94: Good Deed #94: BDO Chicago Practice Puts Its Expertise to Work, Preparing Taxes for Low-Income Families

Tax season is a challenging time for low-income families. Through Ladder Up’s tax assistance program, volunteers show these families how to make the most of their earnings with free tax preparation services. Since helping people with their taxes is a BDO specialty, the Chicago practice office thought volunteering for Ladder Up would be a perfect fit, not to mention a great opportunity for a good deed.

#80: Good Deed #80: BDO Richmond Feels Grand After Raising a Grand for American Cancer Society

According to the statistics, cancer has most likely had an impact in our personal lives. In 2006, it was estimated that a staggering 11.6 million Americans either had cancer or a history of cancer. Knowing how widespread the disease is, BDO Richmond wanted to do something to support a cause that fights to find a cure, so they combined a good deed with a ConnectIn event, raising money for the American Cancer Society (ACS).

#29: Good Deed #29: BDO New York and 135 W. 50th Share the Joy of Reading with Students

For many kids, books are a luxury their parents and schools can’t afford. On top of that, learning and reading can pose unique challenges for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). But at the AHRC Brooklyn Blue Feather School, economically disadvantaged children with ASD are reading successfully and loving every minute of it. BDO New York and 135 W. 50th wanted to help these hard-working students succeed by providing each with a Dr. Seuss book as part of Read Across America week – an annual nationwide reading motivation and awareness program.

#30: Good Deed #30: Human Capital Hops to the Challenge by Fixing Children’s Boo Boo (Bunnies)

When BDO’s national Human Capital business line (HC) arrived in sunny San Antonio, Texas, for its annual conference, the sunshine inspired them to make others’ lives a little brighter. So, they took the rare opportunity of all HC members being together as a group and put it to good use by completing Good Deed No. 31, using a touch of creativity, a lot of heart and a little hop.

#69: Good Deed #69: BDO Boston Spruces Up Local Boys and Girls Club As Part of Corporate Volunteer Day

Every third Saturday in May is Corporate Volunteer Day in Boston – a day organized by Boston Cares where local businesses support the Greater Boston community through volunteer activities. BDO’s Boston office has participated in this citywide event for several years and, as usual, they couldn’t turn down another opportunity to volunteer their services. And this time, they made it the office’s third good deed.

#66: Good Deed #66: BDO Houston Teams Up with Tax and Assurance Client to Send Cards to Soldiers

Those wishing to connect with their loved ones who are serving in the armed forces, either in the U.S. or overseas, have a unique option available to them with “Send a Card to a Soldier” – a free service that allows senders to customize personal greeting cards to service members. The cards are then printed at a division of Nationwide Graphics, a BDO Houston Tax and Assurance client , and delivered to a grateful soldier.

#77: Good Deed #77: BDO San Jose’s Helping Hands – and Accounting Expertise – Add Up to a Successful Good Deed Benefiting Autism Nonprofit

Those with a personal connection to a cause are often the most passionate about it – and most likely to inspire others to contribute. That’s how Jennifer Harris, BDO San Jose office administrator, and several co-workers, who have a child with either autism or an autism spectrum disorder, involved their fellow BDOers, as well as family and friends, in the local Walk for Autism Now as the San Jose office’s second good deed.

#54: Good Deed #54: BDO 770 Kenmoor Supports Cancer Research, Participates in ‘Relay for Life’

A rich source of ideas for office-wide good deeds is suggestions from individuals in the office who have a deep, personal connection to a particular cause or organization. That’s what happened when the 770 Kenmoor office decided to participate in the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” as its eighth good deed. The event was suggested by Human Capital Resource Center Specialist Stacie Winker, who is passionate about the event and its deep meaning, not only to her, but to all who participate.

#42: Good Deed #42: BDO Nashville Bands Together to Help Rebuild Homes of Flood Victims

A major flood in early May caused extensive damage to middle Tennessee, destroying countless homes and businesses, but sparing BDO’s Nashville office and its 25 professionals. To give back to the community that has given them so much, BDO Nashville turned to Hands on Nashville (HON), the “go-to” organization for coordinating flood relief efforts, looking for an opportunity to help.

#27: Good Deed #27: Thanking Nonprofit Volunteers Was a Sweet Proposition for BDO Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo Employees and Interns

Free tax preparation services are a blessing for those who normally wouldn’t be able to afford the services of an accountant. That’s what Kent County Tax Credit Coalition (KCTCC) does with the assistance of its accountant volunteers. But BDO Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo took a slightly different track for Good Deed 28. Rather than assisting with tax preparation, the two offices took a break from busy season and created custom gift bags and handwritten thank you notes to help the KCTCC thank its regular volunteers.

#50: Good Deed #50: Busy Season No Obstacle for BDO Dallas in Helping Families of Sick Children Relax

The demands of busy season often make people very selective about how they spend their limited free time. But for BDO’s Dallas office, doing a good deed for the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas (RMHD) was a no-brainer.

#25: Good Deed #25: BDO Richmond Shares the Love by Creating Valentine’s Day Cards for Overseas Troops

U.S. men and women serving their country overseas make many sacrifices, and one of the biggest of these is separation from their loved ones. Not only do many troops lack basic necessities, such as health and hygiene items; but, even more so, never receive letters or care packages from home. BDO Richmond wanted to show those troops their appreciation by sending them homemade Valentine’s Day cards through an organization called AnySoldier.com, created to give people a way to show the members of the armed forces that they care.

#59: Good Deed #59: BDO Melville Makes Local Bays Safe for Marine Life in Its Fourth Good Deed

BDO Melville decided to help Operation SPLASH, a nonprofit organization that fights waterfront pollution in Long Island’s bays, as the office’s fourth good deed.

#45: Good Deed #45: BDO Melville Brightens up Seniors’ Lives

With two good deeds already under its belt, BDO Melville didn’t want to just rest on its laurels. So for good deed No. 3, Office Administrator Anita Stark suggested supporting a neighborhood-based organization where she had volunteered in the past: the Huntington Hills Center for Health and Rehabilitation, an upscale nursing home that caters to people needing short-term rehab and people living there permanently.

#37: Good Deed #37: BDO Melville Makes Fairy Tales Come True for Long Island Teens

There are many important moments in a high school girl’s life that are cherished forever – being asked to the prom is top on that list. But some girls get asked to the prom and have to decline because they can’t afford a dress.

#72: Good Deed #72: BDO Woodbridge School Supply Drive Sends Kids in Need Back to School in Style

School supplies, from notebooks and lunch boxes to simple pens and pencils, are critical to the learning process. That’s why BDO’s Woodbridge office decided to support Bridges Outreach, an organization that serves the homeless, to collect and pack school supplies for homeless children.

#82: Good Deed #81-82: BDO Las Vegas Doubles Its Efforts, Performs Two Good Deeds for Muscular Dystrophy Association

Labor Day has become synonymous with the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) telethon over the years and, this year, BDO Las Vegas jumped in to do its part. On Monday, Sept. 6, a team of BDO volunteers from the Las Vegas office helped answer phones as part of the annual telethon.

#83: Good Deed #83: 31 BDO Houston Volunteers Make a Child’s Day Brighter with ‘Boo Boo Bunnies’

For its fourth good deed, BDO Houston wanted to support children in need. Inspired by a good deed completed by Human Capital (HC), the BDO Counts Committee thought making “boo boo bunnies” for sick children at the Texas Children’s Hospital would be a good officewide event.

#68: Good Deed #68: BDO Grand Rapids Practice Helps Feed 1,600 Kids

For many poverty-stricken kids, the meals they receive at school are the only food they get all day long. However, Kids’ Food Basket has set out to change that for the surrounding Grand Rapids community by providing “sack suppers” to schools in low-income areas. Without the evening meals that Kids’ Food Basket delivers, these children would not have any food from the time they ate lunch until breakfast the next morning.

#51: Good Deed #51: BDO Atlanta Helps Process 4,000-Plus Meals for Local Area Food Shelters

BDO Atlanta recently completed its first good deed thanks to support from its business line leaders, who arranged for the participants to take a half day from work to volunteer at the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB). Because of this support from Assurance office business line leader (OBLL) John Klisch and Tax regional business line leader (RBLL) Michael Whitacre, the office was able to achieve more than enough participation to qualify the event as a good deed.

#99: Good Deed #99: 17 New York Volunteers Serve More Than 150 People Nutritious Meals

Members making up Good Deed #99 continued the great efforts of the previous volunteer teams by helping prepare a spaghetti dinner with Bolognese sauce, salad, freshly baked bread and a fresh apple along with a side of grape juice.

#100: Good Deed #100: 17 New York Volunteers Serve More Than 100 People Nutritious Meals

The New York offices closed out this major volunteer effort, and reached the milestone ranking of Good Deed #100! When the 16 volunteers arrived the day of the event, the kitchen staff was shocked and humbled once again by the volume of support.

#11: Good Deed #11: Greater Washington, D.C. Office Creates Weeklong Event to Help Feed Less Fortunate

Montgomery County, Md., might be one of the wealthiest counties in the U.S., but many families there still struggle to put food on the table. That’s why BDO’s Greater Washington, D.C. office frequently volunteers at Manna Food Center (MFC), the local food bank. This time, they didn’t spend just one day performing a good deed, but merged multiple BDO initiatives to create a weeklong event, while helping feed local families in need.

#65: Good Deed #65: BDO West Palm Beach Joins Forces with Women’s Initiative to Help Homeless

To help address the needs of homeless people in Palm Beach, and to support the firm’s 100 Good Deeds initiative, May Barra, Assurance senior manager and Women’s Initiative coordinator, and Hubert Ignacio, Assurance manager and BDO Counts coordinator, worked with their colleagues in the BDO West Palm Beach office by helping to arrange a joint Good Deed/Women’s Initiative event for The Lord’s Place – an agency dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness through various rehabilitation services. Barra and Ignacio organized two events for this day of volunteering: collecting and distributing personal care items and serving hot meals to homeless visitors.

#17: Good Deed #17: BDO Los Angeles Adopts Family in Need During the Holidays

When BDO’s Los Angeles office was looking for a good deed to perform, Chris and Angie Haro had the perfect solution. The two Assurance senior associates are board members of the Santa Monica Junior Chamber and head up its Adopt-a-Family program. “We figured it would be a great idea if we made it a combined effort between BDO and the Chamber,” says Angie Haro.

#85: Good Deed #85: BDO’s Chicago Offices Help Throw a Carnival for Kids, Avert Hot Dog Disaster

On a sunny Friday afternoon, 10 volunteers from the Chicago practice and national offices headed to the headquarters of Christopher House – a nonprofit, and BDO client, that assists low-income children and their families by providing programs that support cognitive, emotional, social and physical development.