Kristina Johnson, Kyle New and Reba Gaskins of Burch, Oxner, Seale.

Congratulations to Burch, Oxner, Seale Co., CPAs, PA for winning SCACPA’s annual Community Connected Engagement Award in recognition of their work in assisting Wilson High School’s autism program during SCACPA’s 2019 October Month of Service.

Burch, Oxner, Seale Co. will be honored during our luncheon at the 2020 Spring Splash accounting conference in Spartanburg. This marks the second presentation of SCACPA’s Community Connected Engagement Award. The SCACPA staff reviewed the descriptions of philanthropic endeavors by members, chapters and firms in search of the most significant impact to the community.

Kristina Johnson, BOSCPA’s Administrative/Marketing Assistant, shared how the Florence firm supported Wilson High School’s autism program, which operates an in-school coffee shop that relies on donations from the community.

“During the first two weeks of October, our office divided into two teams, Witch’s Brew and Spooky Spice,” Johnson said. “The objective was to collect as many coffee supplies as possible. We even encouraged clients to participate. Both teams created ‘coffee collection pots’ to reflect their team name.”

The coffee shop is run by students in the autism program. The purpose is not to just sell coffee to students and faculty but to teach life skills. Student employees interact with classmates, clock in and out of work, understand how to prepare coffee, earn a paycheck – and learn how to save money.

The Witch’s Brew and Spooky Spice teams donated a total of:

  • 1,286 K-cup coffee pods
  • 2,200 sugar packets
  • 2,500 stirrers
  • 422 cups and lids
  • 264 individually wrapped creamers
  • 250 napkins

Every October, SCACPA challenges its chapters, firms and members to show how CPAs give back to the community October Month of Service, and here is a look at how so many of our members answered the call in 2019. If you still have photos of your 2019 October Month of Service project and you don’t see it included in our roundup, please email them and a description of your work to SCACPA Content Strategist Gregory Hardy at ghardy@scacpa.org.

McGregor & Company was the recipient of the inaugural Community Connected Engagement Award for their work in assisting food banks near four of its offices throughout South Carolina. More than 1,300 pounds of nonperishable items and canned goods were donated, surpassing the firm’s goal of 1,000 pounds. Clients, colleagues and friends donated items, and beneficiaries were Cans for Cans (Barnwell), Oliver Gospel Mission (Columbia), Loaves & Fishes Community Services (Greenville) and the Filling Station (Orangeburg).

Thank you to all members who donated their time and talents to the latest Month of Service, and we look forward to all your hard work again in October 2020!