BRC staff finished the year on a generous note. Colleagues in each office chose to make the holidays brighter for our neighbors by supporting local nonprofits. In Greensboro, a collection of toys, balls, and board games went to young, recently arrived refugees through World Relief; Winston Salem office played Santa by donating gifts to Toys for Tots; Dunn office presented $900 to Feeding our Neighbors (Meals on Wheels); Charlotte office provided presents for families experiencing homelessness through A Child’s Place; and Raleigh office delivered bikes, Barbies and other treasures to children in foster care through Children’s Home Society of NC.
“We are a firm of people who care about people,” former partner Wade Pack said years ago, referring to BRC’s commitment to community engagement. Today, those efforts – during the holiday season and year-round – are organized through BRC Cares, a committee with representatives from all departments and levels of staff.
“We encourage staff to get involved in organizations that are meaningful to them,” says David Kaplan, CPA and partner, who chairs BRC Cares. “We empower staff to bring ideas to the table and help them by promoting the opportunity to others within the firm or providing resources within our budget.”
As an example, Colby Ingle, Assurance supervisor in the Greensboro office, asked BRC Cares to email a call for volunteers to help at Bike MS: Tour to Tanglewood, a two-day ride to raise funds for MS research. Ten members from BRC’s Greensboro and Winston offices accepted the invitation, arriving early to set up the tent on a blustery September morning and then to spend half a day greeting and feeding lunch to the cyclists. Colby knew some of the BRC volunteers, but not all, which created an opportunity to build connections inside the firm while serving the community together.
BRC Cares committee members also review and approve requests for charitable donations, based on the budget, David explains. Sponsorships in 2023 included six area schools, plus Tiger Kim’s Kicking for Miracles (benefits area children’s hospitals), and High Point Police Youth Leadership Academy.
Some activities happen occasionally, such as food sorting at Greensboro Urban Ministry pantry. Other activities occur predictably, such as collecting school supplies in August, or the holiday drive in December. Throughout the year, BRC Cares also organizes awareness campaigns for issues such as food insecurity, diabetes or cancer information, and Marching through March, a friendly team competition among staff that encourages them to improve health by tracking their steps each day.
The BRC Cares Committee is continuously looking for new ways to get involved in our local communities. Feel free to reach out to your BRC representative with any opportunities or suggestions.