One of the key missions of Clark Schaefer Hackett’s Cincinnati Young Professionals (YP) Group has been public service and giving back to the community. Over the past couple of years, the group of about 70 of the firm’s young employees has partnered with the University of Cincinnati Economics Center’s Student Enterprise Program (StEP) and have helped by volunteering at Rees E Price, a local elementary school.
“Giving back to the community is important for helping those in need, but also for developing quality relationships and engaging fellow employees,” said John Niehaus, CPA, past Community Service Chair for the YP group. “The StEP program helps students from economically disadvantaged households learn the basics of buying, saving and investing by using ‘StEP dollars’ earned through positive behaviors – like completing homework, arriving on time, etc. – to purchase school supplies funded by UC’s Economic Center. The goal is to equip students with the tools to make effective economic and financial decisions in life, and we’re happy to be part of that process.”
Through 68.5 volunteer hours provided by 22 volunteers, Clark Schaefer Hackett reached 280 students at Rees E Price. These students earned a total of $154,184 in StEP dollars, spent $140,080, and donated $14,232. The StEP program overall donated $817,581 in StEP dollars, $8,175.81 real dollars.
Erin Harris, director of StEP, says that volunteers have given the Economics Center the opportunity to grow StEP from 1,700 students and 16 schools in 2012, to 5,300 students in 24 schools in 2016. “Our volunteers provide one-on-one interaction with thousands of elementary school students who don’t always have the chance to engage with business professionals and learn soft skills like handshaking and making eye contact,” says Harris. “Students get to learn about a variety of careers during their interactions with our business partner volunteers, which may provide ideas on future career paths for themselves.”
About Clark Schaefer Hackett
Founded in 1938, Clark Schaefer Hackett is a Top 100 CPA and advisory firm and one of the 60 largest in the nation. Serving clients throughout the United States from six locations in Ohio and one in Northern Kentucky, CSH advisors offer expertise in audit and assurance, tax, and business consulting to a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, construction and real estate, healthcare, financial services, as well as government entities, higher education institutions and not-for-profit organizations.