GSCPA Announces Accounting Industry Raised Over 1,140,468 Meals for Georgia's Food Banks

    ATLANTA, GA, September 20, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Georgia Society of CPAs (GSCPA) and the Georgia Food Bank Association (GFBA) are pleased to announce the results of the seventh annual Georgia Accounting Food Fight, which took place August 10 – 21. During the friendly two-week competition, accounting professionals statewide competed to raise funds for nine food banks across the state. All funds raised by each team stay local and benefit the food bank that serves their community.

This year, over 70 accounting firms and industry accounting departments representing over 5,300 members of the industry competed in the Food Fight, raising $285,117 for Georgia's food banks- the equivalent of 1,140,468 meals. Georgia's food banks have been responding to a large increase in demand since unemployment rates have soared due to the pandemic, and more Georgians have found themselves struggling to keep food on the table.

"What an amazing year to watch the profession come together to help the communities of Georgia." Said Boyd E. Search, CAE, President & CEO of The Georgia Society of CPAs. "In the seven years of the Georgia Accounting Food Fight, GSCPA has collectively raised over $1,000,000. And this year's record raised was no fluke, we are blessed to have experienced significant growth in donations year after year. We are so proud of the CPA professions consistent and relentless dedication to better our communities. CPAs doing what CPAs do; serve others."

GFBA presented awards in several categories, including Food Fight Hero, Hunger Champion, Industry, Sole Proprietor, Big Four, Large Firm, Medium Firm and Small Firm. Teams earn points for raising funds, promoting the competition on social media, and recruiting new teams to the Food Fight.

For the fifth year running, Anna Abernathy, of Lawrenceville won the honor of Grand Prize Food Fight Hero, raising $5,500 and earning the most points per employee statewide. The Grand Prize Hunger Champion Winner is Nichols, Cauley & Associates, with their local offices from around the state combining forces to raise $43,070 with the most points overall statewide. Find a full list of the 2020 Food Fight winners below by category.

"This has been an incredible year to be a part of the Georgia Accounting Food Fight. The profession has come together yet again for the cause of fighting hunger across all of Georgia. The final donations were truly impressive for our profession. Nichols Cauley has enjoyed the competition each year and we look forward to helping our communities in the years to come." Kirk J. Jarrett, CPA, Partner, Nichols, Cauley & Associates, LLC and 2020-2021 Board of Directors Chair, The Georgia Society of CPAs.

1 in 6 children in Georgia was food insecure before the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic. The Accounting Food Fight is timed each year to restock the food banks after the surge they experience during the summer when kids are out of school and eating more from their families' pantry. This year, the Food Fight was also focused on helping the food banks respond to the increasing number of Georgians seeking food assistance due to the Coronavirus pandemic's effects.

Since its inception in 2014, the Georgia Accounting Food Fight has collectively raised $1,093,356- the equivalent of 4,412,508 meals for the state's food banks.

The annual competition is open to all accounting professionals in the state of Georgia. All of the funds collected are donated to the regional food bank that serves each competitor's respective community.

"On behalf of Georgia's food banks, I want to thank the incredible team at The Georgia Society of CPAs for championing the Food Fight for us year after year," said Danah Craft, Executive Director of the Georgia Food Bank Association. "This was the most successful Food Fight yet, and I would like to congratulate Georgia's accounting industry for raising over a million meals for the food banks to distribute to families in need during these uncertain times when more Georgians are seeking food assistance than ever before. The collective effort to help us fight hunger this year has both impressed us and warmed our hearts."


2020 Georgia Accounting Food Fight Winners:


GRAND PRIZE HUNGER CHAMPION

NICHOLS, CAULEY & ASSOCIATES

MOST OVERALL POINTS STATEWIDE

177,281 Total Points


GRAND PRIZE FOOD FIGHT HERO

ANNA ABERNATHY CPA

MOST POINTS PER EMPLOYEE STATEWIDE

22,300 Points Per Employee


BIG FOUR WINNERS

KPMG

MOST POINTS OVERALL

26,989 Total Points


DELOITTE

MOST POINTS PER EMPLOYEE

70 Points per Employee


LARGE FIRM WINNERS

MOORE COLSON

MOST POINTS OVERALL

114,532 Total Points


TJS DEEMER DANA LLP

MOST POINTS PER EMPLOYEE

844 Points per Employee


MEDIUM FIRM WINNERS

WILLIAMS BENATOR & LIBBY LLP

MOST POINTS OVERALL

27,483 Total Points


R.L. JENNINGS & ASSOCIATES, PC

MOST POINTS PER EMPLOYEE

1,600 Points per Employee


SMALL FIRM WINNER

STATE TAX INCENTIVES

MOST POINTS OVERALL

& MOST POINTS PER EMPLOYEE

10,360 Total Points & 2,590 Points per Employee


SOLE PROPRIETOR WINNER

WEBER ATL INVESTMENTS LLC

MOST POINTS OVERALL

& MOST POINTS PER EMPLOYEE

1,300 Total Points & Points per Employee


INDUSTRY WINNER

TERADATA CORPORATION

MOST POINTS OVERALL

& MOST POINTS PER EMPLOYEE

7,139 Total Points & 79 Points per Employee


To see the regional highlights as well as a list of the Food Fight VIPs, individuals and firms who donated over $500, go to bit.ly/AccountingFoodFight.

Thank you again for your generosity and support of your food bank! We look forward to partnering with you again next year and continuing to work towards a hunger-free Georgia. Save the date - next year's Food Fight will take place on August 9-20, 2021. See you next year!

GSCPA is the premier professional organization for CPAs in the state of Georgia. With almost 14,000 members throughout the state, the purpose of GSCPA is to achieve excellence by providing superior advocacy, leadership, service, lifelong learning and personal and professional development opportunities. For more information, visit www.gscpa.org.

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