Firms giving back: Grant Thornton names Purple Paladin recipient

Top 100 Firm blumshapiro has donated $24,000 to nonprofit hunger organizations across Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through its blumshapiro Foundation, the firm donated $8,000 each to Foodshare, Inc., the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and the Greater Boston Food Bank. Over the last three years, the blumshapiro Foundation has donated approximately $300,000.

“Especially in uncertain times like these, we believe we have a responsibility to assist our communities," said Joseph Kask, CEO of blumshapiro, in a statement. "We are proud to support these three organizations, and we applaud their collective efforts day in and day out to make a real difference in the lives of our friends and neighbors.”

The Georgia Society of CPAs is currently holding its seventh Annual Georgia Accounting Food Fight, a two-week, virtual fundraising competition held among local accountants across the state. The event is presented by GSCPA and the Georgia Food Bank Association.

Held from Aug. 10 - 21, Georgia accounting firms and industry accounting departments hold a friendly competition to donate the most to their regional food bank. For every $1 raised, teams will earn four points. At the end of the two-week event, the firm with the most points and the most points per capita in each firm size category will be honored.

All donations made during the Georgia Accounting Food Fight directly support Georgia’s food banks. The Food Fight’s fundraising goal this year is to raise $200,000 statewide. If raised, it will mark one million dollars donated since the program's inception.

Georgia accounting firms and departments can learn more on the Georgia Food Bank's site here.

Grant Thornton has named Weird Enough Productions as the most recent recipient of the firm's Purple Paladin initiative — a program designed to help emerging nonprofit organizations move from startups to more sustainable organizations via funding, business advice and volunteer support.

Based in Atlanta, Weird Enough Productions develops free, interactive online content designed to combat media misrepresentations of minority communities. The organization is best known for its comic book series "The UnCommons."

Weird Enough Productions also partners with educators across the country via Get Media L.I.T., pairing The UnCommons comic with lesson plans and curricula to help teach students.

“My dream is to get our content in the hands of young people across the country so they can become the heroes of their own stories," said Weird Enough founder Tony Weaver, Jr. in a statement. "Grant Thornton will be a great collaborator in broadening our reach and I am very grateful for the firm’s support.”

“Helping America’s children overcome racial inequities will require energy, entrepreneurial spirit and creativity," said Grant Thornton CEO Brad Preber in a statement. "That is exactly what Weird Enough Productions brings to the table. The organization is a testament to the idea that everyone — regardless of race, gender or background — can be a hero for positive change when they are empowered and supported. And that’s what our Purple Paladins program is all about.”

More information on Weird Enough Productions can be found on the nonprofit’s site here.