Over 35 student members of Kent State University’s College of Business Administration Beta Alpha Psi and Accounting Association joined the accounting firm McGladrey LLP., along with YMCA employees to upgrade the Hillcrest Family YMCA in Lyndhurst, OH.
The accounting students teamed up with McGladrey to fulfill six of their ten community service hours required each semester by participating in McGladrey LLP’s fifth Annual Volunteer Day.
“Volunteering with McGladrey at the Hillcrest YMCA was a great experience. It was amazing to see how much work we accomplished at the end of the day and how appreciative the staff was,” said Hallie D’Agostino, president of Beta Alpha Psi and Accounting Association.
More than 100 volunteers spent the day painting rooms, removing an old ceiling from a basement weight room and clearing brush from the property and behind the parking lot.
“We have quite a few projects that we have been trying to get done but never had the work or volunteer force to do them,” said Chris Scheuer, executive director of Hillcrest Family YMCA.
Scheuer estimated the volunteer staff saved the Hillcrest YMCA around $15,000 in contractor fees to complete the renovations and clean-up.
McGladrey partnered with the YMCA and the College of Business Administration for this opportunity as part of the company’s nationwide volunteer days initiative.
“We have volunteer days that are developed and originated from each office,” said John Zalick, McGladrey managing partner for Ohio. "Each office nationwide chooses an organization, which we can help in some way. In Ohio, we have two scheduled this year. Part of McGladrey's mission is to give back to the community. We feel it's our civic responsibility and the employees enjoy the chance to get out of the office for the day."
McGladrey, the fifth largest public accounting firm in the country, has 7,000 employees nationwide and four offices in Ohio, including one in Cleveland.