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!