A Very Public-Minded Public Accounting Firm
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By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Chuck Shechtman, of the accounting firm Shechtman Marks Devor, is no stranger to bottom lines.
"We're CPAs," he says. "We do a lot of conventional accounting. We have our accounting and auditing department."
This year, SMD and its 45 employees are celebrating the firm's 35 anniversary in a way that gives back to their community, adding to the "front line" of 35 area nonprofits through monetary donations and volunteer work.
The civic-minded firm focused on the Free Library of Philadelphia, cosponsoring its summer reading program. The firm "adopted" the Cecil B. Moore branch, in North Philadelphia.
"Twice a week during the summer, people from our office went to help the librarian with reading to the children, and helping with arts and crafts," says Shechtman. "I was proud that the majority of the people in the firm participated."
Other organizations that benefited from the "35 at 35" effort included Alex's Lemonade Stand, Project Home, the Jewish National Fund, Resources for Human Development, Girls on the Run, and the Golden Slipper Club, to name a few.
In total, Shechtman says, the firm donated roughly $75,000.
"Whatever we've given, we've gotten back a lot more," he says. "It's been a labor of love."
Shechtman Marks Devor provides pro bono accounting work for several nonprofit organizations including Maccabi USA, which helps young Jewish athletes travel the world to compete in Olympics-style games.
Shechtman also acts as a volunteer coach for the Maccabiah Games, the third largest international sports competition in the world, with over 9,000 athletes from 75 countries.
But he's not alone. Schechtman says his partners, Bruce Marks and Harris Devor, are also active in the community.
"Our goal is to have our firm continue to maintain the culture of caring about our employees and being involved in the community," he says.
For more on Shechtman Marks Devor, go to smd-pc.com.
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Chuck Schechtman
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