Bates White, LLC, has been awarded the “Greatest Impact on a Local Nonprofit” award from Greater DC Cares and Washington Post Media Business.
The firm was also named as a finalist for the “Community Impact Award.” The awards honor businesses that demonstrate outstanding support to the Washington, DC region.
Greatest Impact on a Nonprofit
For the “Greatest Impact on a Local Nonprofit” award, Bates White was recognized for its partnership with the Higher Achievement Program, an organization that provides rigorous academic enrichment programming to nearly 500 underserved middle school scholars across the Washington, DC, area. Since 2006, Bates White has supported the organization in many ways. Employees serve as volunteer mentors in Higher Achievement’s after-school program by providing tutoring services one night a week for 26 weeks in math, literature, and discussion-based seminars. Eric Gaier, Bates White Partner, serves on Higher Achievement’s Board of Directors and three Bates White Partners serve on the organization’s President’s Council, providing expertise and leadership. And, through its Community Connection program, Bates White sponsors fundraising activities to benefit the organization.
In addition, Bates White has provided Higher Achievement scholars with some unique academic experiences. For example, for three years in a row, Robert Marshall, Bates White Partner and head of the Economics Department at Penn State University, arranged for Higher Achievement to bring 90 scholars to campus for a three-day visit to provide scholars with first-hand experience of a college campus.
“Higher Achievement has been the fortunate recipient of multifaceted support from Bates White for many years,” said Lynsey Wood Jeffries, Higher Achievement’s executive director for the DC Metro area. “The company’s commitment to education and erasing the achievement gap is closely aligned with Higher Achievement’s mission, and their impact on our scholars has been tremendous.”
Community Impact
The firm was recognized for “Community Impact” based on Bates White’s Community Connection Program, which enables employees to support the community in traditional and nontraditional ways. The program employs a grassroots approach that encourages all employees to propose initiatives for causes they personally feel will provide the greatest impact. By using both traditional as well as creative approaches, activities serve the community and foster closer connections among employees. Over the past 12 months, this bottom-up approach resulted in 36 initiatives that raised more than $80,000 and approximately 1,000 hours of community service. Initiatives have included: sponsoring teams in walks, bike rides, and community service projects; an employee cooking competition, art auction, office putt-putt tournament, and poker/billiards/table tennis tournament; and tax preparation assistance for local residents.
“Bates White is delighted to support our Community Connection program with guidance, time, supplies, and matching funds,” said David DeRamus, Bates White Managing Partner. “The program is enabling employees to give back to causes important to them personally, while strengthening our ties across the firm.”