Tradition of Service
Those of you who have been following this column for a while may remember that last year at this time, Marcum started a new tradition. The day before Thanksgiving, we closed all of our U.S. offices for business as usual so that partners and staff could spend the day volunteering with charities and nonprofit service organizations in their communities. It was a paid day for everyone who participated, and let me tell you, the Firm more than got its money’s worth. It was a proud moment for me personally, seeing our people working as hard as if the April 15 tax deadline was staring them down, in order to help those less fortunate.
Well, the Marcum Day of Service is already a part of our culture. So next Wednesday, on the eve of Thanksgiving 2016, we will once again close our doors for business and put on the Marcum team T-shirt to go to work for those who need our help.
But this year, we are switching it up a little. Instead of each Marcum office choosing local charities to work with, Marcum will be partnering Firm-wide with the Feeding America nationwide network of 200 member food banks. I like the idea of Marcum volunteers across the country collaborating toward a common goal. We felt that working together to help alleviate hunger in Marcum communities would be a fitting tribute to the Thanksgiving spirit and a great way to kick-off the holiday giving season. It will be a great feeling knowing that everyone across the Firm is doing the same thing at the same time for the same greater purpose.
As for me, I’ll be reporting to the Harlem Soup Kitchen (Food Bank of New York), and I’ll be taking my 7-year-old daughter Lily with me. It’s her turn to help me with a community service activity, after I helped her class paint a fence in one of New York City’s public parks several weeks ago as part of their community service initiative.
Kudos for much of this go to my partner Shaun Blogg, who heads our West Palm Beach office in Florida and also chairs the Marcum Foundation. Shaun’s been the driving force behind the Marcum Day of Service, and I especially appreciate that this program embodies every one of Marcum’s nine core values – from community to respect to teamwork and all the others. Thanks for that, Shaun!
Once again, I will ask all of you, in advance, for your understanding if we are unable to answer your phone calls or emails in our usual timely fashion next Wednesday. We will be busy collecting, assembling and distributing food for those who would otherwise do without. We will respond back to you as quickly as we can.
In the meantime, anyone who’s interested can check out the photo gallery of our Day of Service from last year on the Marcum Foundation website. We’ll post this year’s photos after the holiday break.
From everyone here at Marcum, may you have a joyous and bountiful Thanksgiving, surrounded by family and friends.
P.S. Our offices will also be closed next Friday as we take the day after Thanksgiving as one of our annual company holidays. Therefore, this column will not appear next week. See you all on December 2.
