Palmetto GBA employees have a passion for serving our communities. Last year, nearly 400 associates came together to support local organizations through more than 40 charity projects and 7,600 donated items, volunteering 460 service hours and raising over $23,700.

Projects ranged from collecting school supplies and food and household items for senior citizens to providing Christmas gifts to families. Donations to organizations such as Sacks of Love, that provides meals to students in need, are vital around the holidays when needs increase. Palmetto GBA employees were able to provide nearly 600 food items for more than 400 children in Kershaw County, South Carolina, who receive sacks each week.

“It's donations like these that help us when some of the churches are struggling to fill the need,” said Kathy Hall with Sacks of Love Kershaw County.

Money also was raised for organizations that assist a wide range of people, including the nonprofit Hidden Wounds. Associates donated more than $300 to this organization that provides interim and emergency psychological treatment for active-duty, veteran and retired military service members.

Many employees got moving for causes they are passionate about by biking to raise funds for cancer research, walking and running to raise money and awareness of scleroderma and heart disease.

Employees also generously gave their time. Many participated in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to place holiday wreaths on the graves of military veterans to honor their service. Table Talkers was another program Palmetto GBA employees volunteered with by mentoring fifth-grade students at Joseph Keels Elementary School.

“One of the few things that stand out in my memory as a child in elementary school, as if it were yesterday, are the moments when an adult, not related to me, said something to encourage me,” said Louise Custard, auditor IV at Palmetto GBA. “No matter how big, or small, I would hold on to it and think, ‘They see something in me.’  I do not know if those individuals know the impact their words had on me at the time.”