Anders 2022 Community Impact Report SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY
As one of our core values, generosity is a key part of Anders identity and drives how we treat clients, employees and the members of our communities. To strengthen our ties to our communities and empower employees at every level of Anders to get involved, we invest both time and resources, individually and collectively. For our seventh annual community impact report, we’re proud to showcase the generosity of our people and our dedication to giving back to the communities we love.
WHAT DOES GENEROSITY MEAN TO ANDERS?
Generosity at Anders means investing in our communities by supporting the organizations that strengthen them with our time, resources and money. We give back because we care. In 2022, Anders employees were active members of over 160 organizations while also collectively supporting 266 organizations financially and through volunteer opportunities.
It’s our deep and abiding connection to our communities that drive us to support, and in turn be supported by, numerous local charitable, civic, cultural arts and professional organizations.
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160
Organizations with Active Anders Members
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266Not-for-Profit Organizations Supported
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114Charitable Sponsorships
Due to their own passion for giving back, as well as the encouragement and empowerment they receive from Anders to support what matters most to them, our employees participated in 114 charitable sponsorships in 2022 alone. As a result of so many team members leading, serving, supporting and volunteering at these organizations, Anders proudly donated over $357,822 to support the causes closest to us. That’s including our ongoing relationship with United Way, which raised almost $16,000 in 2022 alone.
With our core values in mind, particularly that of generosity, we can enact the change we want to see in our communities – through an open hand and an open heart. That’s the reason we dedicate each year to supporting one particular charity with our Charity of Choice program.
SUPPORTING OUR CHARITY OF CHOICE
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$340000Total Donated Through our Charity of Choice Initiative
Our Charity of Choice program supports one charity each year through a combination of fundraising activities and volunteer efforts led by our staff. This program is a particular point of pride for the firm, which determines the charity selection by an open vote each December. In the 17 years since the program originated, it has raised more than $340,000 for great causes that Anders is proud to sponsor.
We are honored to have been selected as an Anders Charity of Choice in 2022. We received a great amount of donations, many times on a weekly basis, from the generous individuals at Anders CPA + Advisors. This year, Lydia’s House was able to provide essential, safe and stable housing to 53 adults and 58 children who have been victims of domestic violence. With your support, we continue to be a bridge to freedom for these women and children, and work toward our vision of a world and St. Louis community without domestic violence.
—Karen Kirk, CNE, CNC, President & CEO of Lydia’s House
Raised in 2022
In 2022, we raised $37,262 for our Charity of Choice, Lydia’s House. This worthy charity is the largest transitional housing available for women and children who have been victims of domestic abuse. The charity serves over 1,150 women and children, about 80% of whom live below the poverty level, by providing housing, utilities and other necessary services to support them as they commit to the tough work of rebuilding their lives. While shelters normally limit stays to 30-60 days, Lydia’s House provides shelter and other services for up to two years, giving abuse survivors time to save money, retire debt and eventually move on to permanent housing.
In addition to Lydia’s House, other beneficiaries of the Anders Charity of Choice program have included the Child Center, Partners for Pets, the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery, Angels’ Arms, Shriners Hospitals for Children–St. Louis, Stray Rescue of St. Louis, and many more.
For our Charity of Choice 2023, we are excited to support Missouri Veterans Endeavor (MOVE-STL). As with our support for Lydia’s House, Anders will hold a number of events and fundraisers to raise contributions for the worthy cause.
POKER RUN AND TOURNAMENT
Anders was proud to host a combination Poker Run and Tournament to support our 2022 Charity of Choice. Around 50 participants took part in the Poker Run, in which players attempted to create the best 5-card hand, leading up to the tournament, which boasted around 30 players. The two connected events brought out both the competitive and generous spirit of Anders, raising a combined total of nearly $4,000 on behalf of Lydia’s House.
HOOPS FOR HOPE
More than 600 staff members, clients and friends of the firm joined together for the 34th annual Hoops for Hope tournament, Anders yearly March Madness bracket tournament, to support our 2022 Charity of Choice, Lydia’s House. Thanks to the generous support of those participants, Anders was able to present Lydia’s House with a $17,000 check, the largest donation through Hoops for Hope so far.
EMPOWERING NOT-FOR-PROFITS TO FURTHER THEIR MISSION
To help serve as a resource for the not-for-profits we work with and support, we pivoted our usual Not-for-Profit Symposium into a year-long Not-for-Profits in the Know webinar series in 2022. Topics covered this year included in-kind contributions, complications around accepting cryptocurrency as donations and a panel discussing financial planning and the labor market outlook for 2023.
SUPPORTING SMALL, LOCAL BUSINESSES
Building value in our community starts with us, which is why Anders was pleased to present our 4th annual Sip, Savor and Shop event. The event, which features a virtual shopping boutique highlighting over 30 retail clients, is a holiday tradition. By supporting our small business community, we believe we’re building lasting ties between our firm and the greater community that benefits when investments are made on the local level.
Because of our efforts in the community, we were named a finalist for the St. Louis Business Journal’s Corporate Philanthropy & Innovation in Philanthropy Awards in the Midsize Company category for 2022. The award celebrates and recognizes local partnerships for going above and beyond standard philanthropic practices in new and creative ways.
INVESTING IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
To fully live up to the values we hold at Anders, particularly transparency, collaboration, originality and welcoming, we believe in fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. To do so benefits not only our staff, but also our clients and our community. To allow more opportunities for a more diverse group of people, Anders has continued to expand our efforts around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, including our support for local minority and women-owned organizations via sponsorships and firm-sponsored events. By encouraging diverse ideas, perspectives and values, we allow ourselves to learn, grow and eventually become the change we want to see in the world.
DONATING TO CAUSES OUR CLIENTS CARE ABOUT MOST
New in 2022, when a client begins working with Anders they are invited to choose between receiving a gift during the onboarding process or selecting their favorite charity to receive a donation from Anders. We’re committed to not only committing acts of generosity ourselves but creating opportunities for others to do so as well, particularly our clients who we know to be passionate about their chosen causes. We recognized that passion and desire to improve our community because we have the very same passion and desire.
PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST - ALWAYS
At Anders, we truly believe that if we take care of our people first, they in turn will take care of our clients and our communities, and everyone wins. To embrace that winning strategy, Anders approaches every relationship with our Core Values, Mission and Vision in mind.
Our Core Values
To ensure we are continually building a culture where happy people deliver outstanding results for our clients and community.
Character
Doing the right thing. Always.
Transparency
Promoting an environment of trust and respect.
Collaboration
Aligning passions and expertise to focus on what matters most.
Originality
Leading with confidence to challenge the expected.
Empowerment
Inspiring people to be the best they can be.
Welcoming
Living a true spirit of family and fun.
Generosity
Giving back because we care.