by Ron Yates, Eide Bailly, MSCPA President 2010-2011, AICPA Board of Directors

We’ve set a big goal! And I’m asking for your help.

Ron Yates, Legacy Foundation Council Chair

During my term as MSCPA board president in 2010, we boldly launched the Legacy Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity, with the purpose of promoting and impacting the accounting profession in Montana. It’s important that all our members know that every dollar counts! This foundation isn’t only about big contributions. Like the AICPA Feed the Pig campaign says, “Small change adds up.”

Can we count on you? We have set a challenge goal to receive a $25 donation from half of our Montana membership between now and June 30th. This means at least 644 members, donating $25 each, helping us to raise $16,000! Won’t you please help by making your $25 donation to the MSCPA Legacy Foundation today? Many employers even match these donations to double the benefit.

I’m now serving my final year as Chair of the Legacy Foundation Council. I’m very proud of what the foundation has accomplished, thanks to the on-going support and dedication of my fellow Council members, the MSCPA board and staff, the Managing Partner and Past President groups, and our terrific MSCPA members – YOU! In the past two years we have offered 20 scholarships to students to attend the MSPCA Annual Conference. We keep hearing that these students are deciding to pursue their careers in Montana because of this experience! In 2017, we are going to offer another 20 scholarships for the 104th Annual Conference PLUS five additional accounting educator scholarships. Additionally, the Legacy Foundation had the privilege of sending Austin Schuerg to the 2016 AICPA Leadership Academy. You can read about Austin’s experience in a recent blog on MontanaCPAs.org.

If you respond to this $25 challenge, we will be able to increase the impact we make across the state. Of course, if you’d like to make a bigger donation, we would be pleased to accept it. But we truly want all our members—new CPAs, retired CPAs, CPAs in public practice, industry, education and government—to help support this campaign with $25 knowing that every donation matters.

Please learn more about our recent success stories in the foundation’s 2016 Annual Report.

Thank you so much for your support — past, present and future! You can make your donation online or you can mail a check to
MSCPA Legacy Foundation
1534 Ninth Avenue
Helena, MT 59601.

If you are interested in making a multi-year pledge, would like to consider naming the foundation in your estate, or want to start a Tribute Plaque in honor of someone important to you or the profession, please contact me at ryates@eidebailly.com or Jane Egan at jane@mscpa.org , telephone # 1.800.272.0307.