Community

Involvement in the community is an important aspect of life at BBD.

Our approach is unique.

A Service Committee, comprising volunteer firm members, selects a philanthropy theme for each year. Our community efforts for the year, including both volunteer efforts and fundraising, are built around the selected theme.

In 2010, the firm is tackling the issue of education within the City of Philadelphia’s most underprivileged neighborhoods. More specifically, we are working with the Young Scholars Charter School, a high-performing charter school serving 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students from North Philadelphia.

Young Scholars Charter School uses a focused, progressive educational approach designed to close the achievement gap for its 223 low-income, minority students who arrive at the school from District schools severely under-prepared. Students spend 33% more time in the classroom than their peers in District schools. Because of the school’s relentless focus and discipline, as well as the passion of the school’s leaders, Young Scholars is the highest performing charter middle school in the City. Despite entering Young Scholars at least one level below grade level in Math and/or Reading, the school’s 8th graders surpass their District peers in Math and Reading and are at or near the State average. 98% of the school’s graduates go on to a college prep high school.

In addition to our work with Young Scholars Charter School, we will also embark on our 2nd annual firm-sponsored extended service opportunity in 2010. In June 2009, the partners invited all staff members and their families to journey to Eastern Kentucky for a week of service in Johnson, Martin and Magoffin Counties. Nearly 25 firm members and family spent one week building wheelchair ramps and performing other home repairs for poverty-stricken families.

Read about our trip in a series of articles from AccountingWeb.