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 MACPA Members Give Back Stories of CPAs Making a Difference in their Communities Editor’s Note: CPAs are trusted advisors to businesses, organizations and individuals, helping them make sound financial decisions. But, Michigan CPAs go much further than that. Our members are an extremely dedicated group of volunteers who spend countless hours devoted to causes and organizations within their communities. They know there are real people and real problems behind the numbers. Our members’ tremendous level of volunteerism and personal commitment in their communities is extraordinary. For that reason, we are proud to highlight the CPA profession’s important contributions to Michigan citizens and communities. The following is the seventh in a series of articles. Michelle Hanks, CPA: Thirsting to Serve
The De Boer, Baumann & Company partner serves as treasurer of Thirsting to Serve, a non-profit offshoot of her local Rotary Club. The group conducts an annual water conference, raises funds, and sponsors projects and programs to develop safe water and sanitation as a means of promoting health and alleviating hunger around the globe. “Sitting here in my nice surroundings, it’s easy to forget there are people in the world who live totally differently,” she noted. “All we have to do is turn on a faucet to get water. In some parts of the world, children walk five miles to get a bucket of contaminated water.” Because of her work with Thirsting to Serve, Michelle says she is much more environmentally sensitive, taking care to consider how her actions impact the earth. In addition to her work with Thirsting to Serve, Michelle has been extremely active in all aspects of her Rotary Club for more than a dozen years. She was treasurer for nearly all of those years, and has served as the club’s president. She also coordinated the group’s STRIVE program, a mentoring program for at-risk children. She was instrumental in fundraising efforts for that program as well as a college scholarship program designed to assist women in the lakeshore communities of Grand Haven and Muskegon. In recognition of her high level of commitment and dedication, her club recently named her Rotarian of the Year. At De Boer, Bauman, Michelle works mostly in tax, and many of her clients are closely held businesses. She also manages the firm’s QuickBooks consulting section. In her “spare” time, Michelle writes music, plays acoustic guitar, and sings with a local group, Exit 9 Left. Her involvement in that group also lends itself to community service. In addition to playing local gigs, the group has performed at area fundraisers. Michelle Hanks truly exemplifies the ideals of Rotary: “Service Above Self.” If you are giving back to the community, the MACPA wants to know! Submit your story to publications@michcpa.org to be considered for an upcoming issue of Leaders' Edge.
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| PO Box 5068 Troy, MI 48007-5068 Phone: 248.267.3700 Fax: 248.267.3737 E-mail: macpa@michcpa.org | |
