Glendora Business Honored for Charity Work

Glendora's was recently honored with the 2012 Public Service Award for Firms for its charitable work throughout the community.

The Glendora business takes part in three to four charitable events per year, from food drives, to clothing drives to major events, such as Relay for Life Cancer Walk and Walk for the Hungry, said Linda Saddlemire, co-managing partner of Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman.

The award was given by the California Society of CPAs, which annually presents the award to recognize a firm for its public service works at the local, state, or national level. The award is also intended to encourage other firms to contribute to the community in the same way.

The 65-member firm has a committee comprised of partners and staff who identify charitable activities to take part in as a group and even as individuals. The firm estimates employees have contributed 1,000 to community projects since 2008 when the firm formed the committee to identify and take part in community works.

"Each year we sponsor team events, like Walk For the Hungry and Relay for Life," Saddlemire said. Each employee also has a community service day, where they receive eight hours of paid time to pursue a charitable work, or cause of their choice.

Saddlemire said VLS was the second largest fundraising group at Glendora's Relay for Life last year, raising about $7,500. VLS also helped construct a playground at the LeRoy Haynes Center in La Verne.

The firm is undertaking a project for the David and Margaret Home, an all girls school, preparing backpacks for the start of school.

"It was a really great recognition,'' Saddlemire said. “We believe that caring for our community and the environment is the social responsibility of all individuals and organizations."

Established in 1953 in La Verne, Vicenti, Lloyd and Stutzman moved to Glendora nearly 10 years ago. VLS provides accounting services in Southern California, especially in the San Gabriel Valley.