NASBA Center For Public Trust 
In October, the NASBA Center for the Public Trust (CPT) hosted its annual fundraiser in conjunction with NASBA’s 116th Annual Meeting in New York, NY. As a new employee with NASBA and it being my first fundraiser with the CPT, I wasn’t sure what to expect in the way of proceeds raised and the overall success of the event.
Our fundraiser was themed “Cuffed for a Cause.” A total of 10 ethical leaders within NASBA were invited to participate in the fundraiser and agreed to be handcuffed, taken into custody and held in the “CPT Jail” for silly ethical violations, until they each reached their fundraising goal (i.e., bail) of $2,000 in donations.
Our 10 participants did an amazing job soliciting contributions from their family, friends, colleagues and fellow Board of Accountancy members, making the “2023 Cuffed for a Cause” fundraiser the biggest in CPT history.
As donations poured in and we skyrocketed past our goal, I began to think about the gift of giving and how giving is a form of gratitude.
Gratitude is the quality of being thankful, readiness to show appreciation and kindness. Each day presents us with an opportunity to express appreciation and kindness. Holding the door open for the person behind you, leaving an extra tip to the extraordinary server for their service, or writing a thank you note to someone who’s made a difference in your life, are all ways to practice gratitude. Whether giving a donation, feeding the unhoused or volunteering one’s expertise, being willing to share what we have with others, big or small, all serve as examples of ways to outwardly express gratitude. While gratitude can be shown any day of the year, the holiday season is an especially great time to practice this form of gratitude.
-Sharrona Reaves, Director of Programs and Development