Accenture's Day of Service at DC SCORES

Accenture employees with DC SCORES
service-year members.

Written by Daniel Meloy
Senior Director of Development & Communications

Thousands of people in bright red shirts performed volunteer service throughout the greater Washington DC area on Monday, Nov. 11. It was all part of Accenture’s Day of Service - a company-wide effort to help nonprofit organizations in our community.

Six seasoned professionals from Accenture spent the afternoon at the DC SCORES offices with service-year staff from DC SCORES, Higher Achievement, and SportsChallenge to help our early-career staff prepare for their next career opportunity.

Service year staff, through organizations like Americorps, Avodah, Public Allies, and Coach Across America, spend a year gaining valuable professional experience while performing intensive community service work. Often, since many of the program participants are recent college graduates, this is their first “real” professional job. After their year of service, they might enter the workforce or choose other opportunities such as graduate school.

The team from Accenture developed and presented workshops on three areas they thought would be most helpful to our service year staff: resumes, interviewing and networking. They conducted small group discussions on these topics before ending the day with a panel discussion on their own career experiences and general advice.

The day proved to be invaluable for our staff, based on feedback they shared.

Jessica Gilbert, DC SCORES’ Middle School Poetry & Service-Learning Program Coordinator through Public Allies, said, “I just feel so rejuvenated after the workshop. There were so many useful tools and strategies that I wish I’d been taught a long time ago. This workshop was a game changer and I feel a lot of us will get a few steps closer to our dream jobs after learning those helpful tips.”

Ron Thurston, a Coach Across America Soccer Coordinator for DC SCORES, said, “It really gave us a head start on continuing our careers after we are finished here at DC SCORES. I feel like I don’t have to be nervous anymore going into an interview. I am so excited about my future!”

It was a beneficial day for the staff from Accenture, too. They left DC SCORES knowing they’d had a positive impact on young professionals who are deeply committed to serving the community.

Perhaps Dan Garvey, who coordinated the workshop for Accenture, summed it up best:

“One of Accenture’s corporate values is for employees to give their time and effort to help build a better community. We call this effort ‘Skills to Succeed.' Any company can donate money. However, donating time and effort provides a valuable experience for all involved parties. That was certainly the case for the entire Accenture team this past Monday. There is no doubt that the future is in good hands because of programs like DC SCORES and the fantastic young men and women who are making our communities better each day.”

Learn more about Accenture's community service.