Irvine Firm Is Honored for Fourth Straight Year by Orange County Arts Community
IRVINE, CA, November 22, 2004 – Accounting firm Haskell & White LLP continues to receive honors from the Orange County arts community.
For the fourth straight year, the Irvine firm was honored for its volunteer work at Sunday night’s 23rd Annual “Business in the Arts Awards” receiving a Distinguished Achievement Award. The event, held at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel, is hosted by the Orange County Business Committee for the Arts to recognize the contributions of local businesses to the OC arts community.
“We feel the arts play an important role in the quality of life in Orange County,” said Dave White, one of the founding partners at Haskell & White. “We are honored that our clients who have nominated us for the award value our services so highly. It also a great honor for our firm to be included with some of the most respected business and professional enterprises in Orange County who have received this award.”
Laguna Playhouse and South Coast Repertory nominated Haskell & White for this year’s award. White, who also is a member of the board of directors of Arts Orange County, said that Haskell & White donates approximately 400 to 500 hours each year of professional services, specifically tax and audit expertise, to the Orange County arts community as well as cash contributions to underwrite events at Laguna Playhouse, South Coast Repertory and Irvine Barclay Theater. In another sign of appreciation, the walls of the firm’s offices are decorated with framed reproductions of local arts productions presented by their arts clients in Orange County in recognition of the sponsorships.
“Helping the arts is a key part of our overall commitment to giving back to the local community that has allowed us to be successful. Similarly, we also contribute time and money to a number of non-profit agencies in the health and welfare sector. Improving the quality of life in our communities is a commitment made by all of our partners and senior management personnel,” said Wayne Pinnell, managing partner at Haskell & White.
Haskell & White began donating its time to the local arts community in the 1990s when it developed a working relationship with Laguna Playhouse. White explained that their volunteer efforts steadily grew to include offering their expertise to assist other local arts organizations, including South Coast Repertory and Irvine Barclay Theater, among others.
Rick Smetanka, the lead partner on the firm’s arts clients, said he hopes the firm’s volunteer work will inspire other local businesses to become more actively involved in supporting non-profit industries.
“Dave’s leadership has shown us the importance of encouraging others to get involved in helping non-profit organizations,” said Smetanka. “It has been a very challenging economic environment for non-profit organizations to operate in during the past few years. With lackluster financial markets and smaller corporate profits, fund raising activities have been very difficult for many local nonprofits. As a result, they are in need of volunteer help more than ever. If more of our businesses provide them with support, our community will be much stronger over the long run.”
ABOUT HASKELL & WHITE
Haskell & White is one of the largest independently owned accounting, auditing and tax-consulting firms in southern California, specializing in servicing public and private middle market companies. Haskell & White combines the expansive services, knowledge, experience and reach of national and international accounting firms with the personal attention, responsiveness and affordability of a local organization. Haskell & White works with companies in a broad range of industries including real estate, manufacturing, distribution, technology, and retail. The firm provides solid expertise and services to its clients in the tax and audit disciplines including advising SEC registrants and consulting on mergers and acquisitions.
MEDIA CONTACT: George Pappas, HKA, Inc., 714 426-0444