BVU’s Summer of Service
Volunteer Spotlight: Mary Wallis
Mary Wallis took part in the 2021 Summer of Service. This year’s project was a garden clean up at the Ben Franklin Community Garden in Old Brooklyn. Sixteen people showed up on a sunny July morning to pick up fallen branches from a storm the night before, weed, and beautify a 10-acre space of land in Cleveland’s south side.
“Everyone was immediately engaged in the Summer of Service community garden clean up.” stated Wallis, Marcum LLP Director Of Operations “I was able to interact and work with my coworkers in a different and unique way.” she continued.
Wallis has been volunteering since she was young, from being a young candy striper to serving on the Meals on Wheels Board of Directors. This volunteer experience inspired her because she saw her company’s young professionals eager to jump into volunteer work. “I learned that this garden wasn’t just a place for families to take a plot of land to grow vegetables but it served a school that taught students about farming and gardening.”
This was a 3 hour project for a group of Marcum employees that bonded, taught, and brought coworkers together outside of work.