Ellin & Tucker is Giving Back

Accounting for the Business leadership author Simon Sinek says all companies need to “start with why.” This idea refers to determining an organization’s purpose, cause or belief that explains why it exists and why customers should care. This underlying reason should drive every decision and action of the business, aligning with the organization’s actions to build trust with customers who share similar values.

For Ellin & Tucker, a Baltimore-based accounting firm, the “why” has always started with caring – for clients, community and each other. It is the firm’s founding belief and remains the driving force for every team member, from new hires to executive leadership. This culture of caring is perfectly encapsulated in Ellin & Tucker’s Giving Back Committee, the internal arm of the firm’s robust philanthropic efforts around Baltimore.

The following team profiles serve as a perfect representation of the kind of authentic generosity and care the firm has been dedicated to for nearly 80 years.

A Recipe for Charity

Being a mom to young kids means Carly Johnson knows that any busy family can get tired of pizza and spaghetti for dinner.

That’s why she volunteers to cook dinner every month at the Ronald McDonald House of Maryland, where out-of-town families live when they have a sick child receiving care at a local hospital.

“It seems like such a basic thing, just serving dinner,” says Carly. “But these families spend so much time in the hospital and away from home, so it’s important for them to have a fresh-cooked meal every single night. And they do get tired of pizza and spaghetti!”

Carly began volunteering at the House as a child, when her dad included her in his own volunteering efforts, and her passion for the mission has remained. Now, in addition to her culinary skills, Carly is an active member of the Red Shoe Crew, which is a fundraising arm of Ronald McDonald House Charities Maryland, specifically the annual Red Shoe Shuffle 5k run. “It’s a great way for families to come back and see old friends, old faces, and see how much their families are loved even after they’ve left,” she said.

While it’s frustrating that not everyone can be helped, she recognizes that any effort to make a difference is valuable. She feels the same way about giving back in her community, whether it’s just paying for the coffee of the person in line behind her, or participating in Ellin & Tucker’s Giving Back Committee, which she chaired for several years.

“It’s not just about getting your work done and clocking in,” she emphasizes. “It’s so important for us as a firm to have employees who want to be involved, building relationships, giving back to the city where our firm was founded. I love how the firm continues to emphasize the importance of making a difference — even if it’s just one person, one conversation, one thing you do to make another person’s life a little better. If everyone took that one step to do something kind for someone else, think about how different things could be. We’d have a chain reaction of kindness.”

As a Principal at Ellin & Tucker, Carly is always inspired by the firm’s enthusiasm in helping others. “Whenever a new nonprofit client comes in or someone says, ‘Hey, I heard about this great organization,’ the Giving Back Committee is the first to jump in and say, ‘How can we help them?’”

Carly knows how she can help them. In fact, she’s turning on the stove right now.

Philanthropy on Speed Dial

“Everyone has my cell phone number,” Lisa Bish says, laughing.

Though she has been a member of the Ellin & Tucker accounting team since 2020, Lisa started her career as an accountant at Addiction Connections Resource (ACR), a small nonprofit in Harford County that serves individuals and their families suffering from substance abuse disorder. She got to know many of the people.

“People in recovery, they are in a bind they can’t get out of,” explains Lisa. “There was one person I’ll never forget for the rest of my life who would call and ask for help, who couldn’t stay sober over and over and over. And now he’s about three years sober, and I still talk to him.”

Ten years ago, Lisa lost a friend to an overdose, so recovery is a cause close to her heart. “Corinne was incredible, funny, beautiful, very smart,” Lisa says, explaining that the tragedy prompted her to get involved with ACR. “It helps me to help them, and I hope I do for the rest of my life. No one’s ever alone. You think you’re alone, but you’re not.”

Today, Lisa volunteers at Homecoming Project house, which is a one-year stay, eight-bed house for women in recovery. She drives the women to doctor’s appointments and other obligations. And yes, all eight women have Lisa’s cell phone number, as do all the women who’ve lived there since 2014.

At Ellin & Tucker, Lisa is passionate about supporting the firm’s nonprofit clients and partners. “I have multiple moments where I think, this is why I love what I do. To support what an organization needs and be able to ask them, ‘How can we be of service to you?’ I know that audited financial statements are how nonprofits will get grants and funding and, ultimately, how they’ll help people, so it’s a cool experience.”

Lisa is an active member of the firm’s Giving Back Committee and enthusiastically participates in the year-round events. “We do it all year long,” she says. “We put a pause on having our heads in the balance sheets, take a step back from work, and go do something like help harvest watermelons from a nonprofit farm that feeds hungry people. Caring is our mission. It’s a part of who we are as a firm.”

But even with her hands in the dirt, Lisa’s phone is always nearby. Someone might call her.

Foundation of Giving

Bryan Porter’s introduction to charity happened in high school, helping to pour a foundation for a children’s home in Guatemala City as part of a mission with his church. “There were 25 wheelbarrows each of sand, concrete mix and stone,” he says, “and we mixed it on the ground with hand tools, using water from the well.” Bryan was amazed by the six local adults raising and educating more than 200 children, and how appreciative they were.

“We were all just there to help each other,” he says. “And the cool part is, the next group who came in behind us did the framing, then the next group did the roof, and then the internal buildout and so on.” Understanding his volunteering efforts as a link in a long, strong chain was meaningful for Bryan.

Today, Bryan is vice-chair on the board of Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, volunteering at worksite builds alongside the folks who will directly benefit from the homes. Bryan’s role with the organization is another way for him to be a link in a chain.

“Seeing the results of the collective effort of the board, of the events, and what you’re able to do as a group is very impactful, versus what a person can do alone,” he says. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see.” He adds that the most important time to lean in together is when problems feel overwhelming.

Bryan also volunteers on the finance committee of Baltimore Museum of Industry, which is a position that is a continuation of Ellin & Tucker’s community involvement. “What drew me there was the educational component of what they do,” says Bryan, discussing the field trips where schoolchildren learn about manufacturing through the lens of a historic oyster cannery. “They are telling the story of the Baltimore landscape and who we are as a city.”

Professionally, Bryan’s building expertise extends to his professional career, serving as an indispensable link in the chain of the firm’s Audit and Accounting Department, where he supports many of the firm’s construction clients. As a director, Bryan knows he can ensure the firm’s commitment to philanthropy continues to build on a legacy that inspires the next generation of leaders to collectively work toward a common good.

“Since the beginning, charity has played a vital role in Ellin & Tucker’s culture. And that idea has been a guiding principle for me,” Bryan says. “Though the work of one person is always appreciated, people are far stronger when they come together. Collectively, we’ve got this.”

For Carly, Lisa, and Bryan, the “why” is more than the purpose behind what they do. It’s a driving force for how to live and be a supportive part of a community. Everything Ellin & Tucker does is about caring for others and connecting with the community. When companies lean into the causes and missions important to their team members, it fosters an environment where personal values align with professional efforts. This connection strengthens a team member’s purpose and belonging, ensuring that their work is not just about achieving business goals but about contributing to a better Baltimore.