The Georgia accounting community raised $363,162.91 through the 2026 Georgia Accounting Food Fight, a statewide competition that benefits local food banks. The total is equivalent to 1,452,652 meals for Georgians in need, according to the campaign's organizers. The effort, a collaboration between The Georgia Society of CPAs (GSCPA) and Feeding Georgia, involved 53 team fundraising pages representing more than 4,400 employees across the state.
The campaign matters beyond its impressive dollar figure. Funds raised by participating teams stay local, directly supporting the food bank that serves each team's community. The timing is also strategic: the competition is held to help food banks replenish resources after the summer months, when demand typically spikes. This structure ensures that the accounting community's friendly rivalry translates into immediate, tangible relief for neighborhoods across Georgia.
Julie Kuykendall, Executive Director of Feeding Georgia, praised the participants: "To every accounting professional who competed, donated, rallied a team or encouraged a colleague - thank you. Your generosity strengthens the work of food banks and hunger-relief partners serving communities across our state." She added that the campaign's success should inspire even more involvement in 2027.
This year's top honors went to Nichols Cauley, named Statewide Hunger Champion for raising $53,405.16 across its combined teams, and Underwood Advisors, LLC, named Statewide Food Fight Hero for raising $2,061.88 and earning the most points per employee statewide. Other winners included Deloitte Atlanta Audit & Assurance (Big Four), Forvis Mazars, LLP (Large Firm - Overall), Cherry Bekaert (Large Firm - Per Employee), Smith Adcock and Company LLP (Medium Firm), Rumph & Associates (Small Firm), and Teradata Corporation (Industry Accounting Department).
Since its inception in 2014, the Georgia Accounting Food Fight has raised $3,289,797.51 in total, providing 13,159,190 meals. Boyd Search, CEO of The Georgia Society of CPAs, noted, "The Georgia Accounting Food Fight continues to demonstrate what our profession can accomplish when we come together in service to our communities." The cumulative impact underscores the sustained commitment of Georgia's CPAs to addressing hunger, a persistent issue in the state.
The implications extend beyond the accounting profession. Food insecurity affects hundreds of thousands of Georgians weekly, and the funds raised help member food banks of Feeding Georgia partner with more than 2,000 food pantries to reach 156,500 people every week. The competition also fosters camaraderie and corporate social responsibility within firms, offering a model that other industries might replicate. As Kuykendall noted, the goal for 2027 is to build on this momentum and welcome new teams.
For those interested in supporting the initiative, more information is available at https://feedinggeorgia.org/georgia-accounting-food-fight/. The Georgia Society of CPAs, with nearly 12,000 members, continues to drive professional excellence and community service, as detailed at www.gscpa.org. The 2026 campaign not only fed families but also demonstrated how a friendly competition can yield substantial social impact.
