Donor Spotlight – Plante Moran

Did you know that international accounting firm Plante Moran supports community organizations near its local offices? Plante Moran Cares (PM Cares) is a firm-wide initiative executed at the local level. Every year, through open nominations and voting, each office selects an organization to support. Staff members can submit local organizations for consideration – ideally those that PM Cares can support in a variety of ways: volunteering, donating, and spreading the word.

In summer 2025, CASA of Kent County was nominated by multiple staff members from the Grand Rapids office for various reasons – one staff member, Molly Merillat (this quarter’s Volunteer Spotlight) is a volunteer; one is related to a board member; and others had simply heard about CASA’s work through friends and family.

Guided by their “We Care” philosophy, the Grand Rapids office chose CASA of Kent County as their partner organization for fiscal year 2026.  The PM Cares team shared, “Supporting CASA has given us the opportunity to learn more about the issues in our community and the importance of advocacy, stability, and support for children navigating complex systems. The children in our community will ultimately become the adults in our community. Our partnership with CASA made visible pathways for staff to provide long-term, community-based impact – not just one-time financial giving.”

Grand Rapids Plante Moran team members have supported CASA through individual giving, attending events, and by helping spread the word about our work. Some team members even attended the CASA child/volunteer holiday party in December, helping facilitate fun activities for children to enjoy! The variety of engagement opportunities has given the Plante Moran staff the option to support CASA “in a way that feels authentic for them” and aligns with each individual’s philanthropic goals.

The PM Cares team said, “Supporting an organization like CASA has given our staff a meaningful way to get involved and make a local impact. It reminds us all that even small contributions can make a difference in a child’s life.”

This story is featured in the Summer 2026 edition of CASA Connect, CASA of Kent County’s quarterly newsletter. Click here to view a pdf version of this newsletter.