TOKTWD

Take Our Kids to Work Day, Accenture Style

First the official words:

The overall theme was Corporate Citizenship and the importance of giving back to the community in which we live and work.

The younger group (age 6-9) helped out by stuffing backpacks full of school supplies for 50 homeless elementary children. These children are supported by Rainbow Days, a United Way agency. Each year Rainbow Days provides children in need with a new backpack filled with school supplies, as well as a school uniform.

The older children (age 10-14) followed the Corporate Citizenship theme by selecting a scenario that depicted an area of need for a community in a foreign country. They were asked to come up with a method and plan in order to create and implement the program. Everyone did a great job showcasing their skills, and coming up with creative solutions to world issues.

After lunch, kids were able to choose between joining their parents for parent shadowing time or playing games with the other kids and volunteers. When the group reconvened, they participated in a presentation about Aidmatrix and an office-wide scavenger hunt. At the end of the day each child was presented with a gift bag that contained a book light and other small gifts.

And now what really happened:

Lainey decided she was too old and cool to do this. At the end of the day she would say "Awe, the gifts were cooler this year." (I think she wanted that book light – last year they got a calculator)

The boys did not get to shadow me very long. I did get to bring them into my conference room for a bit. But then it was back to spreadsheets and conference calls for me.

On the way back to the other kids, Patrick broke out into a zigzagging split. And when I called out to him to slow down, he spun and whacked his head into the counter under local tech support's service window. BAM! None of the other kids bled or caused physical damage to the building. Yeah. My kids rule!