Accountant Gets Award for Work with Plast

By Olena Wawryshyn

Michael Gadacz, a 29-year-old chartered accountant, recently found himself in the limelight at his workplace for his volunteer activities with Plast, the Ukrainian youth scouting association.

For 13 years, Gadacz has volunteered with Plast in many capacities.  His dedication to the organization did not go unnoticed at the PricewaterhouseCoopers GTA office, where Gadacz is a manager in the audit and assurance group. One of his co-workers nominated Gadacz for the firm’s Volunteer of the Year Award by submitting a form outlining his work within Plast. A committee consisting of PwC employees chose seven award winners, including Gadacz, who were deemed to have demonstrated outstanding volunteer efforts over the past year.

“Our volunteer recognition program honours PwC volunteers for their tremendous contributions to their communities,” says Dave Forster, the GTA Managing Partner at PwC, an international firm that offers industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services.

In honour of the contributions of the award winners, PwC will donate $1,000 to each of the non-profit organizations where the winners volunteer.

“It’s nice to get the recognition and to be working for a firm that recognizes the people who provide a lot of volunteer time to various volunteer organization in their communities,” says Gadacz who has volunteered with Plast as a camp counsellor, troupe leader and member of the Board of Directors.

Gadacz’s association with Plast goes back 20 years; he has been a member of the organization since he was a young boy. 

“I had counsellors that gave their time to me, so I feel it’s important that I give that time back to the kids that are in the organization now,” says the busy professional when asked what motivates him to volunteer.

In his capacity as a troupe leader, Gadacz organizes and leads the weekly meetings of a group of boys who are now in grade 11. Gadacz has been their leader since they were in grade 8.  Most summers, Gadacz also attends camp with his troupe.

Through his volunteering, Gadacz says he has developed skills that have benefited him in his career, particularly in the area of coaching. “The whole concept of Plast is learning through experience. The counsellor facilities activities; it is more coaching [than] telling.”

“In the firm we do a lot of coaching and, as a manager on a team, I’m required to coach the more junior staff and teach and guide them through the process of learning audit skills,” he says.

There are social benefits too. Gadacz has made many friendships through Plast. His fiancee, Marta Boszko, is also a member of Plast from Toronto, and Plast played a part in their meeting, he says.

Volunteering also “gives me a reason to continue outdoor activities,” adds Gadacz, who  is currently helping to organize the upcoming international Plast jamboree to be held in Ontario in the summer of 2007.

Says Gadacz: “It’s the first time since 1986 that Toronto is hosting it.  It’s a big undertaking, and we’re looking for volunteers to help organize it.”