Since 1941, the USO has been the nation’s leading organization to serve the men and women in the U.S. military, and their families, throughout their time in uniform. From the moment they join the U.S. military, through their assignments and deployments, and as they transition back to their communities, the USO is always by their side.

As a background, just prior to the onset of America’s involvement in World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sought to unite several service associations into one organization to lift the morale of our military and nourish support on the home front. Those entities – the Salvation Army, Young Men’s Christian Association, Young Women’s Christian Association, National Catholic Community Services, National Travelers Aid Association, and the National Jewish Welfare Board - became the United Service Organizations or, the USO.

Today, the USO has continued to support our nation’s military and their families for over eight decades as they defend our country and its freedoms. By providing support to our servicemen and women as they perform their most challenging duties around the world, the USO’s credo is to be always by their side.

The reach of the USO’s more than 250 centers extends to countries on every continent, operated by thousands of staff and volunteers whose goals are to match our service members’ vigilance and provide best-in-class service to those who sacrifice so much for America.

I founded the Accountants Salute to the Troops campaign in support of the USO to bring the accounting profession together throughout the United States to provide greater awareness of the valiant mission of the USO and raise much needed funding to support our U.S. Military. There are many ways for accounting firms to participate with the Accountants Salute to the Troops campaign including but not limited to:

  • Organize Accounting firm’s fundraisers throughout the year including Military Appreciation Month (May 1st thru May 31st) with a focus on Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day, Independence Day (July 4th), and National Veterans and Military Families Month (November 1st thru November 30th);
  • Fundraise within accounting firm’s existing Stewardship Programs;
  • Fundraise within accounting firm’s Planned Giving Programs;
  • Fundraise within accounting firm’s Charitable Foundations;
  • Making Individual Donations including Monthly Giving;
  • Gifts in Honor or Memory of a Military Loved One; and /or
  • Planned Giving with an Estate Gift for accounting firm’s employees and their clients.

To immediately support this Military Appreciation Month, you can also engage with the USO through Campaign to Connect sending virtual messages of gratitude using this link.

If interested in exploring how your accounting firm can participate in the  Accountants Salute to the Troops in support of the USO please contact Peter J. Scalise at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Rebecca Parkes, the USO’s Regional President, Northeast at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About the Author

Peter J. Scalise serves as the Federal Tax Credits and Incentives Practice Leader for the Americas at Prager Metis CPAs, LLC, a member of the Prager Metis International Group. Mr. Scalise is a highly distinguished Big Four Alumni Tax Practice Leader with approximately thirty years of progressive public accounting firm experience developing, managing, and leading large scale tax advisory practices on a regional, national, and global level.

Mr. Scalise is also a passionate philanthropist who champions over a dozen charities nationwide in connection to environmental conservation; poverty and hunger alleviation; economic development; health and social services; supporting veteran and military service personnel along with preserving arts and cultural programs. Mr. Scalise is currently serving on the National Board of Directors for the Prager Metis Charitable Foundation Inc, a I.R.C. § 501(c)(3) organization; the Founding Chairman of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Accounting Industry Leadership Council; the Founding Chairman of Accountants United for the Food Bank For New York City; and the Founding Chairman of Accountants Salute to the Troops in support of the USO.