Photo L. to R.: Howard Foote, Marilyn Pendergast, Paula Marshman, Chair of the Women’s Fund, Elizabeth Miller Guthier, WERC’s Executive Director, Kate Dudding, Women’s Fund Committee Member

UHY had announced that it is making a $40,000 donation through its charitable organization UHY Cares to fund an annual scholarship of $2,500 to the Women’s Fund of the Capital Region, a program of the Capital District Women’s Employment & Resource Center (WERC). The gift was made in celebration of one of the firm’s longest-serving employees, partner Marilyn A. Pendergast, who first joined UHY’s Albany office in 1966.

The Women’s Fund of the Capital Region, in partnership with local educational institutions, supports non-traditional female students in achieving their educational goals as a means to economic well-being by awarding scholarships and emergency funds.

The group’s vision is a community where all women are empowered through education to fulfill their greatest potential toward self-sufficiency. “WERC’s dedication to providing economic opportunity for this key, yet often overlooked demographic, in the Capital District is second-to-none and is truly inspiring,” said Michael Mahoney, Northeast Regional Managing Director for UHY. “We are so proud to announce this donation as part of Women’s History Month and look forward to working alongside WERC in its ongoing efforts to open economic doors for women throughout the Capital District and beyond for years to come.”

Marilyn A. Pendergast, a Waterford native and graduate of UAlbany, became a partner at the firm in 1971. Over her nearly six decades with the firm, Pendergast served as a leader in UHY’s audit and assurance practice with a focus on education, not- for-profit, and government clients. She has chaired the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) Professional Ethics Committees. She served as the first woman president of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), as well as the first non-attorney chair of the state Supreme Court Third Judicial Department Committee on Professional Standards. Pendergast was also part of the Women’s Fund’s “Founding 500” program – a key group of individuals who provided seed funding for the Women’s Fund upon its launch in 2006.

“Marilyn is a pioneer in every sense of the word,” said Office Managing Partner of the Capital Region, Howard S. Foote. “Her leadership, professionalism, and passion for helping both clients and colleagues achieve the best possible results have played an integral part in shaping UHY into what it is today. Marilyn’s impact has been felt throughout UHY and the broader Capital Region communities, and we are extremely pleased to be able to make this donation in celebration of such a well-respected figure.”