McDermott Receives United Way 2009 Great Beginnings Award
CHICAGO (April 9, 2010) — As a result of the Firm’s participation and outstanding accomplishments during the 2009 United Way campaign season, McDermott Will & Emery has been selected as the sole winner of the United Way 2009 Campaign Great Beginnings Award.
“Since 2009 the Firm’s Chicago office has refocused our charitable efforts on the United Way. All of us here at McDermott have a great opportunity to make our community a better place to live and work. We do this when we give, advocate and volunteer to advance the common good,” commented Nancy G. Ross, a partner in the Firm's Trial Practice Group and chair of the Firm's United Way Law Partnership Campaign.
She continued, “It was outstanding to see so many of our lawyers and staff come together over the past year to participate in Day of Caring projects and fundraising efforts to support the United Way.”
In 2009, the Firm participated in more than three “Day of Caring” projects sponsored by the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. In June, more than two dozen McDermott lawyers and staff unloaded boxes of fresh produce at the McCormick Tribune YMCA and then packaged and distributed that produce—made available through the Greater Chicago Food Depository—to low-income residents of the West Side neighborhood. In late July, attorneys and staff worked with children at Hull House, a local day care center, as well as at the ABC Youth Center. In August, employees prepared and served breakfast to approximately 30 low-income citizens at the Inspiration Café, also in Chicago.
The Firm will be honored with the Great Beginning Award at the United Way’s annual Community Celebration Event in May 2010. The Great Beginnings Award recognizes the company that runs the most exceptional first- or second-time employee fundraising campaign, incorporates at least one United Way Best Practice, and obtains and/or maintains a high participation rate and achieves outstanding results. For more information about United Way Metropolitan Chicago visit: http://www.uw-mc.org.
McDermott Will & Emery strongly encourages its lawyers and staff to participate in pro bono initiatives, volunteer services and charitable activities. In 2009, the Firm’s lawyers and staff devoted more than 75,500 hours to pro bono matters and community service, and more than 70 percent of McDermott’s lawyers provided pro bono legal services to the poor, to organizations that serve the indigent and to certain not-for-profit organizations and small businesses focused on serving low-income communities.
