Like Santa Claus checking off his list, area attorneys often have tallies of their own in the waning days of December.
Filing those final briefs, those last motions of the year. Check.
Getting paperwork and calendars organized to hit the New Year running. Check.
Ensuring they’ve done charitable deeds and duties to help the community. Check, check.
From children to animals, seniors to families, area attorneys and firms large and small step up throughout the year to help the community. Whether it’s volunteering at an organization, running in a marathon to showcase a cause or simply stroking check to help, the efforts are there.
Stories so abundant they’d fill seasonal tomes with holiday cheer. Each chapter, a reason.
Like Friday at the Ortega office of John Phillips. The attorney hosted a party with a goal of collecting as many toys for the Toys for Tots Foundation as possible.
“You have networking and all of those things, but at the end of the day, I see it,” said Phillips. “There are so many underprivileged kids out there.”
He credits the guests more than his firm, but seeing the culmination of several hundred toys delivered to children is “really what it’s all about.”
“To see those faces is beyond amazing,” he said.
It’s not just a holiday foray, though — Phillips steps up during the year for causes like the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and K9s for Warriors among others.
He isn’t the only one.
For Holland & Knight, community service is ingrained in the firm’s ethos.
Last year, attorneys and staff in the firm’s local office donated 3,000 hours in legal services — equivalent to $1.1 million — and spent another 3,500 hours serving on nonprofit boards and other acts. Individuals in the office have contributed more than $300,000 for different organizations.
“We’ve always been involved in our communities,” said Buddy Schulz, a partner in the Jacksonville office, “to do more than just simply practice law for clients who pay us.”
Two of those ongoing local efforts come through a 9/11 Day of Service and the mentor program the firm established with its adopted school, R.V. Daniels Elementary School.
The service day was established by Jay Winuk, brother of Glenn Winuk — a Holland & Knight partner and volunteer EMT who died rescuing others during the collapse of the World Trade Center. The Jacksonville office has participated the past four years by helping Children’s Home Society, Community Connections, the Police Athletic League and The Bridge of Northeast Florida, all of which have a focus on youth.
“It’s just something that’s a part of our culture,” Schulz said.
It’s a part of the culture in firms all around Jacksonville, like Rogers Towers.
The firm supports organizations like the North Florida School of Special Education, the YMCA and the local chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. For the latter, one of the attorneys is in the running to become the organization’s “Man of the Year.”
“It’s an unspoken rule our attorneys have some type of community involvement,” said Ashley Ruiz, the firm’s marketing coordinator. “It’s instilled in the firm and we’re pretty proud of it.”
On an individual level, the firm also boasts the only two recipients for The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida’s “Prize for Civic Engagement.” Bill Scheu was recognized with the award this year, while Bill Brinton earned the honor in 2007.
With so many organizations, nonprofits and causes to choose, it often can be difficult to choose one or two to donate time, money and energy to help. But some firms like Boyd & Jenerette do more.
They pick more than a dozen, a month for each cause.
January always is Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida. A summer month for Community Connections. And December means different groups benefiting children and families — this year it was Hubbard House and Children’s Home Society.
Spaced between were many of the firm’s 66 employees taking part in March’s Mud Run to benefit The Florida ALS Association or a “Kasseroles for K9s” event in July for K9s for Warriors.
Most of the work comes from a charity committee the firm’s employees set up.
“It’s a great team building event and is a way for all of us to pay it forward to our community,” said Sherrie Vanek, Boyd & Jenerette’s operations manager. “We all work very hard and sometimes it’s difficult as individuals to take the time to set up … and work with those less fortunate.”
Yet, while many firms give back throughout the year, it’s often the holidays, a time of goodwill, when it can shine brightest. A time for groups to rally around a cause, like Terrell Hogan did this year in supporting the Jacksonville Humane Society.
Pet treats, food, bowls, crates, cleaning supplies galore for the animals. Last year, it was the Clara White Mission the firm helped with truckloads of needed goods.
“It’s fun to see all the staff get involved and to help make someone’s holiday a little brighter,” said Cynthia Ali, a Terrell Hogan staff member. “We look forward to it every year.”
It’s likely a permanent check mark for them — and many of the other firms out there lending a hand.
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