The Daily Transcript
February 19, 2008
Doug Sherwin
The law firm McKenna Long & Aldridge recently organized its fund-raising activities in the form of a charitable foundation, and the first beneficiary is the San Diego region.
Launched this year, the MLA Foundation is a philanthropic arm of the firm designed to enhance the efficiency and impact of the firm's donations.
Through the MLA Southern California Wildfires Relief Fund, the foundation raised $50,000 to be divided equally between the San Diego and Los Angeles chapters of the American Red Cross.
The foundation donated a base gift of $25,000 and then agreed to match, dollar-for-dollar, all employee contributions. Approximately 130 McKenna Long & Aldridge partners and employees donated $12,500.
"The foundation board was very enthusiastic about contributing to (help relieve) what members of the Southern California community suffered," said Bob Brewer, managing partner of McKenna Long & Aldridge's San Diego office and an MLA Foundation board member.
"It's a lot of money, and I'm sure, through the Red Cross, it'll be utilized by many who suffered greatly."
Chris Marek, director of development and communication for the San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross, expressed his gratitude for the donation.
"In the blink of an eye, our neighbors' homes were destroyed and their lives were changed forever," he said. "The contributions made by the MLA Foundation and MLA employees helped the Red Cross provide immediate assistance to hundreds of families who lost everything."
In its inaugural year, the MLA Foundation has a budget of approximately $1 million, according to Phil Bradley, chair of the MLA Foundation and a partner in the firm's Washington, D.C., office.
The entire budget doesn't have to be disbursed in 2008. Funds will carry over from one year to the next, making the firm flexible to handle varying needs.
The idea for the foundation occurred while the firm was helping victims of Hurricane Katrina. The McKenna Long & Aldridge partnership made an initial contribution of $50,000 while offering to match any employees' contributions. The firm ended up making a $150,000 donation.
"Historically, our firm did its charitable giving on an office-by-office basis," Bradley said. "We decided we wanted to look more on a firm-wide basis, still recognizing the local needs of each of our offices.
"We wanted to become more focused on (giving), so we can leverage employees willingness to donate with the firm's resources. We're very excited that this is going to be a great way for the firm to become bigger contributors to each of our communities that we serve."
To help determine what areas the MLA Foundation would concentrate on, the firm took a survey of all of its office employees, including staff members. The results showed that firm employees wanted to help in the following areas: legal services to the underserved; housing and homelessness; and issues relating to children, both in education and health care.
The firm partnership will provide the basic funding for the foundation, which can be enhanced by the giving of associates and other staff members.
"It's a terrific tribute to our dedication to worthy causes and worthy organizations," Brewer said, adding that the MLA Foundation will improve the firm's giving because "everyone in the firm knows of it and is able to make a request for donations."