Firm's Community Support Exceeds $20 Million Since 1999
Commitment to Giving Back Accomplished Through Foundations, Pro Bono, and Service
Aug 2007
Minneapolis (August 2007) – Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. is proud to announce that the firm's community service contributions from the Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. Private Foundation and the Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. Foundation for Education, Public Health and Social Justice have totaled more than $20 million since 1999. In addition to these grants and program funds, the firm’s attorneys and staff are committed to personally giving back to their communities in a variety of ways, through donations of personal funds or time or talent.
The firm also has just released Meeting Community Challenges, the 2006 annual report that describes the firm’s pro bono and community service efforts, as well as programs and grants supported by the Private Foundation and the Foundation for Education, Public Health and Social Justice. The report can be viewed at www.rkmc.com/Community_Service.htm.
"Giving back is a core value of the firm that is supported by the entire Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. family. The positive difference and impact we are achieving affects those who are most under served, and includes children, immigrants, elderly and the homeless," said Michael V. Ciresi, the firm's chairman. "We are rising to the challenge of making a visible and meaningful commitment to the common good of our nation."
Foundations
The Robins, Kaplan Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. Foundation for Education, Public Health and Social Justice is primarily dedicated to children in the areas of education, public health and social justice. This Foundation supports programs that can make a significant and long-lasting impact. Current ongoing initiatives include:
- National Child Protection Training Center: The Center trains child protection professionals around the country and providing technical assistance in child abuse legal cases. Approximately 10,000 professionals receive training each year.
- Addressing Issues Of Social Justice And Tolerance Through The Performing Arts: Grants awarded to four theaters enabled them to respond to the Foundation’s call to create education programs to address issues that create barriers to social justice and other related issues.
- Hurricane Katrina Relief
- Achieve! Minneapolis: The Achieve! Career and College Initiative in the Minneapolis Public Schools support coordination and activities of the Career Center at North High School.
The Robins, Kaplan Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. Private Foundation supports more than 180 cultural institutions, education and research initiatives, environmental groups and community non-profit organizations that serve to strengthen communities nationwide. They range from ALS Association to the Minneapolis Opera to the United Way.
Pro Bono
It is a fundamental policy of the firm to provide legal services to those in need but who are unable to afford it. To further encourage pro bono legal services, Robins Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. implemented the Youth Law Initiative, a firm-wide pro bono project devoted to safeguarding the legal rights of children and teens. Each of the firm’s offices has created its own Youth Law Initiative project tailored to meet the needs of the local community. For the past two years, more than 5% of the firm’s total attorney billable time was contributed to pro bono work. Some of the firm’s pro bono efforts include:
- Representing the Center for Biological Diversity and the Friends of Fawnskin in California in the federal trial of an Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act case.
- Assisting in immigrant and asylum cases.
- Protecting rights of indigent individuals in Housing Court and in other legal actions.
- Working with the Minnesota Supreme Court’s Guardian ad Litem program to represent guardians in contested cases involving abused and neglected children.
Community Service
The firm is also very proud of the many highly involved attorneys and staff members who give back through a variety of service activities. A few of the many examples that individuals support:
- Habitat for Humanity - Attorneys and staff firmwide regularly contribute their time to working on homes.
- A variety of walks and drives for charities and health associations - Attorneys and staff firmwide regularly participate to raise funds.
- Jeremiah Program, Cook for Kids - Attorneys in Minneapolis cooked and served dinner to women and children.
Recognition
In 2007, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. was named to The American Lawyer’s "A-List," which measures and recognizes the top 20 law firms nationwide with the highest rankings across the board for performance in revenue per lawyer, pro bono, associate satisfaction, and diversity. This is the firm's second appearance on this list in the past five years.
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