Morgan Lewis

Community Service

Reaching Out

In addition to providing pro bono legal services, all Morgan Lewis offices have a long tradition of other types of community service. The following are examples of the types of organizations and programs we are proud to support:

Komen National Race for the Cure
The Washington, D.C. office raised more than $26,000 in June 2005 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation by participating in the 16th Annual National Race for the Cure. The Foundation provides funds for breast cancer research and community outreach programs. The Morgan Lewis team raised funds through silent auctions, raffles, and a scarf sale. The D.C. office also held a "Pink Shirt Day" to raise awareness for the event and the campaign.

National Constitution Center
Morgan Lewis is the Founding Legal Sponsor of the National Constitution Center, located on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. The National Constitution Center is dedicated to educating our citizens about the Constitution and its significant impact on all of our lives. Morgan Lewis pledged $600,000 in cash and services to this project and has led the "Power of an Hour" campaign through which law firms are requested to contribute the cash equivalent of one billable hour for each of their lawyers. The initiative began successfully with large law firms in Philadelphia and is now being rolled out across the nation.

The Committee of Seventy
On election days, Morgan Lewis volunteers have answered Philadelphia voters' election-day calls to The Committee of Seventy, a not-for-profit, non-partisan political "watchdog" organization, at the Committee's headquarters. Volunteers have also participated in roving teams, providing watchdog support at citywide polling places.

Duke Ellington School of the Arts
As part of the pro bono efforts of Morgan Lewis' Washington, D.C. office, we have served as the primary outside counsel for the Duke Ellington School of the Arts since June 1999. Most recently, we have worked to create a unique tax-exempt partnership, comprised of the school's fundraising arm, the Duke Ellington Fund, the Kennedy Center, and The George Washington University. This alliance has not only enriched the academic and artistic opportunities for students at the school, but the partners have also recently joined with the D.C. Public School System to create a national model for public education in the performing arts.

Morgan Lewis Tutoring Program
Many Morgan Lewis employees in the Philadelphia office work with 6- to 11-year-old students from the Learning Is Fun and Enjoyable (LIFE) program. The students travel to our cafeteria once a week, and our tutors work with the students on homework, school projects, reading, and educational games. In addition to tutoring, we host a holiday party, several pizza parties, dramatic readings, and field trips to cultural and educational institutions such as the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Franklin Institute, and the Philadelphia Zoo.

Eighteenth Street Development Corporation
Twice a year, Morgan Lewis volunteers assist in rehabilitating homes in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Philadelphia. The rehabilitation projects, which benefit low-income families, range from complete renovations of houses for eventual ownership to special projects in existing homes. Our volunteers work side-by-side with homeowners to make the homes safe and inviting places to live.

Holiday Gift-Giving Program for Children
Morgan Lewis employees donate gifts and/or funds to brighten the holiday season for children connected with a worthwhile charity. For the past several years, Morgan Lewis has donated gifts and funds to the "Toy Shop" of the Philadelphia Society for Services to Children, an organization that provides services to children at risk of abuse, neglect, or abandonment, and the Children's Treatment Crisis Center, an organization that benefits children who have been abused or neglected or have witnessed traumatic situations.

Philadelphia Cares Coat Drive
Morgan Lewis employees donate and collect "gently used" winter coats that Philadelphia Cares distributes to more than 100 community organizations and schools throughout Philadelphia. In addition, Morgan Lewis employees assist with the sorting and distribution process.

Baby Bundles Program
Morgan Lewis participates in a Women's Way drive to collect new baby-care items and funds for low-income women. Morgan Lewis volunteers also help to sort items collected from drive locations and assemble 500 Baby Bundles for the Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County. These Baby Bundles are given to new mothers in the Healthy Start Program.

Working Wardrobe
Morgan Lewis employees donate new or "gently used" business clothing and accessories to low-income women and women on welfare to assist them during the interview process as they enter or re-enter the job market.

Pitt Legal Income Sharing Foundation
The Pittsburgh office supports the annual PLISF auction by supporting a selected law student with the Morgan Lewis/PLISF Cooperative fellowship opportunity. This contribution provides a student, who has accepted an unpaid internship with a public interest organization, with a stipend to assist with living expenses for the summer. In addition, we contribute items for auction to assist the PLISF students in their fundraising efforts. Through this program, the Pittsburgh office supports the University of Pittsburgh, its law students, and our community.

Adopt-a-Family
Each year, the Pittsburgh office celebrates the holiday season in grand style by adopting a family for the holiday season. We provide gifts, outerwear and boots, holiday outfits, and a holiday meal for our adopted family.

American Heart Association Lawyers Have Heart 5K Run/Walk
The Pittsburgh office is a tremendous supporter of the American Heart Association's Lawyers Have Heart 5K Run/Walk. We served as sponsors for this event for the past four years, and members of our office serve on the Lawyers Have Heart Committee. For the past several years, we have received the award for "most team participants."

United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania
The Philadelphia office of Morgan Lewis is a strong supporter of the United Way. Our yearly campaign goal is to surpass the previous year's level of giving. In the past two years, the highlight of the campaign has been a silent auction. Generous employees, partners, and vendors donate items to be auctioned. All proceeds benefit the United Way. Another popular fundraiser has been the in-house sale of cookbooks containing favorite recipes submitted by staff. The annual United Way Campaign gives office personnel an opportunity to work together to benefit the region while retaining the ability to support favorite individual charities. Last year's campaign focused on providing funds for the Community Care – Areas of Need programs. Funds donated targeted local organizations serving three general goals: (1) investing in our children and youth; (2) building adult independence; and (3) promoting healthy living.