MoProBono Fall 2018 Newsletter

17 MoProBono Fall 2018 The volunteer spirit at MoFo doesn’t end at pro bono legal work. Many staff members contribute time and energy to make the world a better place, in many different ways. Children Inspire Many At MoFo to Lend a Hand • The Northern Virginia office has made this a group project, partnering with the Britepaths organization and its Food4Thought partner Cedar Lane School to fight child hunger in Fairfax County. Deidre Moore, who is director of administration for the office, organizes the effort. Lawyers and staff contribute food or funds to fill bags with healthy meals, drinks, and snacks that are distributed for weekend consumption to children who receive free or reduced-price meals during school days. Each month, the office provides 20 huge bags of food for the students and, this summer, doubled its efforts and provided 40 bags. The MoFo Virginia group also stuffed 20 backpacks with school supplies for students as they returned to school this fall. • Just a few miles away in the Washington, D.C. office, staff members Katie Coleman, Thomasina Jasper, and Mike Willens continue the office’s long tradition of volunteering with the Everybody Wins! DC Power Lunch program, by serving as reading mentors for students at the public elementary school near our office there. And, thousands of miles away, senior patent filing specialist Aurelia Caparas from the Palo Alto office is organizing a “Paint Night” to raise funds for science supplies at her daughter’s school in Santa Clara. • Rose Sheehan has volunteered for 10 years with the San Diego chapter of Distinguished Young Women, helping 11th grade girls gain confidence and new friendships through its “Be Your Best Self” scholarship competition. Paula Thomas, a San Francisco legal administrative assistant, is co-chair for youth activities at the local Elks Lodge, which include holiday parties, a “pool day,” and school supply drives. • Six-year-old soccer players in Connecticut and high school wrestlers in California have something in common: both are coached by MoFo staff. Josh Roy, managing attorney in the New York office, just returned to coaching first and second grade girls’ soccer after taking a few years off. David Ridnell, senior paralegal in San Francisco, coaches youth wrestling at Wan-tu-Wazuri Wrestling Club and Oakland Tech High School, attending practices and tournaments around California and the West Coast. Children Are Not the Only Beneficiaries of MoFo Volunteerism • Matt Satlak, who is an attorney development analyst in San Francisco, is an officer and board member of Argonne Community Garden in the Richmond neighborhood. The garden has been growing fresh vegetables for local food programs and supporting programs for youth and seniors since 1975. Matt is also studying food insecurity in the Tenderloin neighborhood as part of his graduate school program. • Senior Paralegal Lisa Harger, impressed with the Arthritis Foundation’s emphasis on nutrition to help manage inflammatory diseases, co-chaired this year’s Washington, D.C. Walk to Cure Arthritis . Litigation docket specialist Annie Cipiti finds her volunteer opportunities through New York Cares and is currently a MOFO STAFF MEMBERS GIVE BACK