(CHICAGO) Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP announced today that the firm held fundraisers and collected toys, clothes and books to be donated as gifts to families in need during the holiday season.

"Our attorneys regularly give back through a range of activities, including pro bono legal work, mentoring, participating in community service projects and raising money for local nonprofit organizations and families facing economic hardship, particularly during the holidays," said Katten Chairman Roger P. Furey. "This has been the way of our law firm since its beginnings nearly 45 years ago."

Katten's goodwill and generosity this holiday season extends to residents in eight cities where the firm has offices:

  • In Charlotte, Katten adopted four military families in need through the Patriot Military Family Foundation, buying toys, puzzles, art supplies, magic trick books, Harry Potter books, Build-A-Bear customizable stuffed animals and comforter sets as gifts for children.

    The office also donated money and purchased items to stock the holiday store for Safe Alliance, an organization that supports domestic violence survivors, with toys and gifts so women and their children can shop for free holiday presents.
     
  • In Chicago, Katten gave more than 1,200 books—such as The Giving Tree and Diary of a Wimpy Kid—through its annual holiday book drive to 600 individual students as well as instructors to use as lesson books for each classroom from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Chicago Public Schools' Jose de Diego Community Academy.

    Additionally, the office collected toys for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to distribute to economically disadvantaged children, and raised money for Toys for Tots and Operation Warm, a charity that provides brand new winter coats to children in need.
     
  • In Dallas, Katten teamed up with The Elf Society, which feeds and gives care packages to help low-income and homeless families, by collecting 250 toys for children between the ages of two and 12.

  • In Houston, Katten sponsored 20 children under the care of Child Protective Services in Harris County through the BEARing Gifts program, donating Legos, dolls, basketballs, a Disney Frozen-themed bicycle and helmet, and Minnie Mouse and Spider-Man pajamas to children and teens.

  • In London, Katten Muchin Rosenman UK LLP raised money through raffle ticket sales for the Kids Cancer Charity to support children with cancer and their families. Attorneys and staff at the London affiliate also donated money to wear festive holiday sweaters on Christmas Jumper Day, an event held this year on December 14 and created by the Save the Children charity as an annual fundraiser.

  • In Los Angeles, Katten hosted a holiday party for children in the foster care system served by Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services and collected donations for the Union Rescue Mission, an organization that helps men, women and children experiencing homelessness by providing comprehensive emergency and long-term recovery services to assist them in making the transition from homelessness to independent living.

  • In New York, Katten partnered with Women in Need, the largest provider of shelter for homeless families in New York City, to provide gifts for 62 children. In addition to Legos, a cooking book and a set of nail polish, one 15-year-old girl wrote on her holiday wish list: "I wish everybody was safe in the world."

  • In Washington, DC, Katten sponsored 30 "angels" from the Salvation Army Angel Tree program that helps families struggling financially and purchased Chutes & Ladders, Connect 4 and Scrabble board games, a Hot Wheels race track, crayons and stuffed animals.

    The office also donated four huge bags full of coloring books, games, toys, dolls and puzzles to stock Children's National Health System's Dr. Bear's Closet to make the hospital stay over the holidays as comfortable as possible for patients and family members and collected five large boxes packed with gently used winter items to be delivered to people who are homeless in the community.

Katten's charitable efforts continue throughout the year from coast to coast. For example, the firm makes monetary contributions to a number of nonprofit organizations, sponsors events and offers direct involvement to help those who need it the most:

On the West Coast, Katten sponsored many Special Olympics Southern California events including the Summer Games and Plane Pull, participated in the Run for Justice to benefit Public Counsel and committed to matching donations up to $10,000 to go toward the American Red Cross's relief efforts for those affected by the California wildfires.

On the East Coast, the firm raised money for the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, DC by competing in its annual Food From the Bar campaign and Katten's regatta race, donated summer reading books to elementary school students and paid the entry fee for students running in the Lawyers Have Heart race to benefit the American Heart Association.

In the Midwest, the firm's Chicago office donated hundreds of school supplies to students at Jose de Diego Community Academy, mentored public high school students and better prepared them for college and career success, and covered the registration fees for firm employees to run the Race Judicata to help the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.