For the fourth consecutive year, Children’s Law Center (CLC) selected Bates White for its Corporate Champions for Children award. Bates White has won the award each year since its inception in 2017, the only non-law firm to win a Champions for Children award.
This award honors the commitment of organizations that support CLC to ensure children can grow up with a stable family, good health, and quality education. In 2020, Bates White raised approximately $45,800 for CLC, an increase of almost 24% over 2019.
“A key part of the Bates White culture is encouraging employee commitment—both to work and to the community,” said Charlie Mullin, Bates White Managing Partner. “The CLC award clearly demonstrates the firm’s passion for contributing to the community and to those in need, especially in a year when that need was so great. CLC’s Champions for Children program aligns naturally with Bates White’s commitment to a great cause—making sure children in the District have legal advocates in their corner. I am incredibly proud of our employees’ commitment and generosity.”
As in previous years, employees raised funds in several creative ways. Events included a comedy news quiz that paid homage to NPR’s “Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me” radio show and a remote game of Jeopardy that not only raised funds but also jump-started the CLC’s annual Holiday Hope Drive. Through this drive, Bates White employees adopted five children and donated both gifts from their wish lists and gift cards to help with school and home needs. In 2020, the drive was particularly helpful as families struggled to simply make ends meet during the pandemic.
In addition to fundraising, Bates White continued to work on a pro bono basis to analyze the District of Columbia’s budget data. That analysis helps CLC more easily identify and understand changes in the budget and thus make informed, targeted decisions when interacting with the DC Council, all in support of CLC's advocacy efforts.
“Bates White has been a longstanding supporter of CLC,” said CLC Executive Director Judith Sandalow. “During a year when it became more critical than ever to help children, Bates White raised relentlessly for the Champions for Children campaign. The firm’s ongoing partnership and dedication to our mission will lead to positive change where it’s most needed for our community.”
Principal Ben Wolfert is on CLC’s Advisory Board and coordinates the firm’s support for CLC.
To learn more about Bates White’s community fundraising, click here.