COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

PRO BONO

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Strasburger demonstrates a strong commitment to our community not only by contributing funds, but also by donating volunteer hours to various charitable and community organizations.  The firm encourages employees to meaningfully participate in the community through the donation of their time and talents to organizations and by becoming members of community and charitable groups.

Strasburger as a firm supported more than 75 charities in 2007 not including the hundreds of local and community organizations in which our lawyers and employees actively participate.

Strasburger supports:

Susan G. Komen For the Cure
Strasburger partners with and is dedicated to supporting the efforts of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  In 2007, Strasburger celebrated its seventh year hosting events geared toward increasing awareness of Komen.  Over the last three years, the firm honored three women in the Dallas community who embody the spirit of what Susan G. Komen for the Cure is about.  Strasburger was proud to present its first Commitment to the Cure Award to Karen Borta, Anchor and Reporter for CBS 11, its second award to Kathy LaTour, senior lecturer and an award-winning faculty member in Corporate Communications & Public Affairs at Southern Methodist University, and its third award to Dr. Sally Knox, who is a breast cancer surgeon at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.  Over the years, the firm's involvement with Susan G. Komen for the Cure has extended: two of our Houston attorneys volunteer as Komen committee members, and one of our Houston attorneys sits on the local board. Strasburger also participates in the Komen Race for the Cure events in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Plano and San Antonio, and the firm also co-sponsors a fundraising dinner with women in the medical profession in San Antonio.  Together, they raised $124,000 in 2008.  All of the firm's offices also participate in Passionately Pink for the Cure to raise funds for Komen for and one hundred percent of the proceeds are donated directly to Komen.

United Way
The firm has a long-standing relationship with the United Way.  Strasburger's offices have participated in the corporate United Way campaign for nearly two decades, and the firm was proud to support the organization again in 2007.  Last year, over 63 firm employees participated, and raised more than $23,000, the highest level of employee participation and the highest amount the firm has raised to date.  The United Way is dedicated to building stronger communities by assisting nonprofit organizations to expand, diversify and measure success.

March of Dimes
The firm is a devoted sponsor of the March of Dimes and has been for many years.  Our attorneys and staff participate in the March of Dimes' annual March for Babies each year to help raise funds and awareness for this charity.  In 2007, the firm broke its previous record by raising over $8,500 to benefit the organization.  Nearly 20 of our employees marched in Dallas and they alone fundraised almost $6,000 through friends and family.  March of Dimes is dedicated to preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

The American Heart Association
Strasburger is a proud sponsor of the American Heart Association, and in the past year, has increased participation with this charity.  In 2007, Strasburger formed a team of 47 walkers who participated in the American Heart Association Heart Walk and raised over $5,500 for the organization.  In 2008, the firm participated in the "Go Red for Women" campaign by wearing red clothing and donating funds to support women's heart disease research.  The goal of the American Heart Association is to reduce coronary heart disease and strokes by 25 percent by 2010.  Strasburger is proud to help the American Heart Association realize this goal.

Big Brothers Big Sisters
Strasburger is a devoted sponsor of Big Brothers Big Sisters.  Big Brothers Big Sisters' vision is successful mentoring relationships for children who need and want them, contributing to brighter futures, better schools, and stronger communities.  Since 2000, Strasburger's Austin office has proudly participated in Bowl for Kids' Sake, the organization's largest annual fundraiser.  In 2007, three bowling teams made up of 15 participants raised $1,900.  In 2008, the Austin office broke its previous record with four participating bowling teams made up of 20 participants who raised $3,150.  Partner Francine Breckenridge is on the board for the organization.

Frisco Family Services Center
The Collin County office is an annual supporter of FFSC, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide social services to individuals and families in need in the city of Frisco and surrounding areas.  FFSC provides emergency assistance by way of rent/mortgage assistance, utility assistance, prescription assistance and gasoline vouchers.  FFSC also offers training in job readiness, nutritional education and legal rights.  Special projects in which the Collin County office has participated include the Back-to-School program that provides new school clothes and school supplies, the Thanksgiving Meal Box Program and Holiday Gifts for parents, children and the elderly.  Paul Myers in the firm's Collin County office serves as a board member.

Girl Scouts of the USA
The Girl Scouts' mission statement is that girl scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.  Girl Scouts of the USA is the world's preeminent organization for girls, with a membership of more than 3.5 million girls and adults. Today, as when founded in 1912, Girl Scouts helps cultivate values, social conscience, and self esteem in young girls, while also teaching them critical life skills that will enable them to succeed as adults. Our Partner-in-Charge for the Houston office serves as First Vice Chair of the Board for the Girl Scouts.  Additionally, Strasburger's Houston office supports the Girl Scouts with a table sponsorship for the Girl Scouts Urban Campout. 

Helping Hand Home for Children
Strasburger proudly supports Helping Hand Home for Children.  For 114 years, Helping Hand Home has provided a place to heal for abused, neglected and abandoned children.  Since 2001, Strasburger's Austin office has brightened the holidays for these children with coats, clothing, toys, and gift cards.  In 2007, our attorneys and staff helped ensure a happier holiday season for 22 children.  The Home is the oldest continuously operating residential childcare agency in Travis County. 

Infant Toddler Intervention Program/Ready Start
Infant Toddler Intervention Program (ITIP) and Ready Start are coalitions of early childhood organizations that promote information about how infants and children learn by promoting education and policies that support parents and children.  Ready Start focuses on the healthy development and well-being of children from birth to five years of age, the most critical time for healthy development.  These organizations help babies and toddlers with disabilities or delays in their development.  Services are provided in home and community settings and help children learn basic skills.  Screening and assessments, physical, occupational, speech and language therapy, activities to develop learning skills, activities to help social and emotional development and nutritional services are some of the programs offered through ITIP/Ready Start.  Strasburger's Collin County office has hosted monthly board meetings for ITIP/Ready Start since the office opened in 2004.  Partner Scott Shanes serves on the board for the organization.

Meals on Wheels and More
Since 1999, Strasburger's Austin attorneys and staff have delivered hot, nutritious meals every Wednesday and Friday to the elderly, disabled and homebound in the Greater Austin area.  Recipients of the home delivered meals are able to live out their days in their own homes with independence and dignity.  Strasburger's Austin office proudly supports Meals on Wheels and More.

MediSend
Strasburger supports MediSend International, a non-profit organization that ships medical equipment and supplies to impoverished countries around the world. In 2007, our employees and partners assisted MediSend in a variety of ways by donating funds and by volunteering their time at MediSend's headquarters, where medical surplus equipment and supplies are sorted, repaired when necessary, packed, and shipped to third-world countries desperately in need of the equipment.  Strasburger's Managing Partner Dan Butcher serves on the board for MediSend.  In 2007, firm employees contributed over $2,500 as well as many hours of legal counsel.

PRO BONO

As an integral part of our firm's culture, Strasburger & Price, LLP is dedicated to providing pro bono services to the firm's local communities. This commitment is evidenced by Strasburger's adoption of formal pro bono policies and procedures and the appointment of a PRO BONO COMMITTEE to manage the firm's pro bono services. In addition, Strasburger is a signatory to the "Pro Bono Challenge" issued by the Pro Bono Institute at Georgetown University Law Center ("PBI"), and is also a member of Pro Bono Institute. http://www.probonoinst.org.

Strasburger's Pro Bono Committee is responsible for reviewing the firm's pro bono policies and coordinating institutional support for our attorneys' public service.

Strasburger's pro bono program benefits the public, the individuals we serve, and the development of our lawyers' skills and sense of professional and public service. Some of the projects and organizations our attorneys have contributed to include:

PRO BONO HIGHLIGHTS

Community Justice Program (CJP)

On June 19, 2007, San Antonio office attorneys and staff volunteered for the Community Justice Program a project of the San Antonio Bar Association at St. Mary's University Center for Legal and Social Justice. The mission of SABA's Community Justice Program is to bring legal services and night court to neighborhood locations for low income residents of San Antonio. CJP's partner, Texas Rural Legal Aid, supports the program by prequalifying clients and coordinating all client intake. CJP accepts non contested matters such as family law, consumer, employment, housing, bankruptcy, simple landlord/tenant disputes, probate matters and simple wills. Participating attorneys were available to assess each applicant's legal needs, answer questions, direct them to the appropriate resources and see each case through to completion. Participating staff members were available for copy support, word processing, editing, and notary services. Strasburger attorneys and staff participating in the clinic were Kip Giles, Merritt Clements, Steve Dennis, Andy Kerr, Alex Huddleston, Alfredo Ramos, Dan Lanfear, Matt Cole, Laurie Borski, Donna Chance, and Emma Martinez.
  

Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program (HVLP)

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Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas (VLS)

STRASBURGER'S PRO BONO COMMITTEE

Monica A. Velazquez, Collin County

Merritt M. Clements, San Antonio

Robert M. O'Boyle, Austin

Laura Reilly O'Hara, Dallas

Scott A. Shanes, Collin County

John K. Spiller, Houston, Chair

STRASBURGER & PRICE, LLP