With completion of its 2000 "Dean’s List" fundraising campaign, the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Foundation confirmed a trend in recent years: corporations generously support the education of women. In this case, the women are law students attending Michigan’s five law schools. Each year, the WLAM Foundation awards scholarship money to a student at each law school who has demonstrated leadership on and commitment to women’s issues. Fundraising for the scholarships is done through special events, art sales, individual contributions, and direct solicitation of law firms and corporate legal departments. The latter, accomplished through invitations to join a "Dean’s List" of contributors, has tapped a welcome source of corporate support.

While the generous contributions of corporations have been a welcome surprise, law firms traditionally have comprised the largest segment of Foundation supporters. For several years, the Howard & Howard Community Reinvestment Fund has donated $2,500 for a deserving woman law student attending the University of Detroit Mercy Law School. Gina M. Torielli, CEO of the firm, has met each of the UDM students personally, demonstrating that Howard & Howard’s contributions are more than just a check-writing exercise. Law firms feel a strong connection to the students, shown in a special "Art for Attorneys" event hosted by Dykema Gossett at its Detroit office in March, 2000. In addition to its annual "Dean’s List " contribution, the Dykema Gossett law firm generously covered all expenses associated with the March art show and sale, ensuring that 100% of the proceeds went to the Foundation’s scholarship fund.

Over the past several years, the Foundation has been supported by a core of committed law firms. Foundation Board members are convinced that more firms will contribute over time, as they realize that it makes good business sense. Law firms and corporate law departments often compete for the most qualified women law graduates. More and more women law graduates are interested in joining law firms and corporations that are committed to advancing women and women’s issues. The Foundation provides an easy means to contribute to women’s education, and is happy to publicize the generous support of its donors.

"We are building relationships between our donors and outstanding women law students, while also supporting completion of the students’ degrees," according to the Foundation’s Chair, Dawn Van Hoek. Donors and students are introduced each year at a spring reception, recently held in Novi as part of the Women and the Law Conference. Numerous corporate and law firm representatives met with the year-2000 awardees. Among those representatives were two WLAM Foundation Board members, Jennifer Gilhool (representing Ford Motor Company), and Michelle Johnson (representing the Grand Rapids law firm of Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge, PC, and herself a prior student-awardee). "In 2001, we will expand the opportunities to interact," according to Van Hoek, "as the Foundation plans to introduce student applicants, as well as award winners, to the Dean’s List contributors."

Contributors to the scholarship fund take pride in the accomplishments of those chosen as Outstanding Women Law Students. In 2000, the five students not only had exceptional academic qualifications, but also were leaders on domestic violence, family law, child advocacy and labor projects. Full profiles of the students appear on the Foundation’s web site.

"The success of this year’s fundraising campaigns will allow us to award more money to more students next year," said Van Hoek, speaking at the May 12^th reception. From a modest $500 award to each student just three years ago, the awards in 2001 are likely to exceed $2,000, an amount which attracts outstanding applicants. With a small and dedicated Board of volunteer women, low overhead, and a vision of educating women, the WLAM Foundation is committed to funding scholarships for the long run.

We thank the following generous contributors to the scholarship fund,
the members of our year-2000 Dean’s List:

Valedictorian ($7,500)
Ford Motor Company

Summa Cum Laude ($2,500 or more)
General Motors Corporation
Howard & Howard Community Reinvestment Fund

Magna Cum Laude ($1,000 or more)
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Care Network
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Dykema Gossett PLLC
Kmart Corporation
Schoenherr & Cahill, PC
State Bar of Michigan, Open Justice Commission

Cum Laude ($750 or more)
Adkison Need PLLC
Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, PC
Kell & Lynch, PC
Masco Corporation
Meijer Incorporated
Plunkett & Cooney, PC
Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge, PC

Honor Roll
Karen Smith Kienbaum & Associates
Kemp, Klein, Umphrey & Endelman Foundation
Sharon Noll Smith, Attorney at Law