Annual Report of the WLAM Foundation
May, 1999
The WLAM Foundation completed a very successful year, building on the groundwork of the preceding two years of reorganizing efforts. It raised more money through a combination of innovative campaigns, awarded more money to deserving women law students, increased support for the "mother" WLAM, and assumed a higher profile among the state’s bar-related foundations. Accomplishment of these goals was due to the exceptional efforts of a talented board comprised of Dawn Van Hoek (Chair), Kimberly M. Cahill (Treasurer), Sandra L. Sorini (Secretary), Mary Barden, Z. Kay Fischer, Nancy Glen, Carolyn Glosby, Loretta Lewins-Peck, Hon. Victoria A. Roberts, Suellyn Scarnecchia and Paula Talarico.
Fundraising continued in the form of a WLAM membership "dues check-off" which gave WLAM members an option of adding a contribution. Dues check-offs raised $845, and an additional $1,930 was raised through direct contributions (current through 5-13-99). Included in the latter group was a generous contribution from Foundation "Angel" Kimberly Cahill, who commemorated her victory in a significant domestic relations case. The Foundation published its "Angel" campaign in statewide media, urging other attorneys to earmark a portion of their fees from impact litigation for the Foundation. Fundraising also included a generous $2,500 gift from the law firm of Howard & Howard, which designated that the gift should support a Foundation scholarship to a law student attending the University of Detroit Mercy Law School.
The Foundation also launched a "Dean’s List" campaign designed to build on the commitment shown by the Howard & Howard Firm. Intended to directly support scholarships, the campaign was joined by firms contributing at various levels: summa cum laude ($2,500), magna cum laude ($1,000), and cum laude ($750). Results of the campaign were:
| Summa cum laude: | Howard & Howard |
|
| |
| Magna cum laude: | Adkinson, Need, Green, Allen & Schneider, PLLC |
| Dykema Gossett, PLLC | |
| Kmart Corp. | |
| Schoenherr & Cahill, PC | |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Cum laude: | Plunkett & Cooney, PC |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Honor roll: | Karen Smith Kienbaum |
Finally, fundraising also capitalized on the Foundation’s signature theme, art by attorneys. Following a statewide search, the work of four attorney-artists was selected for the purpose of producing prints which would be available as a gift from the Foundation, in exchange for a contribution of $100. The four artists, all of whom participated in the Foundation’s 1998 Art Exhibition at the Dell Pryor Gallery, were: Sharon D. Blackmon, Ruthmarie Shea, Brian Zubel and Lori A. Zurvalec. Their beautiful donated works were printed on high-quality paper suitable for framing, and will remain available for years to come. Best of all, production costs for the project ($6,500) were generously donated to the Foundation by Ford Motor Company, due to the efforts of Ford attorneys James Vondale and incoming Board member Jennifer Gilhool. Finally, the State Bar of Michigan contributed the services of Jackie James, who designed a beautiful brochure featuring the art works, for use the campaign.
The artists’ works were unveiled during the Foundation Luncheon at Detroit’s Risata Restaurant on Saturday, May 15, 1999. A special program that day featured the unveiling, introduction of the artists, recognition of the Dean’s List contributors, and announcement of the recipients of this year’s law student scholarships. Due to the success of last year’s fundraising efforts, scholarship amounts were increased to $1,250 for each student at four schools, and $2,500 for the University of Detroit Mercy student. The 1999 awardees were: Nancy A. Costello (University of Detroit Mercy), Karin Klapper (University of Michigan), Kathy A. Martin (Cooley), Miriam H. Marton (DCL at MSU), and Susan West (Wayne State).
The Foundation also awarded $1,500 to the state Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, earmarking the contribution for a leadership retreat held in September of 1998. The Association developed and forwarded its long-range plan for further review and interaction by the Foundation, which determined to support worthy projects which may arise. A special presentation to the state WLAM Board was made in April, 1999, by Foundation board member Paula Talarico, emphasizing the desire to maintain support.
Many thanks to all for the support shown during the year!
Respectfully submitted,
Dawn Van Hoek
Chair, WLAM Foundation