Baker & McKenzie Holds 2011 Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign
Pro Bono
2 December 2011
North America, 2 December 2011 – Ten Baker & McKenzie offices across North America focus on a very important issue every October for the last ten years – finding a cure for breast cancer. By volunteering, donating, organizing, walking, and running, over 1000 Baker & McKenzie professionals contributed to the growth of awareness about breast cancer treatment and prevention, and helped raise over USD84,000 to support research.
As a crucial aspect of this pro bono and community service efforts, Baker & McKenzie has committed time energy and creativity to encouraging its employees in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami, New York, Palo Alto, San Diego, San Francisco, Toronto and Washington, D.C. to raise funds and awareness to fight breast cancer.
The Firm builds a team of volunteers in each office in the United States and Canada to join a public walk or run with dedicated organizations including the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, the Susan G. Komen Run for the Cure, the Avon Walks to Fight Breast Cancer; and Canada’s CIBC Run for the Cure.
Different offices organize different events but it is the events inside the offices that really reflect the commitment to the cause. Activities across North America include Bake Sales, Raffles, Coffee for the Cure, Survivor Speakers, Jeans Day Fundraisers, “Think Pink” week, “Dare to Wear Pink”, Guess the Candy Jar, Wii Bowling Tournaments, and other fun and meaningful activities. Each office crafts an individual series of events in October to encourage participation by staff and attorneys alike.
This year, one notable aspect of the campaign is the development of an Honor Wall in many offices where members of the office community post a pink ribbon with the name of a loved one who has or is aiming to fight cancer. The walls themselves are a breathtaking sight of public yet personal affection for those most dear to Baker & McKenzie community members. They appear in the reception area of the offices so visitors and Firm members can share this experience and the awareness it brings to the cause.
“We are proud of our efforts to bring this issue to the forefront of our busy days to not only help raise funds to find a cure for breast cancer, but help raise awareness about how to prevent it through healthy habits and knowing warning signs” says Dieter Schmitz, Principal in the Chicago office and founding co-chair of the Chicago office event celebrating its 10th year anniversary in 2011.