A Center City Law Firm With Community Spirit
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By Cherri Gregg
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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The law firm Zarwin Baum DeVito Kaplan Schaer Toddy makes its mark daily in courtrooms and boardrooms, but in its 52-year history the firm has also had a broader impact on behalf of the needy.
"In the last four years we've raised $100,000 for Philabundance and collected 2,500 pounds of food," says Mitchell Kaplan, managing shareholder at Zarwin Baum. He says the firm has numerous coals burning in the community fire to help charities all across the city.
Like last month, when they hosted a new fundraising effort at the Wells Fargo Center called PHILAlympics.
"We had 12 companies in the area bring their employees to participate in fun events, and we raised $20,000 for the Ronald McDonald House," says Kaplan, who notes that one lucky company won the title "Philadelphia's Phunnest Company."
He says the event will be bigger next year.
Other efforts include Casino Night, which is scheduled for this coming October at the Crystal Tea Room, above Macy's department store in center city.
"We're gambling with play money," he says, chuckling, "but the point is to help the Easter Seals."
Kaplan says as new attorneys and staff members join the firm, ideas for how to help the community become more creative. One example is monthly "Denim Days" to benefit a variety of nonprofits.
"At least twice a month on a Friday, employees can donate at least five dollars to be able to wear denim to the office that day," he says.
So why all this effort? Kaplan says the firm was founded with a committment to the community, and they want it to continue.
"Part of our makeup is to give back to the community that we serve," says Kaplan.
For more on Zarwin Baum, go to http://www.zarwin.com/
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