Keller Rohrback encourages attorneys and staff to give back to the communities where we live and work. Firm employees offer their time and professional expertise to assist with non-profit endeavors including homeless shelters, food banks and youth programs to name a few. Several times a year the firm joins together in community service focused events. Whether employees participate by serving on boards of directors, participating in charitable fun runs or donating goods, Keller Rohrback encourages and applauds their dedication to initiatives that improve and give back to the community.

We also encourage our attorneys to pursue pro bono work that complements their interest in the law and in our community Keller Rohrback attorneys believe that all persons or institutions deserve quality legal representation regardless of the financial situation. To help the legal community facilitate that goal, the firm pairs charitable case requests with firm attorneys who possess an interest and a skill in the particular area. Across the firm, attorneys and staff have assisted a variety of local non-profit organizations.

Charitable Contributions and Giving Programs

Food Frenzy
Keller Rohrback actively participates in Food Frenzy - a friendly, fun and creative fundraiser for Food Lifeline which is a Seattle non-profit food distributor. The purpose of the event is to raise funds to help feed hungry children in Western Washington during the summer months when subsidized school breakfast and lunch programs are not available. Through firm-sponsored ice cream socials and staff-donated auction items, funds are raised for this important program.

The Hickman House
For over 20 years, Keller Rohrback has supported the efforts of The Hickman House. Operated by the Salvation Army, the Hickman House is a safe place where battered women and their children can go for an interim stay while they build the necessary resources to live independently. Keller Rohrback helps by adopting a Hickman House family during the holidays and providing them with gifts of household items, clothing and toys from their wish lists.

Community Involvement

The Dove House
Since 1993, Keller Rohrback partner Rob Crichton has served as a pro bono attorney on behalf of Youth and Outreach Services, a Washington not-for-profit corporation offering transitional housing for homeless teenage girls in its facility known as The Dove House. 

The Hearthstone 
Partner Lon Weatherly serves on the Board of Trustees of The Hearthstone, a retirement community.

LAW Fund 
On February 11, 2010, Mark A. Griffin was named to the Legal Aid for Washington Fund (LAW Fund) Board of Directors. The Board oversees the Campaign for Equal Justice and works closely with Washington's Alliance for Equal Justice and hundreds of volunteers throughout the state to ensure the success of the Campaign each year.

Mercer Island Community Fund 
Partner Benson Wong has been on the MICF Board since 2006 and is currently the President. The Mercer Island Community Fund is a public charity that raises money and then issues grants to other 501(c)(3) public charities that provide services, programs or have projects that benefit the residents of Mercer Island.
 
Northwest Harvest
Partner David Copley serves on the Board of Northwest Harvest, a Seattle-based nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing hunger in Washington. Founded in 1967 as a community outreach program, Northwest Harvest now provides food to hungry people through approximately 300 hunger programs in the state. They rely on donations of food and funds from individuals, corporations, foundations and religious groups, using donated funding to purchase nutritional staples like rice, beans and meat protein in bulk quantities at very low prices. 

Washington State Public Affairs TV Network - TVW
TVW is the state's public affairs network that provides gavel-to-gavel coverage of proceedings of the State Legislature, broadcasting of some committee hearings, broadcasting of some oral arguments at the Washington State Supreme Court, and some produced programming. As a Board Member and as its President for 3 years Benson Wong works with TVW to help it accomplish its purpose of providing the public with objective and unbiased coverage of state proceedings and informing the public about state government and civics. 

Washington State Public Stadium Authority 
Partner Benson Wong has served on the Public Stadium Authority Board since 1997. The PSA is the owner of Qwest Field and the Stadium Exhibition Hall. The PSA leases the facilities to First & Goal, Inc. under a Master Lease, which in turn leases the Stadium to the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders and others. The PSA's primary duties at this time are to oversee the operation of the facilities and to make sure that the State's $300 million investment in these facilities is protected.

WithinReach
Partner Amy Williams-Derry served on the Board of Directors of WithinReach from 2006 through 2009. WithinReach works to ensure optimal health for Washington families by connecting families to food and health resources and through leveraging statewide health coalitions. As a member of the Board, Ms. Williams-Derry served on the organization's Human Resources Committee and assisted with employment matters and fundraising.

Woodland Park Zoo
Partner Margie Wetherald serves as the Seattle City Council's appointee to the Board of Directors of the Woodland Park Zoo. The Zoo is an international leader in naturalistic exhibitry and plays a growing role as a center for conservation education. She is an active member of the Conservation and Education Subcommittee of the Board and assists with long term donor relations. At the 2010 Chairman's Dinner, Margie was named the first Board Director of the Year for outstanding service. 

Pro Bono Commitment

Bainbridge Island Land Trust
Rob Crichton represents the Trust in litigation to protect conservation easements.
 
Lay Education
Lon Weatherly, a partner, frequently teaches firearms law to students. The curriculum covers federal, state and local law and includes an analysis of the legal requirements surrounding the purchase and sale of a firearm, the storage, transportation and carrying of a firearm, the disabling conditions which outlaw possession of a firearm and the use of a firearm including the legal requirements for self defense. 

Northwest Chamber Chorus 
Benson Wong has periodically assisted the Chorus with governance issues and helped revise the organization's bylaws. Benson and  Karin Swope have also helped with copyright questions.