WHEELER TRIGG KENNEDY FOUNDATION IS ESTABLISHED TO POOL DONATIONS AND TALENT BY FACILITATING VOLUNTEERISM AND FUNDING CHARITABLE PROGRAMS

Contacts:
Susan Holden Walsh, HoldenMcClurePR, 303-449-2526, holdenmcclurepr@aol.com
Connie Proulx, WTK Foundation Director, 303-244-1919, proulx@wtklaw.com


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


WHEELER TRIGG KENNEDY FOUNDATION IS ESTABLISHED TO POOL DONATIONS AND TALENT BY FACILITATING VOLUNTEERISM AND FUNDING CHARITABLE PROGRAMS

DENVER, CO… Wheeler Trigg Kennedy LLP, one of the leading litigation law firms in the country, has created a reputation for fostering excellence among its attorneys and staff, setting industry precedents, and achieving a winning record for its clients. As it celebrates its accomplishments, it hopes to chart a new course that others will follow with the formation of the Wheeler Trigg Kennedy Foundation. “In recognition of all our good fortune, Wheeler Trigg Kennedy is proud to establish the Wheeler Trigg Kennedy Foundation,” announced Michael O’Donnell, Chairman.

The Wheeler Trigg Kennedy Foundation was created to promote volunteerism among the WTK community and to channel donations to charitable organizations in a focused, synergistic fashion. Established at the end of 2005, the Foundation’s initial act was the funding of the first “Wheeler Trigg Kennedy Minority Scholarship” as part of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. scholarship program. Additional charter projects initiated by the Foundation included: donating funds to Legal Aid of Colorado, and Denver Children’s Advocacy Center, ; providing volunteers and resources to help Hurricane Katrina victims through Operation Safe Haven and to serve as mentors in the Denver Kids, Inc. program; and organizing holiday party and gift donations for the families of the Colfax Community Network, and for the children served by Denver Active 20/30 Children's Foundation and Denver Court-Appointed Special Advocates.

“In 2006, we look forward to kicking off the Foundation with projects and programs that reflect the philosophy and spirit of our Wheeler Trigg Kennedy community,” shared Hugh Gottschalk, Managing Partner. “Our charter projects in 2005, such as our work for underprivileged children and our scholarship to promote diversity in the legal field, set a high bar and we look forward to raising it higher with future Foundation efforts.”

The Foundation is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is led by the Board of Directors and an Operating Committee. Michael O’Donnell is the President of the Board, with Connie Proulx serving as its Executive Director. The Board of Directors has oversight of the Foundation's finances, policies, fundraising, and large donation requests.

The Operating Committee is responsible for planning, executing, and encouraging participation in Foundation-sponsored charitable projects, as well as supporting the continued implementation of group charitable activities initiated by individual firm personnel. It includes partners, associates, paralegals, staff, and family members.

The WTK community of partners, associates, paralegals, staff, retirees, alumni, family and friends will recommend and participate in volunteer projects, while also providing the funding for the Foundation. The firm has pledged to make an annual contribution each year. Founding partner Mal Wheeler and his wife, Donna, generously donated $50K to get the lawyer and staff contributions started. Other individual contributions brought the total funds raised through 2005 to $140,000, $63,000 of which already has been distributed to support the work of other nonprofit organizations.

For Foundation information, please contact Executive Director, Connie Proulx at 303-244-1919.


The WTK Foundation Mission: The Wheeler Trigg Kennedy Foundation provides - through charitable activities, programs and donations - opportunities for current and former Wheeler Trigg Kennedy LLP lawyers, staff, and their families to build a caring community and to reach out to others.


About WTK:
Wheeler Trigg Kennedy LLP is an entrepreneurial law firm that has dedicated itself to litigation for Fortune 500 clients and other successful entities that have a strong interest in protecting their brand names, products, people and customers. WTK handles complex litigation matters, including appellate, trial, and related areas of civil litigation, on a local, regional and national scale for many of the nation's best-known companies. Most of its work takes place in federal and state courtrooms and administrative venues outside its base of Denver, Colorado. WTK has served as lead trial counsel in all 50 States and has tried cases to verdict in 35 states. The attorneys of WTK have appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court, 11 of the 13 U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, 65 of the 94 U.S. District Courts and many federal regulatory agencies.

For more information, visit the WTK website at www.wtklaw.com.


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