Community and Nonprofit Organizations
Schiff Hardin attorneys perform pro bono work for a variety of community and nonprofit organizations.
Jane Addams Resource Corporation
We represented the Jane Addams Resource Corporation, a 501(c)(3) organization focusing on education, training and economic development, as "general counsel" for a number of years. Projects included an agreement to transition its alternative high school program to independent control and an agreement to sponsor a new photography-training program.
Schiff Hardin partner Mark C. Zaander currently serves as Chairman of the organization's board of directors.
For more information on the Jane Addams Resource Corporation, visit their Web site: http://www.jane-addams.org/.
Housing Choice Partners
We have long provided pro bono services to Housing Choice Partners, a non-profit that counsels Section 8 certificate holders on how to find housing in areas of opportunity, (portions of the Chicago area that are not subject to high concentrations of poverty or high levels of segregation in housing).
For more information on Housing Choice Partners, please visit their Web site: http://www.state.il.us/dhr/Housenet/Private/HCP/Index.htm.
Childcare Network of Evanston
We provided general representation to the Childcare Network of Evanston, an umbrella organization involved in development of childcare resources, training of caregivers, and placement of children with providers.
For more information on the Childcare Network of Evanston, please visit their Web site: http://www.childcarenetworkofevanston.org/.
The UIC Athletic Alumni Club
We represented the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Athletic Alumni Club, a 501(c)(3) Illinois not-for-profit corporation whose members are former athletes at UIC. These alumni raise money for scholarships and other purposes for the UIC Athletic Department.
For more information on The UIC Athletic Alumni Club, visit their Web site: http://uicflames.cstv.com/boosters/uicaac.html.
Chicago Metropolitan Development Association
We represent the Chicago Metropolitan Development Association, a not-for-profit organization formed by a number of the largest church- and faith-based entities in the Chicago metropolitan area - Chicago Archdiocese, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, Jewish Federation, Northern Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Council of Islamic Organizations, and a consortium of independent African-American congregations - as several unions. They plan to construct 100 homes in the Lawndale community for sale to low- and moderate-income families under the New Homes for Chicago program, and intend to construct many more over the next several years. We helped form the organization and obtained its 501(c)(3) status on a pro bono basis.
The Delta Redevelopment Institute (Delta REDI)
We represented The Delta Redevelopment Institute (Delta REDI), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, in creating a syndication program that used the recently enacted federal new markets tax credit to attract corporate equity investment for environmental brownfields redevelopment, mainly in low-income communities throughout the Great Lakes region.
For more information on The Delta Redevelopment Institute (Delta REDI) visit their Web site: http://www.deltaredi.org/.
The Enterprising Kitchen
We represented The Enterprising Kitchen, a charitable organization providing employment and career training to homeless women, with respect to obtaining a registered trademark and setting a potential trademark dispute with a multinational food products company.
For more information on The Enterprising Kitchen, visit their Web site: http://www.theenterprisingkitchen.org/.
Green Worker Cooperatives
Our firm is helping Green Worker Cooperatives, a group dedicated to the development of worker-owned cooperatives in the South Bronx that manufacture environmentally friendly products using environmentally friendly methods, to incorporate and obtain tax-exempt status.
For more information on the Green Worker Cooperatives, visit their Web site: http://www.greenworker.coop/.
Center for Conflict Resolution
We are providing volunteer mediation services for pro se, eviction, and juvenile courts clients through the Center for Conflict Resolution.
For more information on the Center for Conflict Resolution, visit their Web site: http://www.ccrchicago.org/.
EduSeed
Schiff Hardin is pleased to offer our support to EduSeed — an organization dedicated to promoting education, particularly among historically disadvantaged and under-served communities. EduSeed furthers the pursuit of higher education and life-long learning by using models of peer-mentorship and self-empowerment.
Our firm has assisted EduSeed by hosting, promoting and providing funding for the 10th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser for SisterMentors, an EduSeed project. Additionally we provide office space and other office resources to the staff of EduSeed.
Schiff Hardin counsel Montina M. Cole serves on the organization's board of directors.
More information on EduSeed can be found on the organization's Web site: http://www.eduseed.org/.
SisterMentors
Schiff Hardin is pleased to support SisterMentors — an organization that helps women of color to complete their dissertations and get their doctorates. The women in turn, while in the program, give back by mentoring disadvantaged girls of color in middle and high schools in the Washington, D.C. area, inspiring them to go to college. The women and girls are African-American, Latina, Asian-American and women and girls who are immigrants of color. In ten years, SisterMentors has helped 27 women of color to get doctorates, mentored more than 75 girls of color, and sent their first group of girls off to college in the fall of 2007.
SisterMentors is an EduSeed project. More information on SisterMentors can be found on their Web site: http://www.sistermentors.org/.
Dr. Marija Veljaca Foundation
Dr. Marija Veljaca Foundation was established on March 11, 2005 in memory of Dr. Marija Veljaca, a medical doctor and a research scientist in the field of gastroenterology.
The purpose of the Foundation is to raise funding and provide assistance to individuals who are pursuing a career in medicine or research science and whose primary goal is to help others, by providing such individuals with:
- Scholarships to assist with medical school tuition
- Funds for books, publications, magazines, lab fees and the like while attending medical school
- Funds for living expenses while attending medical school
- Other similar sources of support
Schiff Hardin counsel, Louise M. Fitzsimons, helped form the Foundation and obtained its 501(c)(3) status on a pro bono basis.
First Star
Schiff Hardin provides free facilities to the staff of First Star, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of America's abused and neglected children. First Star works to change the child welfare system from one of abuse and neglect to one of protection and support, though a nonpartisan, multidisciplinary approach to foster collaborative action to benefit children.
Schiff Hardin partner Sherry A. Quirk is Vice-Chair of First Star's board of directors and a co-founder of the organization.
For more information, visit First Star's Web site: http://www.firststar.org/.
Other Community Organizations and Not-For-Profits
We represent Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, as well as the Episcopal Church (nationally) and the Anglican Communion in a variety of pro bono matters.
We assisted World Relief in drafting an independent contractor agreement.
We are handling ongoing litigation to preserve and protect New York City's community gardens, representing the original community gardens organization, Green Guerillas.
We represented the City of Chicago on a pro bono basis in litigation against local gun dealers.
We assisted the organizers of a proposed film and theater production company with the initial steps of organization as an Illinois not-for-profit corporation. The production company proposed to create only plays and films to be shown at schools and other community facilities on the topic of promoting racial, ethnic and religious understanding and acceptance.
We helped form a church-based not-for-profit obtain its 501(c)(3) status, and then provided counseling with respect to a New Homes for Chicago development of 52 flats in the North-Kenwood/Oakland area of Chicago.
We helped a local community beautification group organize as an Illinois not-for-profit corporation and apply for not-for-profit status with the IRS.
