MosaicPromoting professional and cultural diversity | Winter 2007 | Vol 2, Issue 1| www.gklaw.com This Issue Godfrey & Kahn Employees and Their Families Race for the Cure | Godfrey & Kahn Employees and Scared, worried and anxious are words that only Her primary responsibility has been arranging for Their Families Race begin to describe the thoughts and feelings that event signage and entertainment, but what she for the Cure Carol Fundingsland, a receptionist in Godfrey & enjoys most is seeing everything come together Kahn’s Milwaukee office, had when she was the day of the race. “I see the event as a | Other Volunteer Efforts diagnosed with breast cancer 17 years ago. “I celebration, ,” Lecia said. “It is great to see a huge | G&K Celebrates didn’t think it could happen to me,” Carol said. crowd of women and men gather together to American-Arab Heritage “I just felt paralyzed.” support a common cause.” | G&K Retains Diversity Thanks to organizations like The Susan G. Sarah McNally, an associate Consultant Komen Foundation, whose mission is in Godfrey & Kahn’s Tax and to eradicate breast Employee Benefits Practice | G&K LEO Fellow cancer as a life Group, also served as a Featured in UW-Madison threatening disease, volunteer on the Komen LEO Banquet Ad thousands of dollars Milwaukee Race are raised each year Committee. For the past to advance research, two years, Sarah was in charge education, screening of planning the route where hundreds of and treatment for supporters run and/or walk each year. women and men “Organizing a 5K course is challenging, but it is throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. great to see participants who are motivated and dedicated to the cause,” Sarah said. In 1999, the Komen Milwaukee affiliate opened its doors to carry out the mission of the Susan G. The success of Race for the Cure has been largely Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in dependent on the determination and Southeastern Wisconsin. Today, the foundation commitment of corporations and individuals who is the single largest financial supporter of breast volunteer their time and expertise to support this cancer research in the world. And one local worthy cause. In previous years, both Carol event that contributes to this success is the Fundingsland and Tiffany Wohlfeil, an associate Komen Milwaukee Race for the Cure®. in Godfrey & Kahn’s Litigation Practice Group, have assisted with coordinating a Godfrey & “Last year’s race was our biggest in Milwaukee,” Kahn Race for the Cure team. This year’s team— said Lecia Johnson an associate in Godfrey & comprised of 20 employees, friends and family Kahn’s Tax and Employee Benefits Practice members—raised approximately $2,000 to Group and a member of the 2006 Komen support the foundation’s efforts. Milwaukee Race Committee. “More than 9,000 breast cancer survivors, families and friends Unfortunately, the facts and figures regarding participated in the race and the organization was breast cancer are staggering. According to the able to raise over $700,000 for the foundation.” Susan G. Komen Foundation, in 2006 alone, approximately 40,970 women and 460 men in Lecia, whose family members and friends have the United States were expected to succumb to been touched by various types of cancer, breast cancer. But through the efforts of including breast cancer, began serving on the individuals such as the employees at Godfrey & Komen Milwaukee Race Committee in 2003. Kahn, “Someday, this will only be a race.” Other Volunteer Efforts The giving cup is never empty at Godfrey & http://metahouse.org/ Kahn. G&K employees recently participated AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin is a in or contributed toward the following health and social service agency that works to charitable activities and others coordinated by confront and alleviate the effects of HIV Firm members. disease in Wisconsin. For more information, visit http://www.arcw.org/ G&K Giving Tree (December 2006) benefiting three local charities The Behavioral Health Division of Milwaukee • Organizations’ Missions: County provides care and treatment to Meta House offers substance abuse and mental developmentally, emotionally and mentally ill health services to women and children. The adults, children and adolescents through both center provides treatment as well as references county-operated programs and contracts with to other providers. For more information, visit (Continued on Page 3) Page 2 G&K Celebrates American-Arab Heritage On November 21, 2006, Godfrey & Kahn celebrated American-Arab heritage with a special presentation by Othman Atta, a local attorney and president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. Othman talked about Arab culture, the American-Arab community, and answered questions submitted by G&K employees prior to the meeting. The presentation was broadcast via video to all offices. On December 4, 2006, Sabi Atteyih, a Madison-area entrepreneur, and Amanda Gennerman, a Madison-area immigration attorney, spoke at the firm’s Madison office about the Arab world and the American- Arab community. Both events in Milwaukee Othman Atta speaks at the Milwaukee office. and Madison were followed by luncheons featuring a sampling of Middle Eastern food. Posters around the firm highlighted notable American-Arab individuals: • Tony Shalhoub, the three- Amanda Gennerman presented at the time Emmy Award Madison office. winning actor, was born and raised in Green Bay, Wis. He is the star and executive producer of the USA Network television show Monk. • Queen Noor of Jordan, widow of the late King Hussein of Jordan, was born Lisa Najeeb Halaby in Texas. She met King Hussein while working in Jordan on the development of the Amman Intercontinental Airport. • Doug Flutie, former National Football League Sabi Atteyih presented at the star, was born in Madison office. Manchester, Md., to Lebanese-American parents. • Casey Kasem is a Lebanese- American radio personality, music historian and disc jockey, best known as the host of the weekly American Top 40 radio program. Page 3 G&K Retains Diversity Consultant Dr. Arin Reeves will help identify needs and ensure successful plan implementation One of Godfrey & Kahn’s principal goals is to discrimination and harassment in organizations develop and maintain an open, welcoming and for more than a decade. She received her inclusive atmosphere for all employees. The bachelor’s degree in Human Resource firm’s Diversity Committee has been working Management from DePaul University, her law diligently to bring this goal to fruition and has degree from the University of Southern taken a significant step by retaining the California, and her doctorate in Sociology from assistance of The Athens Group, a leading global Northwestern University, where she conducted consulting services firm that delivers diversity several research projects on race and gender strategies and programming. Currently, through issues in the workplace. Her doctoral research employee interviews and focus groups, The focused specifically on these issues within legal Athens Group is conducting a candid assessment workplaces. Dr. Reeves is an Adjunct Professor at of G&K that will help us determine our needs Northwestern University’s College of Arts & and what we need to do to maximize our diversity Sciences where she teaches course on race and efforts. gender issues as they pertain to law and society. Dr. Arin Reeves, president of The Athens Group, “We’re taking this initiative very seriously as a will work closely with the firm’s Diversity firm,” said Stephen Chernof, Diversity Committee to develop a strategic plan based on Committee Chair and Shareholder, Real Estate the assessment findings and ensure the plan’s Team. “We are confident that Dr. Reeves’ successful implementation. expertise and guidance will help us to craft and implement a plan that will bring our previous and Dr. Reeves has worked in the areas of current efforts into alignment to create even racial/ethnic, gender, age/generational, sexual greater positive change at Godfrey & Kahn.” orientation, class, and cultural diversity, equity, Other Volunteer Efforts (Continued from front page) community agencies. For more information, visit • Coordinator: Dave Peterson, Shareholder, http://www.milwaukeecounty.org/ Litigation BehavioralHealthDivi7762.htm • Donations: 2006 marked the fifth year G&K • Coordinator: Brenda Hodorowski, Human teams participated in the event. The firm had Resources Coordinator, with support from the three teams and a total of 15 bowlers. We Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee received donations from more than 100 • Donations: G&K employees filled the ($20- individuals, and raised more than $2,500, our $25) gift requests of 75 individuals who benefit highest total yet. from the organizations. United Way America’s Second Harvest of Wisconsin Food • Organization’s mission: United Way is a Drive (November 2006) national network of more than 1,300 locally • Organization’s Mission: To feed the hungry in governed organizations that work to create Southeastern Wisconsin by obtaining food and lasting positive changes in communities and related products, distributing them to qualified people’s lives. non-profit programs and providing those • Coordinators: Tom Griggs, Shareholder, programs with appropriate assistance. For more Corporate, and Hope Seegert, Office Services information, visit www.secondharvestwi.org Supervisor • Coordinator: Darlene Zepczyk, Legal • Donations: G&K employees donated or Secretary, Litigation pledged more than $136,000. • Donations: G&K employees filled six blue barrels to their capacity. In addition, they United Performing Arts Fund donated $250. • Organization’s mission: UPAF supports 36 performing arts groups in Milwaukee that Junior Achievement Bowl-A-Thon (October touch a million people through performances, 2006) educational programming and regional • Organization’s mission: To educate and inspire community outreach. young people to value and understand free • Coordinator: John Clancy, Shareholder, enterprise, business and economics to improve Environmental Law the quality of their lives. For more information, • Donations: G&K employees donated or visit http://milwaukee.ja.org pledged more than $27,000. Page 4.