WilmerHale announced that it is entering into its second three-year philanthropic partnership with Bread for the City, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing services to the homeless and those at risk for being homeless. WilmerHale began its first philanthropic partnership with Bread for the City in 2008 to provide consistent and routine support in the form of financial and in-kind donations and volunteer and pro bono engagement. The new multi-year contract renews the firm’s commitment to Bread for the City through 2015.

WilmerHale’s partnership with Bread for the City supports the nonprofit’s infrastructure and capacity building through predictable donations and volunteer and pro bono services. WilmerHale attorneys and staff surpassed their fundraising and donation collection goals in a recent food and clothing drive for the nonprofit, and have worked in Bread for the City’s food pantry and farm programs to provide fresh produce for the organization’s clients. WilmerHale lawyers have also provided numerous hours of pro bono service to Bread for the City in its efforts to support the strength of the organization’s mission.

“We are proud of our partnership with Bread for the City and of the benefits it brings to both institutions,” said WilmerHale Partner Russ Bruemmer, attorney liaison for Bread for the City. “Bread’s work positively impacts so many lives in our community, and through our sustained partnership, WilmerHale and its personnel commit money, time, and other services to increase that impact.”

Over the years, WilmerHale’s partnership with Bread for the City has helped provide two new delivery trucks, a new medical clinic, a new dental clinic, a new rooftop garden and a City Orchard. With financial support from WilmerHale since the partnership began in 2008, Bread for the City has provided nearly 79,365 meals, 650 medical visits, 1,915 social service visits, and 3,529 hours of legal services from the organization's staff attorneys.

"Bread for the City's partnership with WilmerHale has been a real game changer for us,” said Bread for the City Chief Executive Officer George Jones. “It showed us a new way to practice corporate philanthropy; a way, I think, that benefits both WilmerHale and Bread. Most importantly, our clients benefit the most from this partnership. In the midst of all this talk of fiscal cliffs and cutbacks to human services, WilmerHale stepped up and told our clients they'd stand with them in a big way for the next three years. That's amazing. That's game changing."

The WilmerHale philanthropic partnership model is predicated upon the belief that providing long-term, unrestricted funding to a select group of nonprofit partners, along with the provision of in-kind professional assistance, builds the capacity of the organizations and thus increases the likelihood of successful outcomes.