Taft In The Community

At Taft, we believe that communities thrive when people invest their time, energy, and expertise in making a meaningful difference. Since 1885, our professionals have been unwavering in their commitment to public and political service, working to strengthen neighborhoods, schools, and local charities. This dedication is woven into our history, reflects our present values, and continues to shape our future.

As illustrated through the examples below, Taft attorneys and staff members actively engage in community service through volunteer support, pro bono services, financial contributions, and sponsorships. Taft members serve in leadership roles across a wide array of boards, including those focused on professional, educational, arts, religious, charitable, and civic organizations.

Cincinnati Works
Taft helps Cincinnati Works carry out its vision to eliminate poverty in the local community. Cincinnati Works offers area residents career and financial coaching that assists them in advancing to economic self-sufficiency through employment. The nonprofit organization also partners with regional employers to solve a range of workforce needs, including employee retention and support of second-chance hires.

Clothes that Work
Taft Dayton sponsors Clothes That Work, a women-led non-profit that provides professional clothing, image counseling, and training for job seekers in Montgomery County, Ohio.

Cheers Community Partnership Initiative
Each year, Taft’s Atlanta and Washington, D.C. (Dupont Circle) offices select a local nonprofit to champion, concluding with an annual Cheers fundraiser celebrating the partnership. Throughout the partnership, the firm deepens its impact by volunteering time, providing pro bono services and event sponsorship, and building awareness through internal and external outreach efforts. Since 2013, the firm has raised over $650,000 for its annual community partners through Cheers. Our current nonprofit partners are Westside Future Fund (Atlanta) and Suited for Change (Washington, D.C. (Dupont Circle)).

Freedom a la Cart
Taft’s Columbus office is proud to support Freedom a la Cart, whose mission is to provide support to survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation, building self-sufficiency and creating a pathway to freedom. Freedom a la Cart makes meals more meaningful by combining fresh, flavorful cuisine with life-changing employment and impactful services to survivors of human trafficking. Taft supports Freedom a la Cart through donations, event sponsorships, and frequent orders of their delicious catering.

Greater Chicago Food Depository
Taft members volunteer throughout the year packing and sorting bulk items into individual and family portions for delivery to multiple distribution sites. As Chicago’s food bank, this nonprofit food distribution and training center is committed to ending hunger in the community, working through a network of 700 pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters to serve 170,000 meals for adults and children in Cook County every day.

Race Judicata – Chicago
Every year, Taft Chicago participates in Race Judicata a 5k run/walk supporting Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS). The race is the primary fundraiser for CVLS, which provides free services to thousands of low-income Chicagoans annually through a group of more than 2,100 volunteer attorneys.

Minds Matter Cleveland
Taft is proud to support Minds Matter, an organization dedicated to helping hard-working and high-achieving students from low-income situations get to and through the best college for them. To bridge the opportunity gap, Minds Matter connects students with the resources and relationships necessary to achieve success, helping them reach their true potential and become the leaders of tomorrow.

Ralph Waldo Emerson School 58
Since 2011, Taft Indianapolis has contributed and pledged nearly $2 million to Ralph Waldo Emerson, Indianapolis Public School 58. With employee donations through Shepherd Community Center, Taft supports an after-school program and additional learning opportunities to support academic achievement. Taft employees volunteer their time and talents and host an annual food drive. Taft also supports the needs of School 58 families by providing compassionate care assistance. This support includes community outreach programs, and training for the parents of School 58 students to support employment.

Special Olympics Indiana
Taft actively supports Special Olympics Indiana and its mission to create a better world by fostering the acceptance and inclusion of all people. Taft Indianapolis partners Elijah Hammans and Trent Sandifur serve on the board of directors, and the firm is a corporate sponsor. In addition, Taft employees have participated in the Polar Plunge, the organization’s signature event, raising funds to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Stefanie’s Team of Hope
Taft Columbus is a supporter of Stefanie’s Team of Hope, a community of people who ride Pelotonia in honor of Stefanie Speilman and all those affected by cancer. Since 2010, they have raised over $3 million in the fight to end cancer, with 100% of every dollar going towards innovative life-saving cancer research at The James Cancer Research Hospital.

Holiday Giving Partnership with Mercy Care
Taft’s Atlanta office has partnered with Mercy Care for over a decade, supporting children and families in need during the holiday season. Mercy Care is an organization dedicated to promoting health and health equity through comprehensive medical and social services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, poverty, and linguistic isolation across Atlanta. Every year, the Atlanta office sponsors families in need and hosts an annual holiday celebration, complete with gifts, crafts, games, and festive activities for the entire family.

Women Employed
Taft’s Chicago office supports Women Employed, an organization advocating for women in the workplace to affect policy change, expand access to educational opportunities, and fight for fair and inclusive workplaces so that all women, families, and communities thrive. Each year Taft participates in The Working Lunch, an event that brings together thousands of supporters. Partner Kris Kolky is a member of the Advisory Committee.

Women’s Wellness Fund
Taft’s Dayton office proudly sponsors the annual Ribbon of Hope Luncheon, a fundraiser for women’s wellness. More than 400 business and community leaders attend the event featuring a nationally known speaker who presents on breast cancer and women’s health issues.

St. Herman House
Taft’s Cleveland office is proud to support St. Herman House, whose mission is to shelter and support homeless men on the path to well-being and independence and meet the basic needs of people in the Greater Cleveland community. Taft attorneys and staff have volunteered for a number of years to serve dinner at the shelter.

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
Taft attorneys and staff help build homes for Habitat for Humanity on an annual basis. This organization works to eliminate poverty housing from the Twin Cities and to make decent, affordable shelter for all people a matter of conscience.

Cristo Rey Network
Taft supports St. Martin de Porres High School as part of the nationwide Cristo Rey Network of 39 high schools that provide a career-focused, college preparatory education to students with limited economic resources. Through rigorous academics, coupled with real-world work experience, St. Martin students graduate from high school prepared for success in college and in life. The program is an opportunity for students to shape technical skills, build impressive resumes, learn about careers, and develop lifelong learning behaviors.

Beyond Basics
Taft Detroit is a proud supporter of Beyond Basics. A 501(c) (3) non-profit organization founded in 1999, dedicated to enhancing literacy among students. Every Fall Taft Detroit participates in their annual Beyond Basics to make a significant impact: One Coat, One Act of Kindness, One BIG Impact Coat Drive. Their goal is to keep over 2,000 local Michigan children warm during the winter. We provide new, and used coats in various sizes (Kids XS – Adult 5X).

ALS of Michigan
Taft Detroit is a supporter of ALS Michigan, a voluntary not-for-profit organization, solely dedicated to the fight against ALS. Every Fall the Taft Detroit office participates in their annual fundraiser walk in which the funds raised provide the following services at no cost to the families. Referrals and Resource Guides, Workshops & Seminars, Equipment Loans, Augmentative & Alternative Communication Center, Home Visits, Peer Counseling, Support Groups, and Respite Care Services.

LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can!
Taft Mountain West is a proud sponsor of “LAW SCHOOL… Yes… We Can,” the first law school pipeline program in Colorado. This initiative introduces Fellows from diverse backgrounds and their families to the legal profession through mentorship. The program offers exposure opportunities, including presentations by law school admissions directors, visits to law school campuses, and informative sessions with financial aid counselors on how to fund a law school education.

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Denver, Southern California, and Central & Northern Arizona
Taft Mountain West is a proud sponsor of the Ronald McDonald House Charities. RMHC is a non-profit dedicated to supporting whole families when a child is seriously ill or injured. We collect new unwrapped toys, books, games, and other items each year to make the holiday season brighter for a family and child in need. We also host new household item drives throughout the year to benefit the family’s ongoing care while their children receive treatment.

Educating Children of Color (ECOC)
Taft Mountain West invests in ECOC, a registered non-profit, organized to dismantle the cradle-to-prison pipeline for children of color and children’s poverty through education, by providing a scholarship for rising law students to use towards the educational costs associated with law schools.

A longtime resident of downtown Cincinnati, Taft’s presence includes the Taft Center, an innovative, multi-functional reception space for meetings, seminars, social events, and community causes. The firm’s active involvement in local civic and community organizations helped inspire the multi-purpose space.

The Taft Center serves as a meeting and conference site, as well as a reception space for networking events and mixers hosted by Taft clients and guests.