The employees of Babst Calland take great pride in the towns where they live and work. As leaders in the community, we believe it is our responsibility to donate our time and talent to organizations that enrich our lives and help our region grow. Among other things, our attorneys serve on boards of cultural trusts, help raise money for medical research, increase environmental awareness and support the underserved members of our community.
Babst Calland Joins ACBA’s Inaugural ALLY Initiative Cohort
Babst Calland, through its Women’s Initiative, is pleased to announce the Firm’s participation in the Allegheny County Bar Association’s ALLY Initiative Cohort. ALLY stands for “Attorneys, Learning as allies, Living as allies, and Yielding results.” The Initiative is designed to engage attorneys and their law firms, corporate legal departments, courts and other organizations to commit to increasing inclusivity, creating equitable workplaces and empowering historically marginalized and underrepresented community members.
The Initiative, which will run from March 15 through October 2022, will offer programing and other projects, which will then allow firms and legal departments to earn an official “ACBA ALLY Certification.”
To read more, click here.
Babst Calland Supports the Allegheny County Parks Foundation
Babst Calland is glad to support the Allegheny County Parks Foundation and its mission to strengthen the health and vibrancy of our community by improving, conserving and restoring the nine parks in our region. The Allegheny County Parks Foundation raises public and private funds from foundations, corporations, state and federal grant programs and individuals to design and implement projects to benefit the parks for generations to come. To learn more about the parks in our region, view this video:
Babst Calland Board Chair Chris Farmakis and his family participated in the Hampton Township School District virtual “Porch Concerts”
Babst Calland Board Chair Chris Farmakis and his family participated in the Hampton Township School District virtual “Porch Concerts” on March 31, 2020. The night of concerts was organized by the District’s music teachers to facilitate a sense of community while practicing social distancing during the school closures related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Farmakis family created lyrics and sang for the “porch concert” in their neighborhood with an important message for us all.
Read more. To view and listen to the Farmakis performance, click here.
Babst Calland Supports the Dollar Energy Fund’s Cool Down for Warmth Campaign
Attorney Paul Atencio spent time in the ice house in Market Square on January 24, 2020 to raise money for the Dollar Energy Fund’s Cool Down for Warmth Campaign. All donations are matched from a partnering utility company and go directly to those in need.
For more information about the Dollar Energy Fund, click here. To donate to the campaign, click here.
Babst Calland Sponsors The Education Partnership Adopt-a-School Program
Babst Calland is glad to sponsor the Adopt-a-School program with The Education Partnership to provide essential school supplies to the teachers and kids at the Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Academy. Each student receives their very own Power Tools Homework Kit. For more information about the Adopt-a-School program, click here.
Babst Calland Member of the ACBA Law Firm Leadership Circle
Babst Calland supports the Allegheny County Bar Association and 2018-2021 Law Firm Leadership Circle campaign to continue to provide much-needed support to our community and profession. For more information about ACBA and its Pro Bono Center Gratitude Report, click here.
Babst Calland Supports the Muscular Dystrophy Association
Babst Calland supports a wide variety of charitable and civic efforts each year. Historically, the Firm has also selected one major charitable or civic effort around which to mobilize its collective talents and energies. This year, the Firm will once again support the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Part of the MDA’s efforts involves a walk each spring called the MDA Muscle Walk of Pittsburgh. Comprised of Firm employees and their family and friends, “Team Reid” will be raising money and participating in this year’s walk which will be held on May 18, 2019 at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.
For more information about the MDA Muscle Walk of Pittsburgh, click here. To donate to Team Reid, click here.
Babst Calland Supports the Allegheny County Parks Foundation
Babst Calland joined the Allegheny County Parks Foundation for its Twilight Picnic for the Parks on Saturday, August 25, 2018. The Allegheny County Parks Foundation raises funds at events such as this to restore and improve the parks for generations to come. Pictured are attorneys Carl A. Ronald, Donald C. Bluedorn II, and Christian A. Farmakis with Honorary Chair, Rich Fitzgerald. Chester R. Babst III (not pictured) served on the Leadership Committee, and the firm was a corporate sponsor of the event.
Crossroads Foundation Names New Headquarters
The Crossroads Foundation, which helps disadvantaged teens achieve success at Catholic high schools, has launched a $5 million campaign and dedicated its new headquarters in Pittsburgh’s Point Breeze neighborhood April 12.
The new Calland Center, which will provide a centralized, student-focused space to expand Crossroads programming, is named for longtime supporters Dean and Mary Frailey Calland.
Founded in 1988, Crossroads offers students a chance to attend Catholic high schools and provides critical afterschool and summer support programs. The foundation is set to graduate its 500th student in June and have its first student earn a full academic scholarship to an Ivy League school (University of Pennsylvania).
Dean is a founding shareholder of Babst Calland and has provided more than 15 years of leadership to Crossroads Foundation. He is president of the foundation’s board, and he and his wife Mary are co-chairs of the Aspire campaign.
He said the campaign will enable Crossroads to improve and help more students break the cycle of poverty.
Babst Calland Employees Donate Nearly $33,000 to American Heart Association
Babst Calland has participated in the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk at Heinz Field. Every dollar donated by employees was matched by the firm, totaling nearly $33,000. Employees turned out for the walk with their spouses, children and even their pets. The Babst Calland contingent comprised more than 145 walkers and was recognized as one of the top companies by the American Heart Association and the Walk Executive Leadership Team.
Dean Calland, one of the firm’s founding shareholders, noted, “I am proud that the people of Babst Calland are continuing to make a meaningful difference in this community and are helping to protect our families and friends from the ravages of heart disease and stroke.”
Chester R. Babst III Spearheads Cultural Trust Legal Society – 18 Downtown Law Firms Donate $1.2 million to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Eighteen of Pittsburgh’s leading law firms are donating $1.2 million to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The firms have formed the Cultural Trust Legal Society, a group that will give $240,000 in annual support through 2015 to help offset cuts from state, corporations and foundations and balance the trust’s $51 million annual budget. The donation from each firm will be based on the number lawyers in their Pittsburgh offices.
Spearheaded by Cultural Trust Board Members, Chip Babst, founding shareholder at Babst Calland, and Thomas VanKirk, the Cultural Trust Legal Society was created in response to the shifting landscape of the economic environment and financial support for the arts.
“The Legal Society members recognize the tremendous contribution the Cultural Trust has made to the quality of life in our region—for residents, visitors and members of the business community,” said Mr. Babst. “The member firms of the newly-formed Legal Society recognize the significant benefits created by the Trust and have joined together to pledge their financial support so that this wonderful organization can continue to provide the region with world-class performing and visual arts events, as well as redevelop major sections of downtown Pittsburgh.”
The Cultural Trust, which transformed a blighted area of Downtown into the Cultural District, offers a variety of arts programming and develops real estate. In addition to offering free programming, the Cultural Trust subsidizes Downtown arts performances as much as 50 percent, except Broadway tours.
“We’re extremely grateful for the generosity of the Legal Society Members,” noted J. Kevin McMahon, President and CEO, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. “Having such a significant and meaningful financial commitment comes from a collective group made up of competing businesses is truly unique and clearly shows the commitment of the members of the Legal Society to this region and its residents. It is an extraordinary example of the Pittsburgh legal community taking the initiative to help support the important mission of the Cultural Trust.”
