Local lawfirm pitches in for United Way’s Day of Caring

Date: 10/10/2014

SPRINGFIELD – Local law firm Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., serving Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York, closed the office on the afternoon of Sept. 5 for the firm to volunteer during the United Way of Pioneer Valley’s annual Day of Caring.

Members of the firm conducted volunteer work to help the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services Center in Springfield clean the basement to relocate archived files and add curb appeal with new landscaping.

“I spoke with members of the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services Center and they were thrilled with the help received from Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin,” Senior Vice President at the United Way of Pioneer Valley Sylvia de Haas said. “Even after the volunteers had completed cleaning the basement and relocating archived files from the attic, they stayed to help with an additional landscaping project outside, which was above and beyond our expectations.”

The Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin team has previously participated in the Day of Caring, working alongside volunteers from several other prominent Springfield-area businesses.

“Our firm has been a longtime supporter of the United Way and we look forward to continuing our partnership for years to come,” partner Steven Schwartz, who has been with the firm since its inception 45 years ago, said.

Volunteers for the event are increasingly important as human service organizations struggle to save money while responding to growing community needs. The work done by the volunteers saves the United Way’s partner agencies hundreds of thousands of dollars in labor and other costs each year and ultimately has an impact that extends well beyond the single day.

“Volunteering is always rewarding,” Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin attorney Steve Weiss, who is a partner at the firm, said. “We even uncovered some misplaced toys and sporting equipment that the Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services Center staff was happy to see again. We are thankful to have the United Way of Pioneer Valley to organize the Day of Caring every year to better our community.”

Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin was also recently recognized by the United Way as a gold award recipient during the 2014 annual celebration in June.

Local businesses were recognized with gold, silver or bronze level awards for extraordinary support during the 2013-2014 campaign.

Each year, the United Way of Pioneer Valley runs an annual campaign that provides funding for local nonprofit organizations and community initiatives. Donations finance health and human service programs throughout the region.

The United Way of Pioneer Valley is the regional affiliate of United Way Worldwide – a leadership and support organization and network of nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways in 45 countries and territories. United Way envisions a world where all individuals and families achieve full potential through education, income stability and healthy lives. For 90 years, the United Way of Pioneer Valley has been working in partnership with individuals, businesses and organizations that advance the common good throughout the greater Springfield community including the 25 cities in Hampden County, as well as South Hadley and Granby.

Many United Way donors choose to participate in a company or organization’s annual campaign and make donations through payroll deduction. Interested companies and organizations not currently offering a United Way campaign can contact the campaign department team at United Way of Pioneer Valley at 693-0227.