Community Service

Hanson Bridgett has sought to match its leadership in the legal profession with active participation and leadership in the communities where its practices are located.

Hanson Bridgett volunteers contribute to various community service organizations.

The firm encourages our staff to volunteer in their own communities and actively supports many initiatives, including:

• Hanson Bridgett Teams Up with NBA's Golden State Warriors
  Students at Everett Middle School were thrilled to meet Warriors Guard Kelenna Azubuike during this year's NBA season when he and Hanson Bridgett Managing Partner Andrew Giacomini dropped in for a visit. Kelenna entertained students with stories from his game on the court to who has inspired him most in life. The visit was made possible through the San Francisco School Volunteers Program and Hanson Bridgett's partnership with the Golden State Warriors. View Kelenna Azubuike's video and other inspired videos from Warriors' Forward Al Harrington, Guard C.J. Watson and Forward Austin Croshere.
• Project Night Night
  Hanson Bridgett displays its deep sense of commitment to the children of the homeless community through its platinum sponsorship of Project Night Night, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of homeless children by providing items of reliable comfort. Project Night Night believes that receiving a good night's rest is critical for the healthy development of children. The organization serves approximately 15,000 homeless children annually.
• San Francisco School Volunteers
  For 6 years, Hanson Bridgett has participated in SFSV's Allies for Excellence Program. Currently, we are in our second year partnering with Everett Middle School in the Mission to provide volunteering and mentoring to its students. Hanson Bridgett has been instrumental in developing programs with the school, including honor roll lunches, mentoring sessions for at-risk students, tutoring sessions, school beautification efforts and art projects, and computer and furniture donations.
• Sound Check
  Hanson Bridgett and Leadership San Francisco (LSF) produce this annual pay-to-play benefit concert designed to bring attention and funding to the Women's Reentry Center. In the past two years, we have raised over $75,000 for the Reentry Center, a facility located at 850 Bryant Street that provides transition services to women released from San Francisco jail. Rather than just coldly turning out onto the streets a population of women who have too typically had to endure poverty, abuse and lack of education, the Women's Reentry center provides them with vocational and soft-skill training, childcare, counseling services and a host of other services that will give them a fighting chance to stay out of lock-up for the rest of their lives.
• Tsunami Relief Concert
  Hanson Bridgett teamed up with several local law firms in early 2005 to present 'Wave of Relief,' a tsunami benefit concert at local music venue the Bottom of the Hill. Hosted by Hanson Bridgett, Morrison & Foerster and O'Melveny & Myers, the event raised over $23,000 for the American Red Cross International Response Fund to help victims affected by the devastating December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
• San Francisco Food Bank
  Hanson Bridgett assists through volunteering, sponsoring fundraisers, such as a casino night and karaoke party, and donating directly to the organization through its annual Food From the Bar food drive. In 2007 Hanson Bridgett achieved Platinum Donor Status, contributing over $24,000 in monetary donations, 5,000 pounds of food, and 10 volunteer shifts to the Food Bank.
• Head Start Holiday Gift Drive
  Hanson Bridgett staff and attorneys contribute by donating toys and gifts for low-income children who are in need of holiday gifts. This annual program is sponsored by the Bar Association of San Francisco.
• Race for the Cure
  Hanson Bridgett runs and walks in support of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
• The Capital Unity Council
  Our attorneys assist the Council with employment and construction issues related to the new California Unity Center and Museum, which is being built in Sacramento to promote diversity and to fight hate crimes.
• The Arc San Francisco
  Hanson Bridgett provides employment opportunities for many of the Arc's clients, and serves on its Board of Directors.

Hanson Bridgett is proud to be recognized for our work in support of community organizations.

Recent community achievements include:

• Leaders of the North Bay Award
  Hanson Bridget Of Counsel Mary McEachron was Honored with the Leaders of the North Bay Award in September 2007. Mary was chosen for the Caught in the Act of Leadership category for her role in establishing the Buck Institute for Age Research, which is dedicated to extending health in age through discovering preventions and cures for such debilitating age-related diseases as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Huntington disease. It remains the nation's only free-standing independent institute dedicated exclusively to age research. She is credited with securing the permits for and financing to build the Institute. As its advocate, Mary spent over a decade lobbying for acknowledgement of the Institute's need and legitimacy.
• Citizen of the Year Award
  The Peninsula Coalition awarded Hanson Bridgett Of Counsel and former State Senator Jackie Speier with the Citizen of the Year Award in May 2007. Accolades were accorded to her by Senator Dianne Feinstein, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, Congresswoman Anna Eschoo and San Mateo County Supervisor Adrienne Tissier. The presenters recognized Jackie's numerous achievements spanning a 24-year career of public service.
• San Francisco Chamber Ebbie Award for Corporate Philanthropy
  In October 2004, the firm was celebrated as the winner of the 2004 Corporate Philanthropy Award for a small- or mid-size business by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. The Corporate Philanthropy Award was established to honor a San Francisco company, or company with a major presence in the city, in recognition of its contributions to building community and enhancing the quality of life in San Francisco. The award criteria include innovation and impact, as well as time and resources contributed. The San Francisco School Volunteers formally nominated the firm for this award; and its nomination was supported by numerous other Bay Area organizations that partner with Hanson Bridgett.
• The Arc San Francisco Innovation Award
  The Arc San Francisco honored the firm with its Innovation Award in August 2004. The Innovation Award honors a company that has demonstrated exceptional innovation in the areas of employee retention, reasonable accommodations and recruitment. Hanson Bridgett has had a wonderful working relationship with the Arc San Francisco for over 15 years, providing employment opportunities for many of the Arc's clients, and serving on its Board of Directors.
• Allies for Excellence Award
  Hanson Bridgett received the annual Allies for Excellence Award from the San Francisco School Volunteers in May 2004. Our firm was chosen out of 64 school partners from the civic and business community for our partnership with the Enola D. Maxwell Middle School.