Community

McDonough Holland & Allen PC encourages its attorneys and staff to participate in a wide variety of community activities. We believe by investing in our communities—not just monetarily, but also with our time, energy, and efforts—we enrich our lives as well as the lives of those we touch and with whom we do business.

Members of the firm serve on many nonprofit and public boards, commissions and community nonprofit organizations including: the Capital Jazz Project, Capital Public Radio, Crocker Art Museum Foundation, Families First, Friends of the River, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Maryhouse (Loaves & Fishes), My Sister’s House, Sacramento Area Human Resources Association, Sacramento Food Bank Services, Sacramento Theatre Company, Sierra Adoption Services, Society for the Blind, Sutter Medical Foundation, UC Davis Center for the Arts, and many, many more. Click here for a list of the events we sponsor and attend.

Nonprofit ResourceCenter's Look of Success:
Celebrating Community Involvement

On May 14, 2010, the firm participated in the Nonprofit Resource Center's Look of Success: Celebrating Community Involvement luncheon which included an opportunity for local businesses honor their employees who are doing great volunteer work for our community. Attending the luncheon were Gina Claytor, Karen Van Parys, Diane Shideler, Jessica Romero, Virginia Carrizales, Kara Ueda, Rebecca Gardner, Donna Courville and Nancy Lee. Kara was honored as MHA's "Top Volunteer" for her active involvement and leadership during the past year in the Asian/Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento, UC Davis School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors and a scholarship committee of the Association, the Milton L. Schwartz/David Levi Inn of Court, My Sister's House, mentoring and other volunteer activities. Congratulations, Kara!

Team MHA BBQ brings home Reserve Champion trophy in the Backyard Division of the 7th Annual Western States BBQ Association's annual cookoff May 22, 2010

Team MHA BBQ showed its stuff on Satruday by placing 1st in chicken, 1st in dry ribs, 2nd in wet ribs and 4th in tri tip and coming in 2nd overall and garnering the Reserve Champion award.

Team MHA BBQ's 1st in chicken marks its second win in this category–last year was 2nd place. This is the 6th time Team MHA BBQ has participated in the the Western States BBQ Association's annual cookoff. Team MHA BBQ beat out all other law firm entries.

The members of Team MHA BBQ who cooked on Saturday were Mark Gorton, Mike Kuzmich, Mary Olden and Jason Riley (Erin Riley's husband, who is the recipe king). Rosco Ahn (Erin's McDonough's husband) was unable to participate in the event this year, but joined our practice the weekend before and contributed the use of his smoker. Friends and alumni came by to enjoy the fun and frivolity, including Pat Elliot and Todd Bailey.

McDonough's 2009 Holiday Giving Program

McDonough Holland & Allen PC contributes to more than fifty charitable, civic and trade organizations throughout Northern California.

As the spirit of community giving heightens each holiday season, McDonough provides donations to a few worthy charities. With hopes of spreading holiday cheer to local families and youth in need, McDonough's 2009 Holiday Giving Program will benefit: the Alameda County Community Food Bank; the Bay Area Urban Debate League; the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services; and the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra Music Education Program benefiting the Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center. Read more here.

Paint the Town 2008

For nine of the past ten years, McDonough has given back to the Sacramento region by sponsoring Paint the Town. One day a year, McDonough employees, family and friends join the NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center to paint and fix up a deserving family's home. Last year, 2007, we had a great team of 50 people. This year, 2008, we had more than 70 adults and children come and help clean, paint and freshen the garden of a homeowner in Oak Park who needed a helping hand. Click on the photo for a larger view.

Pro Bono Work

Many of our attorneys devote their time and expertise to pro bono legal work. We believe, based on the philosophy of the firm's founders, when we invest in our communities and the lives of individuals we also enrich our lives and the quality of our firm.

One such example of McDonough's commitment to the communities where we live and work is attorney Daniel Wolk. He has helped create a Legal Clinic in West Sacramento for residents of Yolo County in need of legal services, who might otherwise not have access to those services.

Rebuilding Together - Oakland

In April 2006, our Oakland office sponsored a community service day with Rebuilding Together-Oakland. We participated in the complete renovation of a house in Oakland for a low income family. Participants that day included McDonough employees and their families, the homeowner's family, as well as a group of teenagers from the Athenian school in Danville, and a group of students from UC Berkeley. It was an amazing experience for everyone involved and we plan to participate in this event again.

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Maryhouse (Loaves and Fishes)

You know what they say… the best way to forget about your troubles is to help someone else. That's exactly what staff members Jessica Romero, Shelley Heitzman and Virginia Carrizales do. They are regular volunteers at Maryhouse, a daytime shelter for homeless women and children and one of the many programs sponsored by Loaves & Fishes located in Sacramento.

Maryhouse provides individual counseling to women to help them identify and take the next step from homelessness into hopefulness. They offer a wide variety of assistance for the practical needs of everyday life—from showers, diapers, toiletries, breakfast and lunch, to life-changing assistance in the form of classes and support groups.

Every Thursday morning, Jessica makes French toast and Shelley makes hot oatmeal for the guests at Maryhouse, who also are provided with milk, coffee and hot cocoa—a well-balanced breakfast. They serve and feed around 120 women and children. Maryhouse staff claim that Jessica and Shelley make the best French toast and hot oatmeal because they flavor it with their very own "secret" ingredients.

Jessica, who has been volunteering at Maryhouse since 1994, says the guests "are very grateful and always say 'thank you.'  It has been a very rewarding experience and we are happy to represent McDonough in our volunteer work."

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