We encourage involvement and leadership in the communities in which we live
Varnum’s commitment to the community includes significant financial contributions to a variety of organizations, from arts, education and health care agencies to social service, community and economic development endeavors. Our Contributions Committee meets monthly to review and evaluate requests.
Community Involvement
We are more than just lawyers; Varnum attorneys are leaders in the communities in which we live and work. Our attorneys serve many community organizations, including the following:
AARP
Achieve Charter Academy
Alliance for Health
Alma College West Michigan Roundtable
American Civil Liberties Union
American Red Cross
Aquinas College
Arthritis Foundation of West Michigan, Region
Association for Corporate Growth, West Michigan
Battle Creek Chamber of Commerce
Bethany Christian Services
Better Business Bureau
Bible Study Fellowship International
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Bluebird Cancer Retreat
Brookmoor Estates Neighborhood Association
Camp Roger
Chamber Music Society of Detroit
Children’s Assessment Center
Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan
Christian Legal Services/Mel Trotter Clinic
Christian Living Services
Citizens Research Council of Michigan
City of Grand Haven Construction Board of Appeals
Community Foundation of Southeastern Michigan
Community Rebuilders
Criminal Justice Chaplaincy
Davenport University
Degage Ministries
Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings
Detroit Christo Rey High School Leadership Board
Detroit Institute of Arts
Diocese of Grand Rapids
Ducks Unlimited
Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids
East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation
Economic Club of Grand Rapids
Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan
Executive Women’s Golf Association
Faith Hospice
Fifth Reformed Church
First United Methodist Church of Grand Rapids
First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo
Foundation for Catholic Secondary Education of Greater Grand Rapids
Fountain Street Church
Fountain Street Church Foundation
Fr. Gabriel Richard High School Athletic Booster Club
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
Frederik Meijer Gardens Foundation
Fresh Start Church
Gerontology Network
Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids
Golf Association of Michigan
Good Shepherd United Church of Christ (Sahuarita, AZ)
Grand Haven Area Chamber of Commerce
Grand Haven Area Community Foundation
Grand Haven Area Young Professionals
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
Grand Rapids Area Realtors
Grand Rapids Art Museum
Grand Rapids Ballet Company
Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
Grand Rapids Community College Foundation
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Grand Rapids Downtown Market
Grand Rapids Healthy Communities
Grand Rapids Metropolitan YMCA
Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation
Grand Rapids Public Museum Friends Foundation
Grand Rapids Public Schools
Grand Rapids Rotary Club
Grand Rapids Symphony
Grand Valley State University
Grandville Avenue Arts and Humanities
Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association
Greater Ottawa County United Way
Guardian Angel Homes
GVSU Seidman School of Business
Habitat for Humanity
Harvard Club of West Michigan
Heart of West Michigan United Way
Heartside Ministry
Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation
Hello West Michigan
HHS Health Options
Hillman Advocacy Clinic
Holland Home
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Endowment Fund
Home Repair Services Board of Directors
Hope College Alumni Association
Humane Society of West Michigan
Inforum of West Michigan
Inside Grand Rapids
International Centre for Healing and the Law, John Fetzer Foundation
Jennings Memorial Foundation (Genesee County)
John Ball Zoological Society
Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes Inc.
Justice for Our Neighbors
Kalamazoo Area Chamber of Commerce
Kalamazoo Area Labor Management Committee
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Kalastar
Kent County Unit of American Cancer Society
Kent District Library Fund Development Board
Kent Health Plan Corporation
LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church
Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance Council
Land Conservancy of West Michigan
LaughFest
Leadership Grand Rapids
Legacy Christian School
Literacy Center of West Michigan
Long Lake Association Inc.
Loutit District Library
Love Inc.
March of Dimes
Mary Free bed Institutional Review Board
Mayflower Congregational Church Endowment Fund Board
Michigan Campus Compact
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Michigan Chapter of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Michigan Council for Economic Education
MOKA Corporation
MSU School of Law Alvin L. Storrs Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic
National Justice for Our Neighbors
New North Center
North Ottawa Rod & Gun Club
Northview Education Foundation
Northview Little League
Northville High School Football Association
Notre Dame Club of Grand Rapids
Novi Chamber of Commerce
Opera Grand Rapids
Partnership for Philanthropic Planning
Planetary Society
Planned Parenthood of West and Northern Michigan
Portage Education Foundation
Porter Hills Retirement Communities and Services Inc.
Pretty Lake Vacation Camp
Project Rehab
Public Museum of Grand Rapids
Richland Bible Church
Rotary Club
Salvation Army
Second Christian Reformed Church
Senior Neighbors
South Christian High school
Spring Lake Country Club
St. Andrews Cathedral
St. Cecilia Music Society
St. John’s Home, D.A. Blodgett
St. Mary Magdalen Church
St. Mary’s Doran Foundation
St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation
St. Patrick’s Church Men’s Group
Student Mentor Partners
Sweet House Foundation
The Right Place
Thornapple Valley Baseball League
U.S. Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship
University of Michigan Club of Grand Rapids
Urban Institute of Contemporary Art
Van Andel Institute
Vocaris of Grand Rapids
Volunteers in Service
Vriesland Reformed Church
VSA Arts of Michigan Grand Rapids
Wayne State University Law School Board Visitors Committee
Well House Community
West Michigan Bio
West Michigan Christian Legal Ministries
West Michigan Energy
West Michigan Environmental Leadership Network
West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
West Michigan Land Conservancy
West Michigan New Horizons Music Ensembles
West Michigan Planned Giving Group
West Michigan Solar Supply Chain
West Michigan Sports Commission
West Michigan Strategic Alliance
West Michigan Trails and Greenways Coalition
West Michigan Wind Manufacturers Network
West Michigan World Affairs Council
Western Michigan University’s Industry Advisory Board for Chemical Engineering
Whitewood Farms Neighborhood Association
YMCA
Buchanan Elementary School
Varnum’s Grand Rapids office initially began a holiday-sharing relationship with Buchanan Elementary School in 1989. Quickly realizing that the needs of Buchanan families are ongoing, the firmwide Seasons for Giving program was developed. The program provides for a yearlong commitment to the school and its students and families through a variety of seasonal activities:
February – Proceeds from a chili cook-off go to purchase books for March reading month.
March – Varnum volunteers visit the school and read to students during reading month. Books are also donated to each classroom.
April – At conference time, Varnum provides a catered meal for teachers before they meet with parents and students.
May – An appreciation luncheon is hosted by Varnum at the school to thank teachers and staff for all they do for the students throughout the year.
June – Varnum staff and summer associates scoop, sprinkle and top ice cream for students and teachers at the annual celebration on the last day of school.
August/September – Teachers provide a class- and grade-specific wish list of school supplies that is fulfilled by Varnum volunteer shoppers. The Seasons for Giving program funds the purchase of these supplies. At Varnum, Buchanan student-of-the-month T-shirts are sold to members of the firm who sign the shirts for presentation as student rewards throughout the year.
November/December – Every student at Buchanan and SECOM receives a holiday gift, and Santa (and many of his elves) visits to sing songs, read stories, share smiles and decorate cookies. Family bags filled with everyday essential toiletry items are given to parents and caretakers for home use. In addition, since 2006, a fourth-grade art student has created and designed the Varnum holiday card that is sent to over 10,000 recipients.
Varnum’s relationship with Buchanan Elementary is significant and is just one of many ways Varnum is honored to be involved in the communities in which we live and work.
Pro Bono Work
An important part of our overall responsibility as attorneys is to provide free legal services to those in need. Varnum undertakes this duty by securing its pro bono files through referrals from the Pro Bono Program of Western Michigan (a program established in 1982 by the Grand Rapids Bar Association and Legal Aid of Western Michigan), the Mel Trotter Ministries Legal Clinic and other entities that refer matters for veterans to us.
Varnum participates in these programs by providing legal services to individuals who are qualified to receive pro bono services. Although Varnum provides free legal services to other individuals and on behalf of various nonprofit agencies, we take pro bono credit only for files from Legal Aid of Western Michigan and the Mel Trotter Ministries Legal Clinic, and for assisting veterans. We treat time spent on these cases in the same manner as billable client time. In addition, Varnum provides a financial contribution that far exceeds the Voluntary Standard established by the State Bar of Michigan. Varnum also pays all costs associated with each representation and waives reimbursement for these expenses from the referring entity.
Our commitment to pro bono representation begins with our summer associates, who are offered the opportunity to handle at least one referral case during their clerkships, a unique and positive aspect of our summer program, which continues with our associate level attorneys. Our partners also devote a significant amount of time to the program through handling pro bono files and supervising younger attorneys and summer clerks. Gary Mouw, litigation partner, is our pro bono coordinator.
In 2021, the firm provided 1231 hours in pro bono services on 62 files that met these criteria. The $470,699 in fees combined with a $50,000 cash contribution to the Access to Justice Fund brought Varnum’s total contribution to $520,699.
Varnum is recognized by the State Bar of Michigan for its pro bono contributions. The firm is part of the State Bar’s “Circle of Excellence” at the Leadership level, reserved for law firms with 100 percent aggregate contributions at the Pro Bono Voluntary Standard level (30 hours or $500 per attorney in financial donations).
Varnum is proud of its pro bono commitment. The support and participation by attorneys throughout the firm makes it clear that pro bono representation is part of the fabric of our firm.
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