Philadelphia, April 15, 2021 – Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce its Help the Hungry Initiative, started at the end of last year, has donated in excess of $100,000 to food banks across the nation that have been adversely impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Donations have been distributed in more than 20 cities in the United States as well as Toronto, Canada, where Cozen O’Connor maintains offices. Cozen O’Connor’s efforts for Philabundance in Philadelphia have been especially meaningful as they have given the firm and its employees the opportunities to support an outreach program in the community of its corporate home.
For over 35 years, Philabundance has focused on providing emergency food in order to relieve hunger in the Philadelphia region each day. As a member of Feeding America, Philabundance distributed more than 55 million pounds of food to those in need last year. Throughout the crisis, its mission has been critical, as nearly 1 in 5 Philadelphia residents go hungry on a regular basis.
“One of Cozen O’Connor’s core values since our founding has been the idea of ‘giving back.’ Being able to support the community that has supported us is especially important, and we are delighted to be able to help Philabundance through our donation and other efforts,” said Michael J. Heller, Executive Chairman and CEO of Cozen O’Connor. “Seeing the response from our employees in light of what has been a deeply challenging period for so many, shows the true character of our team, and what we strive to build upon.”
Food banks across the United States have been severely impacted by COVID-19 and have been faced with battles on two fronts. There has been a significant drop in food recovery efforts as a direct response to the shutdown of many local restaurants, combined with significant operational constraints and a drop in volunteers. Throughout the crisis, Philabundance has remained a vibrant and critical service for families facing food insecurities.
“We rely on the generosity of organizations like Cozen O’Connor,” said Philabundance CEO Loree D. Jones. “With their support, we are able to continue our valuable community-focused programs such as the Philabundance Community Kitchen, which gives residents of neighborhoods with lower incomes the opportunity to learn valuable culinary training skills and the opportunities to find meaningful employment in the food service industry.”
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 850 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 32 offices across two continents.