In addition to a memento that symbolizes the honoree's accomplishments, a monetary stipend of $5,000 is contributed to each recipient's favorite nonprofit organization.

Please join us in congratulating and acknowledging the 2003 Lynford Lardner Community Service Award winners:

Sarah Benator, a Los Angeles associate in the Health Law Department, goes out of her way to seek pro bono opportunities and is a key motivator in getting other attorneys and staff in the L.A. office involved in pro bono work. Sarah volunteers countless hours with Public Counsel, the largest public interest law firm in the U.S., including volunteering one night per week for the organization's Homelessness Prevention Law Project at Covenant House, a homeless shelter for young adults. There she assists clients on legal issues related to shelter, food, health, transportation, and social services. Sarah also provides free one-on-one legal counseling to homeless and at-risk individuals at clinics in low-income communities. She also is active in Public Counsel's Children's Rights Project, which provides free legal and advocacy services for low-income children involved in civil matters. A member of the L.A. office's Pro Bono Committee, Sarah works closely with Public Counsel to identify pro bono opportunities for her colleagues. Earlier this year, she organized a luncheon to introduce Foley & Lardner staff to non-attorney volunteer opportunities. In addition, Sarah works with the nonprofit Alliance for Children's Rights to identify opportunities for Foley & Lardner attorneys to represent families in adoption and guardianship proceedings.

Scott Cookson, an associate in Orlando's Business Law Department, is very active in the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida. Scott, who has a 10-year-old son with Down Syndrome, has been a member of the board of directors for four years and president of the association for two years. Under Scott's leadership, the young association hired its first executive director, secured a permanent office, and established a building fund to create a center geared toward education and therapy for individuals affected by Down Syndrome. In addition to his work with the DSACF, Scott recently completed a three-year term on the board of directors for Quest, Inc., Central Florida's largest nonprofit organization serving the needs of adults and children with physical and mental disabilities. Scott also is involved with the Orlando Miracle League, a baseball program tailored for disabled children ages 5-18. A dedicated advocate for children, Scott volunteers as a guardian ad litem through the Orange County Bar Association. In this role over the past five years, he has helped more than 20 children.

Scott Early, a litigation partner in the Chicago office, has been recognized for his community service endeavors by the Special Resolution of the Mayor and Chicago City Council. Currently, Scott is chairman of the board of directors for the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago, a nonprofit that provides programs and services for those with epilepsy and their families. The Foundation conducts counseling services, employment assistance, public education and awareness programs, support groups, advocacy efforts, summer camps, and legislative advocacy. In addition to his work with the Foundation, Scott is involved with the Old Town Triangle Association — a community group dedicated to preserving Chicago's Old Town Historic District. OTTA also supports the Menomonee Club for Boys and Girls, provides art and community service programs, and sponsors the annual Old Town Art Fair — one of the top five art fairs in the U.S. Scott has been a member of the OTTA for more than 20 years, including 12 years as an officer and director and two years as president. Scott also serves as a volunteer auctioneer for various charities including the Old Town Art Fair, Lincoln Park Cooperative Nursery School, and the Cove School — a school for children with learning disabilities. Currently, he serves as director of the Menomonee Club for Boys and Girls, which provides sports, arts and dance programs to over 1,000 children from 70 schools.

Armand Go, operating officer for the Litigation Department in the Milwaukee office, is an active school board member for the Ozaukee Christian School, a private school located in Saukville, Wis. He has served as president of the school board since November 2000, helping develop a strategic vision and mission for the school and aiding in the relocation of the school from a small church to a larger school building with a gymnasium. Armand also takes part in several fund-raising and community activities on behalf of the school — collecting donations from local businesses and individuals for the school's annual auction, coordinating the annual fall golf outing, and operating the school's booth as part of the community's annual Family Fun Day. In addition to his work with Ozaukee Christian School, Armand is involved with Junior Achievement, volunteering as a teacher/consultant for the organization's economics and business school program for middle school students. Armand also helped support the construction of a YMCA branch in his local community and supported the formation of the Washington County Habitat for Humanity.

Pam Heath, a legal secretary in the Orlando office, is extremely active in raising funds for cancer research. She began supporting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in 1997, encouraging the firm's participation in Lee Denim Day. Since 1998 (the most recent figures available), firm donations on Lee Denim Day have increased from $350 to $1,600 in 2002. Over the years, Pam has expanded Lee Denim Day from an opportunity to wear jeans on Friday to a much-anticipated event, complete with a raffle and silent auction. Pam also has rallied staff and attorneys in the Orlando office to participate in Yoplait Yogurt's “Save Lids to Save Lives” campaign. In addition to her work with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Pam participates in The Longaberger Company's annual breast cancer fundraiser, known as the Horizon of Hope program. Pam also spends time volunteering for Seniors First, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of local senior citizens. Pam has donated items for Christmas and birthday gifts and participated in the (S)cents for Seniors fundraiser — selling candles to benefit the Seniors First organization.

Sam Hoffman, a San Diego partner in the Tax & Individual Planning Department, always finds time to share his legal skills, compassion, and kindness with numerous charitable organizations. Sam's legal secretary, Sherry Weiner, describes him as a role model for integrity, values, and giving back to the community. Among his volunteer efforts, Sam provides legal advice to Torah High Schools of San Diego – a nonprofit, religious educational organization. He also participates in the organization's fund-raising efforts. In addition, Sam devotes many hours to Congregation Chabad of Rancho Bernardo & Poway, advising the synagogue on operational and employment matters and providing other legal advice as needed. As impressive as Sam's volunteer efforts with local religious and educational organizations is his willingness to provide legal advice to individuals who frequently approach him at large. During San Diego's Law Day, a community event that enables individuals who could not otherwise afford legal counsel an opportunity to speak with attorneys at no charge, Sam spent the entire day dispensing free legal advice. According to colleague Greg McClune, Sam stimulates others at Foley & Lardner through the quiet example of his own kindliness and good works.

Barbara Kuhn, a legal secretary in the Detroit office, commits a week of vacation each year to chaperon a group of teens on trips to help local, national and international charitable organizations. On one trip, she traveled with her church youth group to Albuquerque, N.M. to volunteer at a community service center located in a poverty-stricken area of the city. Another trip involved spending a week at the Delray Neighborhood House, located in an economically depressed area of Detroit. Barbara has remained involved with the Delray Neighborhood House, coordinating a fund-raising campaign to purchase school supplies and book bags for neighborhood children. One night a week, she also leads a support group for “high-risk” teens in the Delray area. In addition, she began a monthly coffeehouse for teens to provide them with a safe place to hang out. Other volunteer activities include The Freedom House – a temporary shelter for foreign refugees, and working with homeless children at the Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS).

Randolph Wolfe, a Tampa partner with the Tax & Individual Planning Department, has a distinguished and varied history of community service. Currently, he serves on the board of directors for The Roundtable of Greater Brandon (a.k.a.The President's Roundtable), an umbrella organization for approximately 60 charitable, civic, community and veterans organizations in the Brandon, Fla. area. He served four consecutive terms as president of the organization from 1996 to 2000. Randy also is on the board of directors for the Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association, a fine arts and civic center that offers classes for children and adults in various forms of artistic expression, including painting, sculpture, and theater. Having previously served as president and vice president of the center, Randy will assume a second presidential term in January 2004. A 1997 graduate of The Tampa Connection, an organization that operates in alliance with the United Way to prepare citizens to be active community volunteers and leaders while building professional relationships, Randy served on its board from 1998 to 2002. He also was a team leader, organizing community service projects with the Humane Society, Centre for Women, Hillsborough County School System, and Hillsborough County Head Start program. In addition to his work with charitable organizations, Randy co-founded Founders' Square, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation that led a grassroots lobbying effort to create a traditional “main street” in Brandon. Currently, Randy serves as the Founders' Square representative on the County Steering Committee for the Brandon Main Street Plan.