St. Louis Legal Community Raises More Than $60,000 in Cash for Project XOXO

NEWS RELEASE

Feb. 9, 2010

St. Louis Legal Community Raises More Than $60,000 in Cash for Project XOXO

Proceeds from the fund drive will be given to 10 local charities

St. Louis – The sluggish economy has strained families’ resources and the safety nets of local charities, but the St. Louis legal community is lending a hand with a new philanthropic effort.

In response to the urgent need, Project XOXO was launched in December to raise money for local charities. Since then, area lawyers, law firms and legal organizations have raised more than $60,000 in cash contributions.

Both the contributors and the leaders of the recipient charities will be recognized on Feb. 13, the final day of the fund drive, in an event at the Old Courthouse being underwritten with in-kind donations.

John Simon an attorney with The Simon Law Firm and a member of Project XOXO’s executive committee, says of the inaugural fundraising event, “Charities have been experiencing a perfect storm of increasing demand and decreasing support, and that has meant that many of the most vulnerable among us have suffered. As a legal community, we knew we needed to step-up to provide assistance to those who are helping abused women, the hungry and the homeless.”

The current list of cash donors:

• Dixon & Johnson ($250)
• Access Disability ($500)
• Theresa Appelbaum ($500)
• Murphy Wasinger ($1,000)
• Tim Gallagher ($1,000)
• Dowd & Dowd ($1,000)
• Loretta Simon ($1,000)
• Sedey Harper ($1,000)
• Brown & Crouppen ($5,000)
• Simmons Law Firm ($5,000)
• Onder Law Firm ($5,000)
• Rossiter & Boock ($5,000)
• HeplerBroom ($10,000)
• The Simon Law Firm ($25,000)

The current list of in-kind donors:

• Erich Vieth
• Killian Fine Hardwood Floor Refinishing
• Planet Do It
• Westin St. Louis
• Eleven Eleven Mississippi
• Throttlenet of St. Louis

The recipients of the cash collected by Project XOXO:

• Our Lady’s Inn
• Covenant House
• Places for People
• Saint Louis Crisis Nursery
• The Bridge
• ThriVe St. Louis
• Alive
• Peter & Paul Community Services
• St. Patrick Center
• Gateway Homeless Services

For more information, contact John Simon of The Simon Law Firm by calling 314-241-2929 or e-mailing jsimon@simonlawpc.com. You can also visit www.projectxoxo.com for more details.

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