Philanthropy & Community Service

Service to the community and the legal profession is one of the major tenets of Verrill Dana’s Core Values. Verrill Dana’s staff and attorneys are deeply committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work. We are proud of our contributions of human and financial resources to support the important work of charitable and non-profit organizations throughout New England.

The following is a summary of Verrill Dana’s community and charitable commitments for 2011:

- Verrill Dana attorneys and staff volunteered approximately 2,300 hours to the pro bono representation of individuals who could not otherwise afford legal representation. In recent years, the firm has been recognized by the Maine Bar Foundation and the Volunteer Lawyers Project for accepting the most volunteer cases, and for dedicating the most hours of any Maine law firm.

- Nearly 70% of Verrill Dana’s attorneys serve as trustees or board members for more than 140 different non-profit organizations, which serve a wide range of community needs, including: 
 
  • Animal Refuge League
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine
  • Boston Symphony Orchestra
  • Brady Center to Prevent Handgun Violence
  • Environmental Business Council of New England
  • Friends of Casco Bay
  • Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project
  • Institute for Family-Owned Business
  • The Jackson Lab
  • Maine Children’s Cancer Program
  • Maine & Company
  • MaineHealth
  • Maine Humanities Council
  • Maine Medical Center
  • Maine Small Enterprise Growth Fund
  • Maine State Chamber of Commerce
  • Maine Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
  • New England Conservatory
  • Pine Tree Legal Services
  • Portland Public Library
  • Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • Portland Symphony Orchestra
  • Portland Trails
  • Salvation Army
  • Spurwink Services
  • StepUp! Family Resources
  • St. Lawrence Art Center
  • United Way of Greater Portland
  • VNA Home Health and Hospice

- Verrill Dana’s staff and employees generously give of their personal time to provide volunteer services throughout the community. One team of dedicated volunteers served meals at the Preble Street Resource Center’s soup kitchen throughout the year.

- 100% of Verrill Dana attorneys pledged donations to the Campaign for Justice, an annual statewide fundraising effort within Maine's legal community on behalf of six civil legal aid providers. Verrill Dana was among the top three firms in Maine for total contributions to the campaign.

- The Verrill Dana Foundation awarded approximately $15,000 in grants to education-related initiatives through the Maine Community Foundation.

- Verrill Dana has served as a major sponsor of MS Harborfest since 2004.

- Over 35 local organizations have been the recipients of charitable donations from Verrill Dana, totaling over $25,000. Recipients include:
 
  • Bangor YMCA
  • Children’s Museum
  • The Community Schools at Opportunity Farm and Camden
  • Everyman Repertory Theatre
  • Good Shepherd Food Bank
  • Maine Children’s Cancer Program
  • Maine Historical Society
  • Maine Medical Center
  • Maine Tree Foundation
  • Mercy Hospital
  • Morrison Center
  • Space Gallery
  • Sweetser
  • Trust for Public Land / Bayside Trail
  • USM Foundation

- Verrill Dana serves as the proud sponsor for many events that support local organizations. More than $62,000 was given in event sponsorships to organizations and programs such as:
 
  • 317 Main Street Community Music Center
  • American Heart Association
  • Animal Refuge League
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine
  • Cancer Community Center
  • Center for Grieving Children
  • Girl Scouts
  • Girls Scouts of Maine
  • Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project
  • Institute for Family Owned Business 
  • Jackson Laboratory
  • Junior Achievement
  • Maine Businesses for Sustainability
  • Maine Center for Enterprise Development
  • Maine Civil Liberties Union
  • Maine Public Broadcasting Network
  • Maine Women’s Fund
  • Multiple Sclerosis Society of Greater New England
  • NAACP
  • Portland Community Chorus
  • Portland Museum of Art
  • Port Resources
  • St. Lawrence Art Center
  • Spurwink
  • Victoria Mansion

- Partners, staff and employees raised more than $53,000 for the 2012 United Way Campaign. Verrill Dana’s fundraising on behalf of the United Way over the past five years exceeds $314,200.

Throughout our 150 year history, Verrill Dana’s people have been active and dedicated members of our community and we look forward to the next 150 years of professional and public service.