Community Care and Support

In a heartwarming display of community spirit, The Walkup Firm joined forces with Lowell High School for an impactful event – the inaugural Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway. With joy and gratitude, 130 enthusiastic student volunteers, alongside 30 dedicated Walkup staffers, including Walkup shareholder and Lowell alumna Doris Cheng, came together for a common cause.

The event went beyond the distribution of turkeys; it was a celebration of unity, generosity, and the true spirit of Thanksgiving. The Walkup team showcased its commitment to positively impacting the community as they worked hand in hand with the school and its dedicated volunteers. Here’s a short video with highlights of the successful mission to make Thanksgiving a little brighter for local families!

• ABC Local Video Coverage 
• Walkup News: Spirit of Giving: Walkup Firm and Lowell High School’s Inaugural Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway 

The University of California Hastings College of Law is located in San Francisco, blocks away from local, state, and federal courts. Students can focus their studies in a variety of concentrations including intellectual property law, social justice lawyering, and law and health sciences.

With the support of Walkup, UC Hastings Alumni Michael A. Kelly, Richard H. Schoenberger, and Matthew Davis committed $1 million to the law school. The main lecture hall in the new academic building at 333 Golden Gate Avenue will bear the Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger name.

In addition to this gift, Walkup supports multiple scholarships for students attending UC Hastings. Two Walkup shareholders have served as faculty at the university. Douglas Saeltzer currently serves as an adjunct professor of law, teaching a course on personal injury litigation. Michael A. Kelly also served as an assistant professor of law at the university from 1981-2000.

• “UC Hastings Law Receives $1 Million Gift from Stellar Alums, Law Firm”
• https://www.uchastings.edu/

UCSF is addressing the community impact of COVID-19 by expanding diagnostic testing capacity, ensuring medical professionals are suitably equipped, and developing novel therapeutic methods. UCSF teams are conducting groundbreaking research to inform reopening while protecting high-risk communities.

• https://giving.ucsf.edu/coronavirus

The Miracle League of SF Peninsula (MLSFP) is an adaptive baseball league for youth and adult players with special needs.  Based in San Mateo County, MLSFP welcomes all players, regardless of disability or financial need. MLSFP supports players so that they are able to have the best possible experience. All players hit, run, score, and hear the roar of the crowd! MLSFP is also committed to constructing an adaptive field, which will meet the unique needs of Miracle League players and other local athletes with special needs.

Walkup is an annual sponsor of the league, and associate Clifton Smoot serves on the board of Miracle League of SF Peninsula, and volunteers during the spring and fall seasons.

https://www.facebook.com/SFMiracleLeague/

San Francisco Meals on Wheels help feed elderly and isolated community members who cannot shop or obtain nutritious meals outside of their homes. We our senior neighbors to extend their independence and health as they age. Currently Meals on Wheels supports nearly 2.4 million seniors annually in virtually every community in the country by providing nutritional and social support directly to their door.

• https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/

SFFCPF provides medically approved cancer screenings for the early detection of cancer in both active and retired firefighters, examines how to prevent unnecessary exposures on the fire grand, and provides a variety of other medical and insurance services to assist firefighters.

• www.sffcpf.org

Shareholders Sara Peters and Spencer Pahlke, along with members of ABC during a park clean-up in San Francisco. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, ABC’s mission is to bring attorneys out of their offices and into their communities to assist those in need. ABC focuses on a wide range of community service projects in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has worked with other Meals on Wheels, Samaritan House, Community Gatepath, and Surfrider.

• www.abcoutreach.org
  • Walkup volunteered conference room to create holiday cards for Meals on Wheels
  • “Focus on Torts” shout out
  • “Our Board”- Sara Peters

A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, ABC’s mission is to bring attorneys out of their offices and into their communities to assist those in need. ABC focuses on a wide range of community service projects in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has worked with other Meals on Wheels, Samaritan House, Community Gatepath, and Surfrider.

https://www.law.berkeley.edu/

• “Good as Gold: Berkeley Law Trial Team Wins National Championship”
  • Justin and Spencer listed as coaches of the trial team
• Pahlke Internal Trial Competition (PINT)

The University of California, Berkeley, School of Law is one of 14 schools and colleges at the University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley Law is consistently ranked as one of the top public law schools in the United States and one of the top law schools in the world. Shareholder Spencer Pahlke serves as a lecturer in trial advocacy and director of Berkeley Law’s external trial competition program, and coaches multiple trial advocacy teams. Under Spencer’s guidance, and with the help of associate attorney and fellow Berkeley alumni and Mock Trial coach Justin Chou, the program has risen to national prominence, having won many national honors and distinctions, including several national championships.

Leah’s Pantry is a California-based nonprofit committed to a vision of all people being nourished, regardless of socioeconomic status. Our programs and products are designed to ensure all people have access to healthy food and feel competent preparing easy, nutritious meals for themselves and their families. We approach our work through the lens of trauma and resilience, and believe that positive, nourishing food experiences can heal individuals, encourage healthy community norms, promote nutritional security, and support the realignment of broken food systems in low-income communities.

• http://www.leahspantry.org

United Policyholders (UP) is an information resource and advocate for insurance consumers around the country. UP has helped consumers with all types of insurance and has brought about successful claim settlements after, fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, business interruption losses, and disabling injuries and illnesses. United Policyholders levels the playing field between insurers and the insured by advancing pro consumers laws and providing tools for solving insurance conflicts.

• https://www.uphelp.org/

The Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) advances fairness and equality by providing pro bono legal services to low-income people and educational programs that foster diversity in the legal profession.

• http://www.sfbar.org/jdc/
  • 2019 Justice & Diversity Center Board of Directors- Doris Cheng, President
  • 2019 Justice & Diversity Center Directors- Khaldoun Baghdadi

Walk San Francisco was founded in 1998 by a small group of volunteers who were united by the belief that our streets and sidewalks should be safe and welcoming for all. Today, Walk SF is known as a tireless advocate in pushing for – and winning – life-saving changes across the city. Powered by our diverse, passionate members, we want nothing less than to make San Francisco the most pedestrian-friendly city in the United States.

• www.walksf.org

Consumer Watchdog advocates for all taxpayers and consumers in an a political environment where special and corporate interests often dominate. By investigating corporate practices, increasing awareness, and actively litigating in court Consumer Watchdog creates lasting change on behalf of the public.

• https://www.consumerwatchdog.org/

The Bay Area Urban Debate League (BAUDL) works with Bay Area public school districts to make competitive policy debate available to every public high school student.

BAUDL believes that debate increases student academic performance, enriches and expands their college and career opportunities, and provides the intellectual and networking tools for youth to thrive as active, responsible leaders in their communities.

• https://www.baudl.org/

Public Justice pursues high impact lawsuits to combat social and economic injustice, protect the Earth’s sustainability, and challenge predatory corporate conduct and government abuses. By leveraging the foundation’s diverse staff and community connections, Public Justice is able to litigate a broader range of issues than any other public interest firm in the country.

• https://www.publicjustice.net/

• https://sfbike.org/

For over 45 years, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has been transforming San Francisco streets and neighborhoods into more livable and safe places by promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation. We are one of the largest and most effective bicycle advocacy groups in the country. Through our day-to-day advocacy, education and working partnerships with City and community agencies, the SF Bicycle Coalition creates safer streets and more livable communities for all San Franciscans.

• https://www.marinbike.org/

The Marin County Bicycle Coalition promotes safe bicycling for everyday transportation and recreation. MCBC advocates for bicycle and pedestrian-friendly policies, provides educational workshops to demonstrate the benefits of green transportation, and provides a network of events and opportunities for the cycling community of Marin County.

• https://bikesiliconvalley.org/

SVBC’s purpose is to create a healthy community, environment, and economy through bicycling for people who live, work, or play in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.

Legal Aid at Work (LAL) assists low-income families through all potential issues in the work place. LAL provides free legal clinics and trainings on topics from employment law, workplace discrimination, and individual rights. LAL enforces and strengthens the civil and employment right of workers through litigation and policy advocacy.

• https://legalaidatwork.org/

• https://bayscholars.org/

Bay Scholars exists to make it possible for promising low-income scholars across the Bay to have access to and flourish at successful college preparatory Catholic high schools. Bay Scholars is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit Bay Area network hub for change through education.

• https://build.org/about-us/

BUILD is a four-year college readiness program whose mission is to use entrepreneurship-based, experiential learning to ignite the potential of youth in under-resourced communities and equip them for high school, college, and career success. BUILD Bay Area serves more than 800 students. In BUILD Bay Area’s Class of 2016, 97% graduated from high school and 96% were accepted to at least one post-secondary opportunity.

• https://legalaidsc.org/

Legal Aid of Sonoma County has provided services to Sonoma County’s indigent population for over 50 years. Founded in 1958 and incorporated in 1983 as a private nonprofit, Legal Aid provides crisis legal services to low-income families and children.

• https://law.stanford.edu/
• Sara Peters listed as a Lecturer in Law in the SLS directory here

Stanford Law School (also known as Stanford Law or SLS) is a professional graduate school of Stanford University, located in Silicon Valley near Palo Alto, California. Established in 1893, Stanford Law has been ranked one of the top three law schools in the country, with Yale Law School and Harvard Law School, every year since 1992. Sara Peters, a shareholder at Walkup, is the Co-Director of the Trial Skills Program and coach of the mock trial team at Stanford Law School.

• http://www.sfbar.org/jdc/legal-services/index.aspx

The legal services programs of the Justice & Diversity Center of The Bar Association of San Francisco (JDC) provide pro bono legal and related social services to low-income and homeless San Francisco residents and to nonprofit organizations that serve these communities. The JDC provides these services primarily through the use of volunteer attorneys. JDC takes a holistic approach to legal services, seeking to address the full range of legal and social services issues that prevent our clients from retaining stability in their lives.

• https://lawrocks.org/

Law Rocks provides an opportunity for the global legal community to bring attention and funding to deserving local nonprofits. Law Rock’s vision is to make a real difference in cities around the world by raising funds and attention for local organizations that change local lives. Several members of Walkup have formed a four-piece rock ensemble, Magnum PI, which performed at the most recent Law Rock competition in San Francisco. Proceeds from Magnum PI’s concert were donated to the Bay Area Youth EMT Program, which aims to increase diversity in the first responder profession by instructing inner-city youth in the EMT and Fire curriculum.

Equal Rights Advocates fights for gender justice in workplaces and schools across the country. ERA enforces civil rights laws in court, fights to end sexual violence in our schools and workplaces, provides free legal advice and counseling to those who need it, and educates folks on their legal rights.

• https://www.equalrights.org/

• https://www.lccr.com/

Since its inception in 1968, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area has operated under a simple but vital premise: everyone—regardless of race, class or legal status—deserves equal treatment under the law.

Over the course of this nation’s history, arguments falsely challenging the equality and value of one person or group compared to another have long been settled in the court of law. However, because hearts and minds cannot be legislated, conscious or subconscious racism, bias, prejudice and discrimination persist.

Working in three core priority areas: Racial Justice, Immigrant Justice, and Economic Justice, the Lawyers’ Committee strives to mitigate breaches of already established civil rights law and achieve “justice for all” through direct services, impact litigation and policy advocacy.

The Napa County Bicycle Coalition works with local residents, small businesses, industry, and elected officials to align the transportation sector with the needs of bicyclists and other active transportation users. The coalition’s mission is to make it safe, convenient, and accessible to ride a bicycle anywhere in Napa County, for all ages and abilities.

• https://napabike.org/

• https://www.sfmfoodbank.org/

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is the critical link between food and people. The Food Bank provides food to over 450 community partners and will distribute 48 million pounds of food to 225,000 people in need – enough for 100,000 meals a day.