Winston Employees Come Together in a Unified, International Effort to Provide COVID-19 Relief

In one of the most widespread panics in collective memory, one resounding question can be heard over the clamor of breaking news updates and sirens: how can I help? It comes as no surprise that Winston & Strawn employees are among the most active, vocal, and dedicated altruists.

Over the past several weeks, Winston for Good has collected a list of individual and group initiatives organized and executed by our team—this is to say nothing of our pro bono team’s accomplishments. Some are national movements, others are personal acts of kindness, but all of them help others feel loved and cared for in a time of mandated isolation.

This is only the beginning of what promises to be a long, arduous recovery process. However, if this initial outpouring of support is any indication, it is clear that we are up to the challenge.

All-firm Initiatives

Updated PTO Policy

Winston & Strawn offers Volunteer Time Off (VTO) for employees who want to get more involved in their communities. Previously, staff could only utilize this program in half-day increments. However, in light of the current remote work mandate, we've updated our policy to allow employees to take VTO in hourly increments.

Mock Interviews for Year Up

Winston volunteers conducted mock interviews with participating “job candidates” for Year Up, a nationwide initiative that empowers young adults to realize their potential through careers and higher education. These 10-minute one-on-ones helped Year Up students navigate tough interview questions, gain confidence in an interview scenario, and ask their own clarifying questions.

Utilizing Existing Resources

Members of the Dallas, Houston, and Chicago staff scoured their respective offices and gathered as many masks as they could find. Dallas’s 50+ masks were donated to the Presbyterian Hospital Dallas Emergency Department; Winston Houston passed their masks on to the staff at Houston Methodist Hospital where an extremely grateful medical staff put them to good use; Chicago’s office gave their masks to the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management to aid in their disaster recovery efforts.

Charlotte

Helping the Homeless

Legal Administrative Assistants Deb Vitelli and Laura Murphy, in partnership with Winston for Good, spearheaded an initiative to make sandwiches for Charlotte’s Urban Ministry Center, an organization dedicated to bringing the community together to end homelessness that currently serves 700+ lunches a day.

Chicago

Books for Kids in Need

Winston & Strawn donated over $3,200 to Bernie’s Book Bank, the leading provider of books for under-served kids in the Chicagoland area. Chicago employees also made direct donations through Bernie’s to the Montessori School of Englewood.

Communication Coaching

The latest initiative in a long-standing partnership, Winston volunteers worked with seniors from North Lawndale College Prep to improve their ability to construct thoughtful and informative email communication.

Feeding the Community

The Chicago kitchen staff made 20 salads for the Lakeview Pantry, an organization that provides food to those suffering from hunger and poverty. The Pantry’s ever-adapting strategy to serve Chicago also includes social service programs, awareness initiatives, and an extensive volunteer network.

D.C.

A Mission to Serve

Members of the Winston & Strawn D.C. team volunteered to speak with students at the Thurgood Marshall Academy (TMA) about the ways they can implement the school’s six foundational legal skills—argumentation, advocacy, critical thinking, research, and negotiation—into their personal and work lives. This is the latest tutoring initiative in ongoing relationship between Winston and TMA that began in January 2020.

London

Feeding Essential Workers

Many essential medical workers do not have the opportunity to stop and eat meals during the day. In response, Winston for Good has elicited funds and promotional support for Feed NHS, a cause that aims to raise £2,000,000 and ensure that every NHS worker has one healthy meal a day.

Make Some Noise

The London team participated in the inaugural Clap for Carers event in late March 2020. The campaign started as a single movement to get people to clap and cheer at a specific time to thank doctors, GPs, and other NHS staff working to protect London during the pandemic. Since then, the Winston team has joined London every Thursday at 8:00 pm to show their support.

Art Therapy at Home

Winston London commissioned art historian Rose Balston to guide online viewers through three of the most celebrated paintings of the Italian Renaissance: Botticelli’s “La Primavera”, Leonardo’s “Mona Lisa”, and Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam.” The event was used to elevate the exceptional work being carried out by The Connection, a recovery shelter located in central London that helps people recover from the trauma of homelessness and provides support with the end goal of long-term, personal independence.

Los Angeles

Serving Our Servers

L.A.’s Winston for Good team donated to the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation, an advocacy and action nonprofit created by and for people in the foodservice industry. The foundation is currently partnered with the Southern Smoke Foundation, a nonprofit with an ever-evolving mission that chiefly raises funds to support food and beverage industry workers and their suppliers in times of crisis.

New York City

Good Nights for Good Days

We are involved with the promotion of the Pajama Program, a nonprofit that facilitates good bedtime habits by providing PJs, storybooks, and other resources for parents and caregivers. They now offer Virtual Reading Parties to facilitate a sense of togetherness and spark the imaginations of children across the US. Visit the Virtual Reading Parties page of their website to participate as a guest reader or make a donation.

Seniors in Need

Winston for Good is advocating on the behalf of Encore Community Services to secure food and supply donations to deliver to isolated members of the community in the Clinton/Times Square area who rely on Encore for support. We are also promoting their outreach programs which act as lifelines for housebound, isolated people.

New York Cares & NYC Service

Winston for Good is spreading the news about new online volunteer opportunities from New York Cares and NYC Service, hubs that provide resources for finding ways to volunteer in New York.

San Francisco

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is facing an unprecedented challenge to support the growing number of people who are struggling with food insecurity. In response, Winston SF is raising funds to help feed the area’s homeless and hungry.