Founders of the Incorporated
Society of Irish American Lawyers and the Catholic Lawyers Society Service Day Project (left to right) Charles Rutherford, Tom Myers, and Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Michael Riordan were happy to take part in the Saturday, May 5, event at the Focus: HOPE Central Warehouse in Detroit. Members from both organizations took part and achieved the goal of packing their 50,000th box for the charity over the past 11 years.
Focus: Hope Volunteer Manager Bill Wenzel (center) congratulates (left to right) CLS President Joseph McGill and ISIAL President Dennis Clark on their organizations joining the “50,000 Club.†“The great thing about this project is that we encourage families to participate – it really is a community event,†said Clark.
Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan Judge Daniel Hathaway (far right) pack boxes with his family.
After a few hours hard at work, lunch is served with a special cake in celebration of the 50,000th box packed.
By Christine L. Mobley
Legal News
After 11 years of dedicated service, the Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers (ISIAL) and the Catholic Lawyers Society (CLS) have packed 50,000 boxes of food for Focus: HOPE in Detroit during their latest Service Day Project on Saturday, May 5.
Focus: HOPE, a civil and human rights organization, relies on the efforts of volunteers to accomplish its goals. According to its website, its mission is to use intelligent and practical action to fight racism, poverty and injustice.
The tradition of the Focus: HOPE Service Day Project got started when Charles Rutherford, a former president of both CLS and ISIAL; Tom Myers, then-president of ISIAL; and Michael Riordan, then an assistant U.S. attorney and now a Michigan Court of Appeals judge, spoke with co-founder of Focus: HOPE Eleanor Josaitis.
Since 2001, ISIAL and CLS members have been donating their time and energy to Focus: HOPE in Detroit boxing food for the needy twice a year – once in May and then again in November.
During past November Service Project Days, the organizations helped to pack enough food to help carry Focus: HOPE through the Thanksgiving holiday into the Christmas season, according to Riordan.
“Been here a lot of fun Saturday mornings, a lot of great friendships made,” Riordan said during the latest Service Day Project. “We’ve been here 11 years now and we’ll continue on another 50 years, I’m sure, and it’s a great thing.”
Focus: HOPE recognized ISIAL and CLS accomplishment in reaching 50,000 boxes packed by presenting each organization with an award.
“It’s a special feeling...it’s a demonstration to our commitment to service and helping those in need,” Dennis Clark, current ISIAL president, said of both organizations’ efforts in hitting the 50,000 mark.
The next ISIAL and CLS Service Project Day is planned for early November 2012.
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