What if a group of socially conscious lawyers committed resources and time to supporting local nonprofit organizations focused on supporting under-served and at-risk children and families in Los Angeles? What if that hands-on commitment had been ongoing for the past 27 years? You would be describing the efforts of Adopt-A-Center, a program I championed back in 1999.
Over the years, my colleagues and I have provided crucial resources, funding, mentorship and visibility to more than 20 distinct Los Angeles-based nonprofit organizations. This has involved creating customized programs tailored to their unique missions, which deliver grass-roots community support.
I am proud to say that what started as a modest means of giving back to the local community has grown into an important legacy program. When I joined my current firm, Blank Rome, they enthusiastically embraced Adopt-A-Center and have made it their own. Today, my colleagues, friends of the firm, and I continue to host Adopt-A-Center events and collaborate to effect positive change for these underserved communities.
The Ripple Effect of Giving Back
Throughout my life, I have seen first-hand the positive ripple effects of giving back to the community. Even the smallest gestures can have large impacts for others—particularly those most in need. This is the impetus behind Adopt-A-Center.
Blank Rome has long been committed to making a social impact through pro bono work and community service. Adopt-A-Center is a natural extension of that vision. Through this program, we help local nonprofits that provide essential outreach to underserved children and families in Los Angeles that we believe will benefit from more than just monetary support.
Over the years, our efforts have made a real difference for the children and families supported by the nonprofits we help. For example, one year, we adopted a young women’s mentoring organization called MOSTe. Adopt-A-Center hosted a day-long career symposium with presentations and speakers representing a myriad of career options. In addition to attorneys from our firm, we recruited distinguished professionals from the offices of our clients and beyond to participate. I have no doubt, many of the young women who were there that day came away with new mentors, and found new opportunities for personal development.
'Shark Tank'-Inspired Career Day for Underserved High School Students
This year, the Adopt-A-Center program continued its partnership with Los Angeles-based C5 Los Angeles (C5LA), a year-round youth leadership and college/career access and success program, the second of a three-year commitment. As a nonprofit, C5LA’s mission is to change the odds for high-potential teens from under-resourced communities by inspiring them to pursue personal success, while preparing them for leadership roles.
Our goal in focusing on C5LA for three years, instead of the usual single year, is to create lasting change in the lives of these remarkable young people. We are hoping to equip these talented teens with the tools and confidence they need to dream big.
On Sept. 20, 2025, we hosted a "Shark Tank"-inspired Career Day at Blank Rome's Los Angeles office. This educational career development day was designed to give students hands-on experience in business fundamentals. More than 60 ambitious high school seniors from the C5LA program were invited to create innovative business plans and pitch their ideas to a panel of distinguished judges composed of Blank Rome attorneys and clients.
Students then had the opportunity to further refine their business plans with guidance from more than 50 mentors from across various industries, such as philanthropy, real estate, entertainment, health care, fashion, hospitality, and STEM technology, as well as business advisers from finance, accounting, human resources, law, and public relations/marketing.
Encouraging the Development of Tomorrow’s Leaders
Efforts by organizations, such as Adopt-A-Center, are important for any number of reasons, but one in particular is the role they play in helping develop tomorrow’s compassionate leaders. I am reminded of the proverb: Give a person a fish, and they will eat for a day; teach a person how to fish, and they will eat for life. Our goal is to share our knowledge and teach these young people, so they can go on and pay it forward. For me, this is very inspiring.
Mentorship is something I have always felt passionate about. It is my personal belief that it is incumbent upon all of us to do good. My colleagues at Blank Rome, our clients, and many generous friends of the firm share this goal. I am proud of what we have accomplished and I am heartened when I see the young women and men who will be the business and civic leaders of the future.
"How Blank Rome's Adopt-A-Center Program Has Been Giving Back to the LA Community for 27 Years," by Stacy D. Phillips was published in The Recorder on December 4, 2025.
Reprinted with permission from the December 4, 2025, edition of The Recorder © 2025 ALM Global Properties, LLC. All rights reserved. Further duplication without permission is prohibited, contact 877-256-2472 or asset-and-logo-licensing@alm.com.
