Just in time for the holidays! Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C. (MWL) announces the formation of its Diversity and Community Outreach Committee. Its first major project successfully collected nearly 50 toys on behalf of Toys for Tots. These toys will be donated to children from underprivileged families in the community, making the holidays a little brighter for those in need. Committee members include: Alejandro Bautista, Stephanie Hill, Lauren Matthiesen, Timothy Pagel, and Richard Schuster. The committee is chaired by April Toy and overseen by Ryan Woody.
The formation of the Diversity and Community Outreach Committee only highlights MWL’s longstanding commitment to its community and to diversity. MWL has always encouraged its employees to become involved in various nonprofit, civic- or community-based organizations. MWL’s commitment is reflected at every level of the firm. Partner Gary Wickert has demonstrated civic commitment and charitable involvement as Capital Campaign Chair for the construction and establishment of Living Word Lutheran High School in Jackson, Wisconsin; Vice President of Ozaukee Youth Hockey Association, chairing their successful capital campaign and construction of a youth hockey ice rink in Mequon, Wisconsin; service to the Milwaukee Rescue Mission; serving on the board and teaching adult education at First Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, and, for the past 12 years, serving in local government as a Supervisor for the Town of Cedarburg. Partner Ryan Woody has a special interest in environmental and natural resources law. He is a member of the Natural Resources Division of the American Bar Association and serves as legal counsel to the Ruffed Grouse Society, a national wildlife conservation association. In that position, he deals with all aspects of Forest Service decision-making and its consequences on the forest’s stakeholders including industry, Native Americans, residents, and environmental interest groups. Associate Attorney April Toy serves on the Junior Board of the Aids Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW). The ARCW is an organization committed to promoting awareness about the AIDS epidemic and to providing medical, legal and other services to those afflicted by HIV and AIDS. Administrative Assistant Stephanie Hill serves as the Interim Vice President of the Alano Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering recovering persons to make productive changes in their everyday lives. MWL has also demonstrated a commitment to diversity as reflected in its hiring practices and its support for organizations such as the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee.
This Christmas discover a joy that can only be experienced by helping someone less fortunate than yourself – the joy of giving. The Christmas dinner dishes will be washed and put away; the gifts are often soon discarded or forgotten. What lasts is the love and charity shared during this special season. An ancient parable goes like this:
A woman who was traveling alone in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry so the woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his great fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the woman. “I’ve been thinking,” he said, “I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone.”
