On Friday, September 7th, students and young associates at Harrison Pensa LLP held the annual Harrison Pensa United Way Pancake Breakfast.
With these goals in mind, Harrison Pensa’s students and young associates, outfitted in chef’s hats and smiles, cooked up pancakes for the firm. United Way of London & Middlesex supports dozens of community projects focused on alleviating poverty and mental health in London. The United Way also helps immigrants, young children and abused women regain self-confidence and reach their full potential through community engagement. The United Way’s Vision is a noble one: A community where everyone matters.
The preparation started the night before as Andy Rady and I headed to the grocery store to buy supplies. The boxes of mix, bottles of syrup, fruit, chocolate chips, juices and utensils were all generously donated by the firm. Admission to the Pancake Breakfast was granted by flashing a Harrison Pensa United Way Passport, which staff and lawyers purchased through a donation. Once inside, hungry Harrison Pensanites were treated to a variety of pancake flavours including chocolate chip, blueberry and chocolate swirl. Toppings were abundant and the juice and coffee flowed as the firm assembled to support a great cause.
In the kitchen, Jon Dunlop, a Family Law Associate experienced in the art of cooking breakfast for the firm, taught my fellow articling students Andrew Wood and Brad Adams the trick to creating a multitude of perfect pancakes. The trick is, and I can verify this through my observation of Brad’s initial struggles, lots of oil and small pancakes. Not enough oil and the pancakes stick. If too much batter is used, the pancakes will form one giant pancake, which, although delicious, will be aesthetically lacking. Mana Khami, who organized the breakfast, taught me to mix batter to the proper consistency while Insurance Defense Associate Brent Hodge made coffee. Sarah Graham and Rob Gain, two Class Actions lawyers, ensured the assembly line was running smoothly and that the buffet of pancakes and toppings was fully stocked.
As the students and young associates were busy in the kitchen, lawyers and staff congregated around the massive table in the third floor boardroom and enjoyed a morning of socializing and piles of pancakes. Partners, associates and staff members alike came together to enjoy a morning dedicated to community improvement. The Pancake Breakfast raised $1,934.00 to support United Way-funded community programs such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters of London, the Mutual Aid Parenting Program at the Children’s Aid Society, the Horton Street Senior’s Centre, the London Employment Help Centre, the Ontario March of Dimes, Meals on Wheels London and St. Joseph’s Hospice London-Middlesex to name a few.
Today, Harrison Pensa climbers took part in the 2012 United Way Stair Climb. We climbed the 25 flights of stairs at One London Place in support of United Way and its programs. Altogether the Harrison Pensa has raised over $3,500.00 in support of United Way. United Way’s 2012 Campaign Goal in London Middlesex is $8.75 million. We, at Harrison Pensa, are up to the challenge. We’ll make and devour all the pancakes necessary to do our part.
Blog Post by Lauren McLean
