Serving the Community
Since its founding in 1953, Gordon Feinblatt has made a commitment to supporting the people of Maryland.
With the development of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) role and initiative, we created an annual report highlighting some of the projects we completed within the past year.
Welcome to the first video in the series “Up Close and Personal” where we share with you who we are and why we do what we do. Our CSR Administrator Alex Montanio provides a quick insight into our CSR initiative, what it entails, why she enjoys the role and her goal for this position.
History
Eugene Feinblatt, co-founder of the firm, was a great contributor to the development of the State of Maryland and the City of Baltimore. Continuing this tradition, Gordon Feinblatt is committed to supporting the community in which we live and work.
Pro Bono
Our lawyers provide pro bono legal counsel to individuals and organizations of limited financial means. We work closely with a number of organizations, including the Public Justice Center, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, The Community Law Center, The Legal Aid Bureau, The Women’s Law Center, and Advocates for Children and Youth. The firm accepts hundreds of pro bono cases annually, representing more than 1,300 hours of pro bono time.
Organizations We Support
In addition, our team volunteers thousands of hours each year to support the work of over 100 non-profits through a combination of direct volunteering, board and committee service, and pro bono legal services.
Some of the organizations we have worked with recently include:
- Al-Rahmah School Educational Trust
- American Red Cross Central Maryland Chapter
- Arts Everyday
- Associated Jewish Charities
- Back on My Feet
- Baltimore American Indian Center
- Baltimore Bar Foundation
- Baltimore Bay Youth Soccer Program
- Baltimore Courthouse Museum & Law Museum Foundation
- Baltimore Jewish Council
- Baltimore Museum of Art
- Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
- Baltipreneur Program at Loyola University
- Bar Association of Baltimore City
- Beth Am Synagogue
- Beth Tfiloh Congregation
- Business Volunteers Maryland
- CollegeBound Foundation
- Commercial Real Estate Women
- Community Housing Associates, Inc.
- Compass, Inc.
- Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- Ellie Foundation
- EMC Performing Arts Studio
- Enoch Pratt Library
- Executive Alliance
- Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland
- Freedom Service Dogs of America
- Fuel Fund of Maryland
- GEDCO
- Girl Scouts of Central Maryland
- Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake
- Goucher College
- Habitat for Humanity
- Harford Family House
- Haverford College
- House of Ruth
- Innovation Works
- Kennedy Krieger Institute
- Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital
- Lifebridge Health
- Loyola Selllinger School of Business
- Loyola University of Maryland Pre-Law Society
- Make Studio
- Maryland Bankers Association
- Maryland Bar Foundation, Inc.
- Maryland Building Industry Association
- Maryland Family Network
- Maryland Food Bank
- Maryland Legal Aid
- Maryland Legal Services Corporation
- Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
- Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
- Maryland SPCA
- Maryland Women’s Bar Association Foundation
- NAACP
- Office of the Attorney General Thurgood Marshall Clerkship Program
- Pathfinders, Inc
- Professional Women in Building Council
- Public Justice Center
- Simon E. Sobeloff Jewish Law Society
- Springboard Community Services
- Society of St. Sulpice
- St. Ignatius Loyola Academy
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
- St. Paul’s School
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Tastewise Kids
- Teach for America
- Thread
- The Associated: Jewish Community Federation
- The Johns Hopkins University
- The League for People With Disabilities
- The Maryland Zoo
- There Goes My Hero Foundation
- United Way of Central Maryland
- United Way of Central Maryland Emerging Leaders United
- University of Baltimore Law School Foundation
- University of Baltimore School of Law
- University of Maryland Law School Foundation
- University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
- Women’s Law Center of Maryland
CEC Signature Project 2024
In June, we partnered with Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake to complete our Signature Project for 2024. One group worked on homes, while another helped clean and stock donations of furniture and building supplies at a ReStore.
Our Community Engagement Committee partnered with local charities Sharp Dressed Man and Urban Families for a professional clothing drive. These local nonprofits collect professional clothing and partner with workforce development programs that help to prepare candidates for job interviews.
Our Community Engagement Committee hosted a toy and clothing drive in partnership with the ALA Maryland Chapter to support Paul's Place, Inc. Paul's Place is a local nonprofit that provides programs, services and support for families in Southwest Baltimore.
Gordon Feinblatt has been a proud sponsor of Kennedy Krieger Institute’s annual Festival of Trees, which raises funds to support patients and their families. In 2022, the tree's theme "Climate Change" was decorated by members of the Community Engagement Committee (center and right) and one of our newest Associates (left).
In Fall 2022, the Community Engagement Committee (CEC) partnered with TasteWise Kids and Commodore John Rodgers Elementary School to explore and encourage positive eating habits for children.
In June 2022, we completed our Signature Community Project. A group of volunteers, including lawyers, administrative staff and interns spent two days beautifying the outdoor space for students at Ben Franklin High School. The project was completed in partnership with the United Way of Central Maryland.
Gordon Feinblatt has been a proud sponsor of Kennedy Krieger Institute’s annual Festival of Trees dedicated to raising funds to support patients and their families. In 2021, the tree's theme "Holiday Feels with Teal" was decorated by the new Associates.
In the spirit of giving, members of the Community Engagement Committee and their family members volunteered on November 17, 2021, at the Maryland Food Bank in Halethorpe, MD.
To celebrate Veterans Day in 2021, our Community Engagement Committee in partnership with the United Way of Central Maryland invited firm personnel to participate in a supply drive to assemble “comfort kits” for veterans experiencing homelessness.
Gordon Feinblatt donated computers, monitors and phones to PCs for People in Maryland after relocating to our new offices on Fleet Street in April 2021. The devices will be refurbished and distributed to families and nonprofits across Maryland to help close the digital divide.
Gordon Feinblatt has been a proud sponsor of Kennedy Krieger Institute’s annual Festival of Trees, which raises funds to support patients and their families. In 2020, the tree with the theme “Frozen Extravaganza” was decorated in a socially distanced affair by members of the Community Engagement Committee.
Gordon Feinblatt hosted its first Ice Cream for a Cause in April 2020. The event was organized to support the Maryland Food Bank and the United Way of Central Maryland in their continual efforts to assist those impacted by COVID-19. All contributors were entered into a raffle. Raffle winner Sharon Hall received six pints of ice cream from Taharka Brothers.
On December 13, 2019, Gordon Feinblatt sponsored the students from ¡Adelante Latina! for a cookie reception before they headed to the Everyman Theatre to see the performance of Murder on the Orient Express. ¡Adelante Latina! is a free, after-school academic enrichment and college preparatory program for promising Latina girls attending Baltimore City high schools.
In 2019 for the firm's holiday toy drive, Gordon Feinblatt donated toys to United Way of Central Maryland's Holiday Pop-Ups. The Holiday Pop-Ups allow those in need to learn about services offered by United Way and to pick up Christmas gifts for their children.
Each year, Gordon Feinblatt participates in the Kennedy Krieger Institute's Festival of Trees, which raises funds for children with disabilities and their families. This year, our theme was "All That Glitters is Gold." Representatives from our Real Estate team, Danielle Zoller and Sharon Hall, did an excellent job decorating our gorgeous gold tree.
To celebrate Veterans Day, each floor at Gordon Feinblatt collected a different supply to stock "comfort kits" for homeless veterans. On November 11, 2019, the firm packed the kits and sent them to Mission United via United Way of Central Maryland. Thank you to each and every member of our military, past and present.
On November 6, 2019, Alex Montanio, Delores Elias and Shawn Baldwin attended Milford Mill Academy's Mock Interview Day. Members of Gordon Feinblatt served as volunteer interviewers, giving the high school students an opportunity to learn about career preparedness.
On October 26, 2019, Gordon Feinblatt colleagues (from left) Eva Kessler, David Musgrave and Kristin Ferraro attended the Alzheimer's Association's Walk to End Alzheimer’s. These walks are held in communities worldwide, making this event the largest in raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.
On June 8, 2019, Gordon Feinblatt attorneys, staff and family members volunteered at the Special Olympics Maryland 2019 Summer Games. Special Olympics Maryland supports more than 7,700 children and adult athletes with intellectual disabilities from across the state in free sports training and competition programs throughout the year. Our volunteers included Carol Ghingher Cooper, Kristin Ferraro, Bob Gaumont, James Handley, Lauren Lake, Kathy McAllister, Alex Montanio, Bill Shaughnessey and their families.
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Gordon Feinblatt collected donations in support of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in May 2019. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
On May 17, 2019, a group of Gordon Feinblatt's young professionals attended United Way of Central Maryland's Emerging Leaders United (ELU) Young Professionals Conference. At the firm-sponsored the conference, Lauren Lake was recognized as a Philanthropic Five Award winner. Attendees included Bryan Mull, Chastity Threadcraft, Alex Montanio and Kristin Ferraro. ELU is a group of passionate 21- to 40-year-olds actively seeking ways to give, advocate and volunteer to make our community a better place while furthering their own professional growth.
On May 5, 2019, Gordon Feinblatt sponsored a group of Baltimore City high school students active in ¡Adelante Latina! to attend The Diary of Anne Frank at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. A group of volunteers, including Todd Chason, Allan Serrano, Alex Montanio and James Benjamin, hosted the students to refreshments and conversation prior to the show. ¡Adelante Latina! is a free, after-school academic enrichment and college preparatory program for promising Latina girls attending Baltimore City high schools.
On April 27, 2019, a group of attorneys and staff, including (from left) Alex Montanio, Ashley Rosenblatt, Andrew Wichmann, Lauren Lake and Kristin Ferraro, participated in the inaugural DC5K, helping to raise more than $10,000 for Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) student scholarships and programs. More than 63,000 students enroll at CCBC every year, including everyone from recent high school graduates to lifetime learners. CCBC strives to reduce roadblocks to higher education by providing scholarships and book grants to students. Approximately 51% of CCBC students receive some sort of financial aid.
In recognition of Earth Day, Gordon Feinblatt participated in a community cleanup of Bear Creek Park and Shoreline on April 13, 2019. The event was led by a local nonprofit, Clean Bread and Cheese Creek Community Cleanups, in conjunction with American Rivers, Trash Free Maryland, National Public Lands Day and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay as part of their annual Project Clean Stream. Alex Montanio and Ashley Rosenblatt collected trash and recyclables along the shore of Bear Creek in a historic park where British and American troops set up positions during the War of 1812.
On April 12, 2019, the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) Young Lawyers Section (YLS) hosted its 28th Annual Charity Event at The Baltimore Museum of Art to benefit Capital Area Immigrants' Rights (CAIR) Coalition. Gordon Feinblatt was pleased to sponsor this event and have several lawyers attend, including (from left) Andrew Wichmann; Lauren Lake, co-chair of the MSBA YLS Activities Committee, which plans and hosts this event; Alex Montanio; and Bob Gaumont. CAIR Coalition fights for equal justice for all immigrants at risk of detention and deportation in the Washington, DC area and beyond.
Gordon Feinblatt's attorneys and staff donated 184 toys for the United Way of Central Maryland's Holiday Pop-Up Market on December 8, 2018. The Holiday Pop-Up Market is a one-stop winter wonderland for families in need where they can choose free gifts for family members, get healthy food and personal items, and make use of resources, including health screenings, tax preparation, flu shots and job recruitment. From left, Kristin Ferraro, Danielle Zoller and Alex Montanio, along with other members of the firm's Community Engagement Committee, helped organize the toy drive and are featured in this video about the Holiday Pop-Up Market.
In April 2019, Gordon Feinglatt attorneys and staff donated 11 boxes of clothing, nine full suits, 55 shirts and 12 jackets to the Harambee Center, Dress for Success and Sharp Dressed Man. On April 10, 2019, Lauren Lake, an Associate who helped coordinate the clothing drive, educated children at the Harambee Center about her job as an attorney and how to dress professionally. The Harambee Center is open year-round providing a supportive, safe environment where students can receive tutoring, trauma-informed programming, and exposure to arts and cultural enrichments.
On January 23, 2019, a group of Gordon Feinblatt attorneys and staff, including (from left) Donna Ferguson, Mary Jo Ford, Bryan Mull, James Handley, Meghan Young, Alex Montanio, Caroline Nurmi, Chris Magette, Kristin Ferraro, Michele Walsh, Chastity Threadcraft and Chris Rahl, helped sort and package 390 food kits at the Maryland Food Bank. Each day, the Maryland Food Bank, based in Halethorpe, MD, distributes more than 112,000 meals to local shelters, food pantries, faith-based organizations and schools.
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a group of Gordon Feinblatt attorneys and staff, including (from left to right) Lauren Lake, Bob Gaumont, Alex Montanio, Kristin Ferraro, Ashley Rosenblatt and Danielle Zoller, participated in a day of service at Second Chance on January 21, 2019. Second Chance provides people, materials and the environment with a second chance. They deconstruct buildings and houses, salvage usable materials and make those available to the public. With the revenue generated, Second Chance provides job training and workforce development for those with employment obstacles in the Baltimore region.
On December 1, 2018, (from left) Lauren Lake, Ashley Rosenblatt, Andrew Wichmann and Alex Montanio participated in a 5K run to benefit Santa Claus Anonymous. Santa Claus Anonymous provides anonymous assistance in the form of gift certificates redeemable at local merchants in the Baltimore area to aid families in the purchase of toys, clothing or books for holiday presents to bring Christmas to more than 30,000 children every year.
Gordon Feinblatt is an annual sponsor of the Kennedy Krieger Institute's Festival of Trees to raise funds for children with disabilities and their families. Each year, a group from the firm creates an annual theme, shops for supplies and decorates the Gordon Feinblatt tree, including this silver bells-themed tree by members of our Real Estate team for the November 2018 festival. The festival continues to increase awareness of the institute’s work by creating a spectacular event for the greater Baltimore community to enjoy.
On November 12, 2018, Gordon Feinblatt hosted a United Service Organization (USO) Pack 4 Troops service project in honor of Veteran's Day and the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Attorneys and staff donated snacks and supplies, wrote notes of gratitude and encouragement, and assembled 113 care packages, which the USO will distribute to local service members. The USO strengthens U.S. military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country throughout their service to the nation.
On November 10, 2018, Ken Aneckstein and Alex Montanio participated in the Paul's Place Huff & Puff 5K. Paul’s Place provides programs, services and support that strengthen individuals and families, fostering hope, personal dignity and growth in the Washington Village/Pigtown neighborbood and the surrounding Southwest Baltimore communities.
In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Gordon Feinblatt attorneys and staff participated in a "Wear Pink and Jeans Day" on October 19, 2018. The firm raised money and showed its support for the Susan G. Komen Foundation that helps save lives by ensuring that all people receive the care they need and works to find breakthroughs to prevent and cure breast cancer.
On October 12, 2018, Gordon Feinblatt hosted a swabbing event for There Goes My Hero (TGMH). All personnel were invited to join the DKMS bone marrow registry or make a monetary contribution to TGMH. TGMH is a local nonprofit that aims to increase registered bone marrow donors and provide nutritious meals to blood cancer patients undergoing treatment and their families. Michele Bresnick Walsh, pictured between Ashley Rosenblatt (left) and Gina D'Angelo, serves as President of the Board of TGMH and is a cancer survivor.
On October 6, 2018, a group of volunteers from Gordon Feinblatt and the University of Maryland and University of Baltimore chapters of the Black Law Student Association participated in the Civic Works Ricky Myers Day of Service. The Day of Service brought together hundreds of volunteers to work on a various projects from painting schools to creating community gardens and cleaning up parks. Among those pictured include Lauren Lake, Alex Montanio, Bob Gaumont and Donna Ferguson.
In June 2018, Gordon Feinblatt hosted a book drive to benefit the Maryland Book Bank. For two weeks, firm personnel donated more than 772 books. Caroline Nurmi led the drive. The Maryland Book Bank, based in Baltimore City, has provided more than 1.8 million books to children, teachers, schools and other organizations, saving those who received the books more than $14 million and providing vital educational resources to those in need.
On August 3, 2018, a group of Gordon Feinblatt attorneys and staff, including Chase Tweel, Bryan Mull, Andrew Wichmann, James Handley, Chris Magette, Chris Rahl, Meghan Young, Kristin Ferraro and Alex Montanio, participated in the AT&T Sneaks Come Out at Night run to support Back on My Feet Baltimore. Back on My Feet is a national organization operating in 12 major cities coast to coast to combat homelessness through the power of running, community support, and essential employment and housing resources.
On June 9, 2018, a group of Gordon Feinblatt attorneys, staff and family members volunteered at the Special Olympics Maryland 2018 Summer Games. Through sports, Special Olympics strives to create a world where opportunity is not limited by disability.
On June 2, 2018, Ashley Rosenblatt (left) and Kristin Ferraro volunteered at City of Refuge Baltimore (formerly Baltimore Dream Center). City of Refuge Baltimore hosts various programs in five key impact areas, health and wellness, housing, human trafficking, vocational training, and youth development, to support our community, regardless of color, class or circumstance.
On January 26, 2018, a group of Gordon Feinblatt attorneys, including (from left) Chastity Threadcraft, Chase Tweel, Caroline Nurmi, Christopher Rahl and James Handley, volunteered for lunch service at Our Daily Bread in Baltimore City. Each day, Our Daily Bread provides a hot meal to more than 700 people in Baltimore City.
Gordon Feinblatt is an annual sponsor of the Kennedy Krieger Institute's Festival of Trees to raise funds for children with disabilities and their families. Each year, staff of the firm creates an annual theme, shops for supplies and decorates the Gordon Feinblatt tree, including this "Simply Christmas"-themed tree for the November 2017 festival. The festival continues to increase awareness of the institute’s work by creating a spectacular event for the greater Baltimore community to enjoy.
On November 15 2017, Gordon Feinblatt launched its annual Lawyers’ Campaign Against Hunger (LCAH) fundraising campaign. Through the Maryland Food Bank, the LCAH brings dedicated Maryland attorneys together to combat food insecurity in Maryland. Every dollar donated makes two meals available to the 1 in 7 food-insecure individuals in our state. Michele Bresnick Walsh (pictured front row, third from the left) serves on the Executive Committee, and Chastity Threadcraft is a member of the Young Lawyers Subcommittee.
On November 11, 2017, (from left) James Handley, Alex Montanio and Chris Rahl participated in the Paul's Place Huff & Puff 5K. Paul’s Place provides programs, services and support that strengthen individuals and families, fostering hope, personal dignity and growth in the Washington Village/Pigtown neighborbood and the surrounding Southwest Baltimore communities.
The Gordon Feinblatt relay team for the 2017 Baltimore Running Festival on October 21, 2017, including (from left) Andrew Wichmann, Chase Tweel, Bryan Mull and Christopher Rahl, is proud to raise funds and awareness for the Helping Up Mission. The monies raised will support Helping Up Mission's programs and services for more than 400 men and 60 women breaking the grips of hopelessness, homelessness, and alcohol and drug addictions.
In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the firm's Race for the Cure team, Gordon Feinblatt attorneys and staff participated in Pink Friday. On October 15, 2017, the firm's Race for the Cure team ran in the 2017 Susan G. Komen Maryland Race for the Cure. The Susan G. Komen Maryland mission is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.
Thanks to the generosity of 59 Gordon Feinblatt employees, some of whom are pictured here, the firm raised $4,305 for the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund in September 2017. The fund was designed to support the immediate and long-term relief and reconstruction efforts aiding the families and businesses who have been devastated by Hurricane Harvey. As a thank you to our attorneys and staff for contributing, the firm enacted a "Blue Jeans for a Cause" Friday dress code.
On July 12, 2017, Gordon Feinblatt attorneys, (from left) Chris Rahl, Chastity Threadcraft, Alex Montanio, Peter Rosenwald, Michele Bresnick Walsh, Bryan Mull and Leslie Cumber, helped sort and package food and supplies at Maryland Food Bank. Each day, the Maryland Food Bank, based in Halethorpe, MD, distributes more than 112,000 meals to local shelters, food pantries, faith-based organizations and schools.
On June 17, 2017, Gordon Feinblatt Associates Alex Montanio, Brian Mull and Chase Tweel and two assistants, Connie Horan and Phyllis Henderson, partnered with the Dundalk Renaissance Corporation and Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) to provide free expungement services for Dundalk residents. In one day, the team helped 10 area residents have all parts of their criminal records expunged.
On March 6, 2017, a team of Gordon Feinblatt attorneys and staff, including (from left) Ashley Rosenblatt, Chastity Threadcraft, Chris Rahl, Richard Topaz, Michele Bresnick Walsh and Leslie Cumber, volunteered for lunch service at Helping Up Mission. Helping Up Mission is a community of hope, helping men fighting addiction and homelessness get their lives back.
Since 2007, Gordon Feinblatt has sponsored the annual Kennedy Krieger Institute's Festival of Trees to raise funds for children with disabilities and their families. Each year, staff of the firm creates an annual theme, shops for supplies and decorates the Gordon Feinblatt tree, including this garden-themed tree for the 2016 festival. The festival continues to increase awareness of the institute’s work by creating a spectacular event for the greater Baltimore community to enjoy.
As Secretary of the Board of Directors of Harford Family House, Laura Johnson, a Member of the firm, (pictured on the left) played an active role in the organization's 8th Annual Hope in Handbags event on November 5, 2016, which featured a silent auction and retail sale for new and gently used designer handbags. The money raised at this event helps Harford Family House provide housing and support to homeless families with children in Harford County, MD.
Gordon Feinblatt sponsored a team of attorneys and staff for the 2016 Susan G. Komen Maryland Race for the Cure. Lisa Jacobs-Brown, Diana Hoppert, Kathy McAllister, Robyn Seabrease and Christina Franetovich (top row from left) and Alex Montanio and Chasity Threadcraft (bottom row from left) participated in the race. The Susan G. Komen Maryland mission is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.
As Chairman of the Board of Directors of Maryland Food Bank, Peter Rosenwald, II, a Member of Gordon Feinblatt, (pictured on the right, in orange) advocates the firm's engagement with the organization. On September 20, 2016, Peter was invited on-field to receive donations from OriolesREACH and United Concordia Dental to benefit the organization. Maryland Food Bank is a nonprofit leading the movement to end hunger in Maryland.