The employees of Babst Calland take great pride in the towns where they live and work. As leaders in the community, we believe it is our responsibility to donate our time and talent to organizations that enrich our lives and help our region grow. Among other things, our attorneys serve on boards of cultural trusts, help raise money for medical research, increase environmental awareness and support the underserved members of our community.
Stefanie Pitcavage Mekilo Selected for YWCA’s 2025 Tribute to Women of Excellence Award
Stefanie Pitcavage Mekilo has been selected for the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg’s 2025 Tribute to Women of Excellence (TWE) Award as a member of the TWE Class of 2025. This regionally recognized, annual award recognizes leading female professionals and community volunteers who have devoted their time and energy to making Central Pennsylvania a better place to live and work.
An award ceremony will be held at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center on March 26, 2025. This year marks the 36th Anniversary of the Tribute to Women of Excellence event, at which well over 785 outstanding women who have made significant contributions to their communities and/or organizations have been honored.
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Attorney Christina Manfredi McKinley Appointed to Board of Trustees of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Eastern Great Lakes Region
Babst Calland Attorney Christina Manfredi McKinley was recently elected to the Pittsburgh Board of Trustees of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Eastern Great Lakes Region. She will serve a three-year term beginning July 1, 2024.
“I’m honored to serve on the Pittsburgh Board of Trustees and am thrilled to be a part of the team. I look forward to supporting LLS in its mission to find cures and ensure patients can access the lifesaving treatments they need,” said Ms. McKinley.
According to Tina Thompson, Region Executive Director for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Eastern Great Lakes Region, “Volunteer leaders like Christina help LLS advance our mission and change the landscape for all cancer patients and are a crucial link in our efforts to cure blood cancers and improve the quality of life of our patients and their families.”
Babst Calland Managing Shareholder Donald Bluedorn Receives Pittsburgh Bureau of Police “Recognition of Excellence” Award
Babst Calland Managing Shareholder Donald C. Bluedorn II recently was honored by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police with the “Recognition of Excellence” Award. The Bureau recognized Mr. Bluedorn for his work in volunteering to teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to active duty City police officers. Mr. Bluedorn also serves as a member of the Pedro Sauer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association’s Board of Governors.
Pictured: Donald Bluedorn with City of Pittsburgh Police Officers
Jess Barnes Leads Team at Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) One Walk
Attorney Jessica Barnes led a team for this year’s Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) One Walk at North Park.
JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Money raised from this Walk powers more research, enables more advocacy and funds more support for the 1.45 million Americans living with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
This year, the team raised over $5,000 and many participated in the walk! Click here to view the team page.
Babst Calland Attorneys Support the Neighborhood Legal Services Association in Allegheny County
Babst Calland attorneys Janet Meub, Jim Corbelli, Joseph Shaeffer, Anna Jewart, and Devlin Carey participate in the Neighborhood Legal Services Association’s Pro Bono Protection from Abuse Program in Allegheny County.
Babst Calland supports Neighborhood Legal Services in their commitment to provide equal access to justice for all residents in the region. Neighborhood Legal Services Association offers civil legal services to low-income individuals and families who are unable to afford a private attorney. The types of services include full legal representation, advice, assistance in self-representation or brief service/limited legal assistance.
Babst Calland Receives ACBA ALLY Certification in Diversity and Inclusion
Babst Calland earned certification from the Allegheny County Bar Association as part of the inaugural cohort of the ALLY Initiative.
ALLY stands for Attorneys, Learning as allies, Living as allies, and Yielding results. The ACBA Ally initiative was created “to engage attorneys, their law firms, corporate legal departments, courts and other legal organizations to commit to increase inclusivity, create equitable workplaces, empower historically marginalized and underrepresented members of the bar and reflect the community we serve, through active participation in various key programs and projects targeted to achieve these objectives.” Click here, to read more.
Babst Calland Continues to Support the ACBA Law Firm Leadership Circle
Babst Calland continues to support the Allegheny County Bar Association and 2021-2022 Law Firm Leadership Circle campaign to continue to provide much-needed support to our community and profession. For more information about ACBA and its Pro Bono Center Gratitude Report, click here.
Babst Calland Supports the Allegheny County Parks Foundation
Babst Calland is glad to support the Allegheny County Parks Foundation and its mission to strengthen the health and vibrancy of our community by improving, conserving and restoring the nine parks in our region. The Allegheny County Parks Foundation raises public and private funds from foundations, corporations, state and federal grant programs and individuals to design and implement projects to benefit the parks for generations to come. To learn more about the parks in our region, view this video:
Babst Calland Sponsors The Education Partnership Adopt-a-School Program
Babst Calland is glad to sponsor the Adopt-a-School program with The Education Partnership to provide essential school supplies to the teachers and kids at the Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Academy. Each student receives their very own Power Tools Homework Kit. For more information about the Adopt-a-School program, click here.
Chester R. Babst III Spearheads Cultural Trust Legal Society – 18 Downtown Law Firms Donate $1.2 million to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Eighteen of Pittsburgh’s leading law firms are donating $1.2 million to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The firms have formed the Cultural Trust Legal Society, a group that will give $240,000 in annual support through 2015 to help offset cuts from state, corporations and foundations and balance the trust’s $51 million annual budget. The donation from each firm will be based on the number lawyers in their Pittsburgh offices.
Spearheaded by Cultural Trust Board Members, Chip Babst, founding shareholder at Babst Calland, and Thomas VanKirk, the Cultural Trust Legal Society was created in response to the shifting landscape of the economic environment and financial support for the arts.
“The Legal Society members recognize the tremendous contribution the Cultural Trust has made to the quality of life in our region—for residents, visitors and members of the business community,” said Mr. Babst. “The member firms of the newly-formed Legal Society recognize the significant benefits created by the Trust and have joined together to pledge their financial support so that this wonderful organization can continue to provide the region with world-class performing and visual arts events, as well as redevelop major sections of downtown Pittsburgh.”
The Cultural Trust, which transformed a blighted area of Downtown into the Cultural District, offers a variety of arts programming and develops real estate. In addition to offering free programming, the Cultural Trust subsidizes Downtown arts performances as much as 50 percent, except Broadway tours.
“We’re extremely grateful for the generosity of the Legal Society Members,” noted J. Kevin McMahon, President and CEO, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. “Having such a significant and meaningful financial commitment comes from a collective group made up of competing businesses is truly unique and clearly shows the commitment of the members of the Legal Society to this region and its residents. It is an extraordinary example of the Pittsburgh legal community taking the initiative to help support the important mission of the Cultural Trust.”
Crossroads Foundation Names New Headquarters
The Crossroads Foundation, which helps disadvantaged teens achieve success at Catholic high schools, has launched a $5 million campaign and dedicated its new headquarters in Pittsburgh’s Point Breeze neighborhood April 12.
The new Calland Center, which will provide a centralized, student-focused space to expand Crossroads programming, is named for longtime supporters Dean and Mary Frailey Calland.
Founded in 1988, Crossroads offers students a chance to attend Catholic high schools and provides critical afterschool and summer support programs. The foundation is set to graduate its 500th student in June and have its first student earn a full academic scholarship to an Ivy League school (University of Pennsylvania).
Dean is a founding shareholder of Babst Calland and has provided more than 15 years of leadership to Crossroads Foundation. He is president of the foundation’s board, and he and his wife Mary are co-chairs of the Aspire campaign.
He said the campaign will enable Crossroads to improve and help more students break the cycle of poverty.
Babst Calland Board Chair Chris Farmakis and his family participated in the Hampton Township School District virtual “Porch Concerts”
Babst Calland Board Chair Chris Farmakis and his family participated in the Hampton Township School District virtual “Porch Concerts” on March 31, 2020. The night of concerts was organized by the District’s music teachers to facilitate a sense of community while practicing social distancing during the school closures related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Farmakis family created lyrics and sang for the “porch concert” in their neighborhood with an important message for us all.
Read more. To view and listen to the Farmakis performance, click here.
Babst Calland Supports the Dollar Energy Fund’s Cool Down for Warmth Campaign
Attorney Paul Atencio spent time in the ice house in Market Square on January 24, 2020 to raise money for the Dollar Energy Fund’s Cool Down for Warmth Campaign. All donations are matched from a partnering utility company and go directly to those in need.
For more information about the Dollar Energy Fund, click here. To donate to the campaign, click here.
Babst Calland Supports the Muscular Dystrophy Association
Babst Calland supports a wide variety of charitable and civic efforts each year. Historically, the Firm has also selected one major charitable or civic effort around which to mobilize its collective talents and energies. This year, the Firm will once again support the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Part of the MDA’s efforts involves a walk each spring called the MDA Muscle Walk of Pittsburgh. Comprised of Firm employees and their family and friends, “Team Reid” will be raising money and participating in this year’s walk which will be held on May 18, 2019 at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.
For more information about the MDA Muscle Walk of Pittsburgh, click here. To donate to Team Reid, click here.
Babst Calland Supports the Allegheny County Parks Foundation
Babst Calland joined the Allegheny County Parks Foundation for its Twilight Picnic for the Parks on Saturday, August 25, 2018. The Allegheny County Parks Foundation raises funds at events such as this to restore and improve the parks for generations to come. Pictured are attorneys Carl A. Ronald, Donald C. Bluedorn II, and Christian A. Farmakis with Honorary Chair, Rich Fitzgerald. Chester R. Babst III (not pictured) served on the Leadership Committee, and the firm was a corporate sponsor of the event.
Babst Calland Employees Donate Nearly $33,000 to American Heart Association
Babst Calland has participated in the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk at Heinz Field. Every dollar donated by employees was matched by the firm, totaling nearly $33,000. Employees turned out for the walk with their spouses, children and even their pets. The Babst Calland contingent comprised more than 145 walkers and was recognized as one of the top companies by the American Heart Association and the Walk Executive Leadership Team.
Dean Calland, one of the firm’s founding shareholders, noted, “I am proud that the people of Babst Calland are continuing to make a meaningful difference in this community and are helping to protect our families and friends from the ravages of heart disease and stroke.”
