For Release: May 1, 2008
Contact: J. Tucker Martin or David Clementson
Email: tucker.martin@oag.state.va.us or dclementson@oag.state.va.us
Phone: 804-786-2071
McDonnell Announces Second Annual Statewide 'Legal Food Frenzy' Raises Over 1.3 Million Pounds of Food
Goal was 1 Million Pounds; Doubles Total from Last Year
Donations Enough to Provide 1,067,501 Meals
-Winner of 'Attorney General’s Cup': Schettine & Nguyen PLC of Richmond-
Richmond- Attorney General Bob McDonnell announced today the results of the Second Annual Statewide “Legal Food Frenzy.” The philanthropic competition among Virginia’s legal community raised 1,366,401 pounds of food for Food Banks in the Commonwealth, enough food for 1,067,501 meals. This doubles last year’s total of almost 679,000 pounds raised. The goal for this year’s event was 1 million pounds.
The “Legal Food Frenzy” is a statewide food drive competition for the Commonwealth’s legal community, and ran from March 31-April 11. 181 law firms statewide participated in this year’s event.
Winning the “Attorney General’s Cup” for the law firm that raised the most food per capita was Schettine & Nguyen, PLC in Richmond. The firm has 3 lawyers, and 7 staff members. Attorney General McDonnell relayed the news in a 2PM phone call with Angela Schettine, Jim Schettine, and Nhon Nguyen of the firm. The firm raised 4,187.75 pounds of food per capita.
Speaking about the results of this year’s event, Attorney General McDonnell noted, “I can’t say enough about the way the Virginia legal community has embraced the “Legal Food Frenzy.” To raise over 1.3 million pounds of food, in only the second year of this event, is incredible. Thousands of Virginians will receive the nutritional meals they desperately need because of the generosity of Virginia’s legal professionals. It is an honor to be a part of this event, and I hope it will continue for decades to come. This event demonstrates all that is good about our Commonwealth and our citizens.”
Leslie Van Horn, Executive Director, Federation of Virginia Food Banks, added, “At a time when we are seeing a surge of individuals and families looking for assistance from their local food bank, the incredible generosity of the legal community will be felt throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. We are in awe of this year’s Legal Food Frenzy results!”
The Virginia Bar Association partnered with Federation of Virginia Food Banks and Attorney General Bob McDonnell for the Second Annual Statewide “Legal Food Frenzy.” The Attorney General specifically wishes to thank Katja Hill, Co-Chair of the Legal Food Frenzy Project of the Virginia Bar Association and a lawyer at LeClair Ryan in Richmond, and Chris Gill, Co-Chair of the Legal Food Frenzy Project of the Virginia Bar Association and a lawyer at Christian & Barton in Richmond for their leadership in this effort. He also thanks Derek Swanson, a lawyer at McGuireWoods LLC in Richmond, and Cherie Givens from Hirschler Fleischer in Richmond, who both served on the planning committee for this year’s event. Finally, the Attorney General thanks the Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association for their leadership and vision in initiating the Hampton Roads “Legal Food Frenzy” in 1990, and for their continued guidance in the orchestration of the statewide version of the event.
The winners of the Second Annual Statewide “Legal Food Frenzy” are:
Schettine & Nguyen, PLC (Richmond)
4187.75 pounds per person
Schettine & Nguyen, PLC (Richmond)
33,502 pounds
Schettine & Nguyen, PLC (Richmond)
4,187.75 pounds per person
Christian and Barton, LLP (Richmond)
64,716.32 pounds
McKenry, Dancigers, Dawson & Lake (Virginia Beach)
967.42 pounds per person
McGuireWoods LLP
225,778.40 pounds
Vandeventer Black LLP
615.40 pounds per person
Thomas A. Louthan (Winchester) 400 pounds
Lumsden & Overstreet (Roanoke) 400 pounds
Regent University Law School (Virginia Beach) 12, 946.16 pounds, 36.37 pounds per person
Every regional Food Bank in Virginia benefited from this competition. Totals for each region are as follows:
Food Bank Total Pounds % Increase from 2007
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank 65,393.60 102.6 %
Capital Area Food Bank (Northern VA) 187,118.12 399.9 %
Central Virginia Food Bank 650,571.24 117.4 %
Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia 371,111.10 42 %
Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula 10,645.60 98.5 %
Fredericksburg Area Food Bank 21,089 74.4 %
Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank 60,472 95.7 %
The Federation of Virginia Food Banks is a Commonwealth association of food banks affiliated with America's Second Harvest—The Nation’s Food Bank Network and is the largest hunger relief networks in the Commonwealth. The Federation is composed of the 7 regional Virginia and Washington DC food banks, consisting of facilities in 14 strategic locations. The Federation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation created to support the food banks in providing food, funding, education, advocacy, and awareness services and programs throughout the Commonwealth.
