“How can we do as much as possible for as many as possible?” Members of the Kemp Klein Foundation board asked this question in 2006 when looking for a local non-profit that would offer their attorneys and staff an opportunity to get personally involved. They found their answer at Common Ground, a 24-hour non-profit agency dedicated to helping youths, families and adults in all types of crisis situations.
Help comes in many forms
In five years’ time, Kemp Klein and its Foundation have given nearly $100,000 worth of monetary donations, goods and pro-bono work in addition to employee donations and volunteer time. The many sources of support have included: holiday gift donations from staff to low income families, school supplies for underprivileged children, unused office supplies, donations of used cell phones, a catered picnic for homeless youth with additional potluck foods provided by Kemp Klein staff, and more.
All of those activities were in addition to the firm’s actual sponsorship agreement with Common Ground which agrees to fund Common Ground’s support groups: Survivors of Homicide, Survivors of Suicide, Teen Girl Support Group and Love and Logic for Parents.
The Foundation also purchased much-needed learning tools for the support sessions, including: flyers to police stations and grief counselors to increase awareness of their programs, Survivors of Suicide cards, Grief After Suicide Handbook, Suicide Survivors Handbooks, Art Supplies and Journals for Teen Girl Support Group, Love and Logic Handbook for Parents, small TV with DVD player for showing videos during sessions and much more.
There are many reasons why the Foundation Board selected Common Ground: the quality and breadth of services they provide, the quality of its management and the variety of opportunities to get involved as a company. From the beginning, the relationship between the two organizations developed quickly and easily. It was simply a natural fit.
“We have a great organization to which we can channel our resources, donations and ideas – it’s a win-win,” says Kemp Klein CEO Ralph Castelli.
Common Ground helps for 40 years
This year, Common Ground celebrates 40 years of helping youths, adults and families in crisis. The agency’s 24-hour crisis hotline, youth and family services, emergency psychiatric services, support groups and other programs throughout Oakland County have been a lifeline for runaway and homeless youths, families in crisis situations, victims of crime, people with mental illnesses and others in critical situations. Common Ground serves more than 35,000 individuals per year and the agency received Honorable Mention in Crain’s Detroit Business Best Managed Non-Profit Contest. To learn more, you can visit their Web site at www.commongroundhelps.org.
Attorneys and staff formed the Kemp Klein Foundation in 1994 with proceeds from dress-down Fridays and contributions from the firm. Since its inception, the Foundation has contributed over $300,000 to hundreds of worthwhile causes. While the Kemp Klein Foundation still makes smaller monetary donations to a variety of local and national non-profits, its primary focus of involvement has become Common Ground.
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