Capitol Elementary School Dedicates Student-Made Mural to Quarles & Brady to Mark 25th Anniversary of Partnership, Support
To commemorate the national law firm of Quarles & Brady’s 25th anniversary of service and partnership with Capitol Elementary School in Phoenix, the firm was honored on May 19 with a custom mural, conceptualized and crafted by students on campus to symbolize each of the classes for which the firm has helped to provide mentorship and support through the years.
“Through this program, Quarles & Brady team members and partners roll up their sleeves to take on the roles of tutors and homeroom parents in classes several times a year. In addition, the firm fundraises to support and put on special school events, including field trips to Boston and Washington, D.C.,” said Nicole Stanton, Phoenix office managing partner of Quarles & Brady and past Capitol Elementary School homeroom parent volunteer. “Capitol Elementary School strives to create a healthy learning environment where students are given a quality education that includes the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens—we respect that and want to do everything we can to help.”
According to Stanton, the launch of the program actually predates Quarles & Brady as it is known today.
“In 1990, Jim LeValley, the then-chairman of Streich Lang Law Firm in Phoenix—which would later be known as Quarles & Brady Streich Lang and eventually shortened to Quarles & Brady—set out to find a community project that would provide sustainable, ongoing volunteerism to bring their firm members together with purpose beyond business,” said Stanton. “With so many parents and grandparents working at the firm, focusing on children and education was a priority.”
While the Capitol School program kicked off with the attorneys and staff putting on homeroom class parties, the partnership quickly evolved into one that included reading and writing assistance, mentorship, fundraising, financial support to students’ families when in crisis, and even a donation to help remodel the school’s media center.
“This work with these kids is woven into our DNA. They are a constant source of inspiration for us all, including new recruits,” said Stanton.
An example of this inspiration in action is Phoenix partner Brad Vynalek.
“I remember working as a summer associate at the firm about 17 years ago, and we were given the opportunity to volunteer our time at Capitol School with the partners and fellow associates,” said Vynalek, who is also a member of Quarles & Brady’s National Executive Committee. “I fell in love with the program—and doing it helped me make the decision to make Quarles & Brady my permanent home after the summer program ended. I’ve been here—and working with the Capitol School kids—ever since.”
In addition to supporting the school through fundraising and on-site volunteerism, firm members are also reminded of Capitol School students daily with artwork professionally framed hanging in the Phoenix office’s hallways among the works of professional artists.
“This mural will be hung in a place of honor among the amazing individual art works of the children,” said Stanton. “Partnerships ebb and flow over the years, but this partnership has proven so strong, it has been and will continue to be sustainable even as the players and leadership may change.”
This effort is one of many the local office takes part in through its Quarles Cares community relations program, which is focused on connecting directly with local communities to understand the residents’ needs. Through the volunteer initiatives, attorneys and staff commit themselves personally to civic and charitable efforts, and their personal growth is reflected in the workplace. For more information, please visit www.quarles.com.
About Capitol Elementary School
Capitol Elementary School is a learning community dedicated to the promise in every child. The school works collaboratively to nurture thoughtful leaders, and life-long learners; through standards based instruction that is engaging, meaningful, interactive, and student-centered. The school continually assesses all of its students’ rigorous work assignments, and communicates specific feedback to facilitate the highest level of achievement for each child.
About Quarles & Brady LLP
Quarles & Brady is a full-service law firm with more than 475 attorneys offering an array of legal services to corporate and individual clients that range from small entrepreneurial businesses to Fortune 100 companies, with practice focuses in health care and life sciences, business law, data privacy and security, and complex litigation. The firm has offices in Chicago; Indianapolis; Madison; Milwaukee; Naples, Florida; Phoenix; Scottsdale; Tampa; Tucson; and Washington, D.C. Additional information can be found online at quarles.com, as well as on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
