Dec. 20, 2010

United Way hosted its 23rd annual Koko Challenge Awards ceremony on Dec. 16 to recognize local law firms for their fundraising, enthusiasm, and innovation on behalf of the nonprofit during the past year. Despite the economic downturn, 22 participating firms raised $1.4 million, a 7% increase from 2009. Shook, Hardy & Bacon took the Baby Koko award for firms with up to 45 attorneys. The Little Koko award for firms between 46 and 100 went to SNR Denton, and the Big Koko award for firms with more than 100 attorneys went to Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. Reed Smith won both the Highest Overall Participation and the Greatest Number of Volunteer Hours awards. The Silverback Award went to Thomas Counts of Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker for his personal leadership and efforts during the firm's United Way campaign, and Joseph Brusky of SNR Denton took home the Top Banana Award for his work as coordinator of the firm's fundraising ventures. While six firms were in the running for Rookie of the Year, Sidley Austin snagged the title for their impressive fundraising results. To commemorate the honors, each winner received a stuffed toy gorilla based on Koko, the female gorilla at the San Francisco Zoo who learned sign language and had her own pet cat. Funds raised by the law firms will go to will go to local human and health services hosted by United Way. Pictured above: Sean McEneaney and Kimberly Soto of SNR Denton accept the Top Banana trophy on behalf of Joseph Brusky.