Several members of the Justices Ray L. Brock Jr. - Robert E. Cooper American Inn of Court visited the campus of Orange Grove Center this month and presented Orange Grove with donations totaling $15,500.
The money was raised during the live auction that has become a favorite part of the Inn’s annual Holiday Party.
Orange Grove is a private non-profit organization that serves adults and children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD).
The center was founded in 1953 by a group of Chattanooga parents and community leaders who were seeking educational services for children with disabilities. Since its inception, Orange Grove has been at the forefront nationally in pioneering services for those with IDD, including developing specialized programs for recognizing and caring for individuals with age-related dementia.
Today, Orange Grove offers services ranging from school-age programs, to residential programs, job training and employment, with more than 100 individuals employed in community jobs.
“The money raised by the Inns of Court is particularly welcome this year as we continue to work through the challenges presented by recent federal regulatory changes that have signaled a significant change in how we provide services, and which required us to seek new employment for the 45 individuals who formerly worked at the recycling center located on Orange Grove’s campus,” says Heidi Hoffecker, Orange Grove’s director of development.
“As we work toward a broader understanding in our community of true diversity and inclusion, often through job placement with private employers, the support of my fellow lawyers and colleagues, several of whom serve on our Board, is especially welcome. The true measure of this gift from the Inns is not the dollar amount, but their willingness to serve as ambassadors for our mission to recognize, support and celebrate the qualities of the individual. Thank you, Inns of Court; thank you for supporting the 1,000 individuals served by Orange Grove.”
“The spirit of generosity that motivates the lawyers and judges who make up our Inn to raise thousands of dollars year in and year out during a function that lasts only an hour always makes me even prouder than usual to be a member of the legal profession,” says Inns of Court President Richard Rose of the Miller & Martin law firm.
The purpose of an Inn of Court is to improve the skills, professionalism, ethics and civility of the bench and bar. Membership is by invitation only. The Chattanooga chapter is composed of over 100 local judges and lawyers.
For additional information, contact Sheri Fox, Esq. at (423) 402-4756 or sfox@laet.org.
Source: Justices Ray L. Brock Jr. - Robert E. Cooper American Inn of Court