In The Community

Committed to the Capital District Community.

Our attorneys and professional staff take immense pride in involvement with local not-for-profit organizations and philanthropic endeavors. Fielding teams, volunteering and taking leadership positions for local charities, O’Connell and Aronowitz has exemplified commitment to the community throughout our 90-year history. In house, we often come together to raise funds and awareness for various charitable, civic and religious organizations that are close to our hearts.

We are honored to have been recognized for our long-standing commitment to community service and believe in the need to serve the communities in which we live and work. A sampling of the tradition of service that exemplifies the O’Connell and Aronowitz spirit:

American Heart Association Heart Walk and Run

We fielded teams in the American Heart Association Heart Walk at UAlbany to support our 5-year-old Heart Hero Ryan Galvin.  In the entire United States only 50–100 people have the specific heart condition that Ryan has. Team O&A raised money for heart disease research and continued the community service past time that has been tradition throughout our firm’s 90+-year history.

Iron Chef Challenge

A delicious recurring in-house cooking competition raises funds for our winning chef’s charity of choice while also satisfying the pallets of an enthusiastic group of co-workers. Charged to create a dish around a specific menu item, our intrepid Iron Chefs create their best entree or dessert to be judged by colleagues who have paid $5 entry fee. ‘Gluten free’ and beer have been key ingredients while we have raised money for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. Everyone wins when raising funds for a good cause involves culinary delights.

American Heart Association Wear Red Day

Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association’s national campaign to increase awareness of heart disease — the leading cause of death for women — and to inspire women to take charge of their heart health. Our office staff showed support for the national movement by donating to this worthy cause and by wearing their favorite red attire on national Wear Red Day.

Holiday Giving: Northern Rivers

holiday_givingA tremendous sense of satisfaction is the gift we receive by taking part annually in the Northern Rivers Holiday Giving program. Our generous staff donated an entire carload of gifts, displayed in photo at left, for the local families who benefit from the Northern Rivers program. It’s a humbling experience and brings our firm a true sense of peace to each holiday season.

#IB Day of Action Participants

Since 2012, our attorneys Pamela Nichols and Tom DiNovo have been active members of The Injury Board, a professional association of trial attorneys who pool their time, talents and resources to expand the footprint of grassroots organizations in an effort to strengthen their communities. Each year we partner with The Injury Board and member firms across the country to take part in the annual #IB Day of Action events. Our efforts have included working with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to show support to veterans in the Capital District community, preparing local school children for back to school through donation campaign to benefit Boys and Girls of Schenectady and, most recently, volunteering time to help The Food Bank of Northeastern New York to prepare for Thanksgiving.