The Akron Legal News

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KNR kicks off its season of giving/fundraising

SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter

Published: December 6, 2017

Crowds gathered outside of the Akron office of personal injury law firm Kisling, Nestico & Redick recently to take part in its annual “Coats & Cans for Kids Turkey Giveaway.”

The event got underway at 4 p.m. on Nov. 17, with over 1,000 people turning out to donate non-perishable food items and gently used coats in exchange for a free turkey provided by the firm.

In less than three hours, 453 coats and 5,654 pounds of food were collected to benefit those in need in Northeast Ohio and a total of 1,000 turkeys were given away.

“It was a spectacular event,” said Kisling, Nestico & Redick Partner John Reagan. “We had cars lined up down the road hours before it even began. It was really amazing to us how many community members wanted to help.

“The food was sent to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank and will be used to provide 4,712 meals to families in need,” said Reagan. “The coats were sent to the Salvation Army and Volunteers of America.”

The first “Coats & Cans for Kids Turkey Giveaway took place in 2013 and since then the event has provided 269,371 meals.

It’s not the only such effort the firm participates in. On Thanksgiving, 11 employees took part in the 5k Home Run for the Homeless race. The proceeds benefit Gennesaret, which provides long-term housing for homeless two-parent families in Summit County.

Attorneys and staff also participate in the Selfless Elf 5k run, which takes place this year on Dec. 16 and benefits the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

On Nov. 18, the firm partnered with Cleveland 19 to unveil a brand new fundraiser known as KANSTRUCTION, which challenges individuals, teams and businesses to create structures and artwork using cans.

“Residents submit photos of their work along with a brief story about the creation,” said Reagan. “Several winners will be selected and will share up to $2,000 in prizes.”

The contest runs through Dec. 31.

“Once the contest is over the cans go to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank,” said Reagan.

This past summer, KNR introduced a new initiative that Reagan said would simultaneously promote higher education and safer roadways.

The KNR Don’t Text & Drive Scholarship will provide any student who comes up with the best plan to discourage texting while driving a $5,000 college scholarship.

The deadline for submission is March 31, 2018. More details can be found at www.knrlegal.com.

Over the years, Reagan said KNR has helped the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank provide more than half a million meals to families in need between the turkey giveaway and the $66,000 KNR has raised for the foodbank through employee participation in the Portage Lakes Polar Bear Jump, which takes place every February.

“We are a service organization,” said Reagan. “We help clients who’ve been hurt in accidents to negotiate the legal system.

“Increasing driver safety, fighting hunger and helping to keep people warm are all real issues and we do our best to make a positive impact in every way we can.”


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