With a long tradition of providing public service and giving back to its communities, Milbank LLP recently initiated a volunteer project with neighboring Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, the largest soup kitchen in New York, located near the firm's new Hudson Yards headquarters. Every third Tuesday of the month, a team of Milbank lawyers and staff help serve lunch to the homeless and hungry.

Holy Apostles' mission to feed the hungry, comfort the afflicted, seek justice for the homeless, and provide a sense of hope and opportunity for those in need resonated with Milbank even before the firm moved to Hudson Yards earlier this year. Milbank volunteers first gathered at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen during the 2018 holiday season. The soup kitchen's impact was so deeply felt and admired that the firm decided to establish a series of ongoing volunteer opportunities in early 2019. Milbank expects to dedicate at least 270 hours of service to the organization's important work this calendar year.

"Nearly 1.1 million New Yorkers are food insecure, and we appreciate Milbank's ongoing support of Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen," said The Rev. Dr. Anna S. Pearson, Executive Director of Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen. "Human connection is an integral part of public service, and the fellowship that Milbank staff members experience is felt reciprocally by our guests. In addition to distributing food, our volunteers help create an environment where everyone feels welcomed and respected."

Scott A. Edelman, Chairman of Milbank, said: "Public service is an integral part of our culture at Milbank and we are honored to help serve the greater New York City area by partnering with Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen. After Thanksgiving last year, I volunteered with my family and it was a fulfilling and rewarding experience."

Anthony Perez Cassino, pro bono counsel for Milbank said: "Most of our attorneys dedicate their efforts to legal work as opposed to case work, but volunteer programs like the project with Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen enable all of us to get more involved in our local communities with experiences that make an immediate and tangible difference in people's lives. It's inspiring to see how excited our employees are to work together for the good of the community outside of the office."

Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen serves more than 1,000 meals daily. Since opening its doors in 1982, the organization has never missed a day of serving meals and providing social services support to those in need – not even when a historic fire destroyed the roof and interior of Holy Apostles Church in 1990 or when Hurricane Sandy debilitated New York City in 2012. This steadfast commitment to the community aligns with Milbank's long history of pro bono service. As one of the few firms to require all attorneys across every practice to dedicate a minimum of 25 hours to pro bono work annually, advocacy for individuals and organizations in need is a core part of Milbank's identity.

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