For the third year running, Parsons Behle & Latimer (Parsons) undertook a major effort to support the Utah Minority Bar Association’s (UMBA) Juneteenth fundraiser. In 2024, the UMBA named Comunidad Materna en Utah (CMU) as the beneficiary of funds to be raised and donated by participating Utah law firms. CMU is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering expectant mothers and their families, 90% of whom are migrants from Latin America living in Salt Lake and Millard counties. CMU provides comprehensive support and guidance throughout the journey of pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
The UMBA challenged Utah law firms to raise $25,000 total in the 2024 campaign. Through fundraising activities including a silent auction – and not-so-silent live auction, in which Parsons' attorneys and professional staff could bid on internally-donated goodies, services or experiences, the firm raised $21,285 of the total $26,490 donated by all Utah law firms. With that donation, Parsons became the campaign’s top contributor, donating five times more than its nearest competitor.
In 2023, Parsons supported the UMBA’s Juneteenth campaign to raise funds for No More a Stranger (NOMAS) a 501(c)(3) organization that advocates for, and provides legal services to, low-income individuals of immigrant, migrant, and refugee backgrounds. Parsons was, again, the top donor — raising $11,793 for NOMAS of the total $25,223 donated by all Utah law firms.
Parsons winning streak began in 2022 when Parsons supported the UMBA’s Juneteenth campaign to raise funds for Clean Slate Utah. Parsons became the top donor — raising $6,272 for Clean Slate Utah out of the $21,152 donated by all Utah law firms.
Parsons Chairperson and CEO Shawn C. Ferrin said, “I am continually inspired by the level of dedication and generosity demonstrated by Parsons’ professional staff and attorneys when there is a challenge to be met. Their response to the UMBA 2024 fundraiser is a solid example of the firm’s dedication to our core value of service, which we describe as ’action with purpose.’ I applaud them for their enthusiasm and support.”
Campaign chairperson and Parsons' attorney Andres F. Morelli said, “Parsons invests in people (its first core value) not just through its legal work and working relationships, but through its commitment to each other, our clients and our communities. Parsons answered and exceeded the call for help from UMBA to benefit CMU. As a result, the people who depend on CMU’s services will be better served, which will pay dividends to their future involvement in the community at large. Parsons truly values and exemplifies the core value of Service or ‘action with purpose.’ There is no better example than the efforts and results that were demonstrated throughout this fundraiser. Many thanks to my co-chairs Jazmynn Pok and Alex Vandiver who spent countless hours and extraordinary effort to make this campaign a success.”
