Troutman Pepper Plates Up Success for Coalition for the Homeless
NEW YORK -- 2020 has been nothing if not a year of improvisation, and attorneys at Troutman Pepper recently did it in style—literally—as they helped the Coalition for the Homeless in New York raise an unprecedented $1 million in just a few hours to benefit the homeless community throughout New York.
Each year, the Coalition hosts its annual ARTWALK NY fundraising event, including a live auction supported by the New York art community which comprises roughly 15 percent of the Coalition’s annual private fundraising efforts. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s in-person event was cancelled and moved to an online fundraising program, the first in the Coalition’s history.
Michael D. Friedman, a partner at Troutman Pepper and board member and treasurer for the Coalition, quickly sprang into action. He and associate Adam Dennett worked pro bono throughout the summer to put together the legal framework required to ensure the project was a success. This enabled the Coalition to reach out to 50 world-renowned artists to participate in the Artist Plate Project, in which each artist would create a series of limited-edition bone china plates, which would then go on sale to the public for $175 each. That dollar amount can provide meals for 75 homeless individuals in New York.
“We drafted and negotiated a project purchase agreement between the Coalition and the project designer/coordinator,” said Friedman, “and also negotiated artist license agreements with artists who volunteered their talents to support the program. In addition, we negotiated an agreement with a high-end eCommerce company specializing in art and art related products who are handling all aspects of fulfillment of the project. Finally, we advised the Coalition on various business and eCommerce considerations, including pricing, licensing, insurance, risk of loss, and logistics.”
“None of this would have been possible without the incredible staff at the Coalition,” continued Friedman. “They did a tremendous job putting all this together, coordinating many pieces to make this a reality. The artists, the art community, the team at the Coalition, and all the people who supported the project came together to make this project a great success.”
The project launched November 16 and within two hours, the Coalition raised more than $1 million from the sale of the plates. Many of the artists’ plate series sold out within minutes.
“We knew from the beginning the importance of zealously representing the Coalition in its contract negotiations with third parties for the Artist Plate Project, in order to maximize the value the Coalition received from the sale of each plate,” said Dennett. “The proceeds from each plate sold can feed seventy-five homeless and hungry New Yorkers. It is both professionally and personally rewarding to see the program achieve this incredible success with direct benefits for the homeless community throughout New York, including COVID-19 support, eviction prevention, food services, and critical aid.”
Troutman Pepper’s pro bono practice is committed to strengthening the communities in which its attorneys live and work, and to improve the fairness of and accessibility to the justice system. Attorneys have devoted thousands of hours to pro bono work and have assisted individuals with eviction, deportation, exoneration, refugee status and civil rights issues. They have also helped nonprofits with corporate formation and governance and intellectual property protection.
Troutman has developed initiatives for the economic development of underserved people and their communities with the goals of preserving neighborhoods, assisting small start-up businesses, and improving and promoting community economic development in the cities and regions it serves.
About Coalition for the Homeless
The Coalition for the Homeless is the nation’s oldest advocacy and direct service organization helping homeless men, women and children. We believe that affordable housing, sufficient food and the chance to work for a living wage are fundamental rights in a civilized society. Since our inception in 1981, the Coalition has worked through litigation, public education and direct services to ensure that these goals are realized. coalitionforthehomeless.org
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm known for its higher commitment to client care. With more than 1,100 attorneys in 23 U.S. cities, the firm partners with clients across every industry sector to help them achieve their business goals. Read more about the firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices at troutman.com.