Gallop "Year of Making a Difference" Charitable Outreach Campaign Lauded at VIP Reception

ST. LOUIS, MO, April 04, 2012 (Press-News.org) Gallop (http://www.GallopLaw.com) was honored for its unique " Year of Making a Difference" charitable campaign at a VIP reception attended by more than 600 leaders in St. Louis business, government, sports and non-profit Industries at the new BlackFinn American Grille on March 28, 2012.

Launched in January, 2012, Gallop's "Year of Making a Difference" campaign benefits local non-profit enterprises that assist people who may be impoverished, sick, disabled, or needing emergency assistance, including children, adults, senior citizens and military personnel. The BlackFinn American Grille chose to honor Gallop's innovative community outreach program by hosting a private reception at its new location in the Saint Louis Galleria.

BlackFinn American Grille top management presented Gallop Managing Partner Thomas J. Campbell with a tribute plaque engraved with the "Year of Making a Difference" logo and identifying participating nonprofit organizations; it will be permanently installed in an area at BlackFinn. Operating Partner Byron Wofford said, "Gallop has set a new standard of community commitment and charitable outreach with its 'Year of Making a Difference campaign that is worthy of recognition across greater St. Louis and by our organization."

In addition, the non-profit Operation Homefront-Missouri Chapter presented Gallop with its "Challenge Coin Award," an honor reserved only for people and organizations whose community outreach activities "extend beyond the call of duty," said John Jerome, chapter president. Operation Homefront helps military families with 25 chapters in 30 states by providing financial assistance, emergency food, emergency home repairs, moving assistance and other volunteer services.

Mr. Campbell, said, "It is humbling to receive such positive support for Gallop's 'Year of Making a Difference' program, and we are very grateful. Yet this community outreach program is not about our law firm - it is about our community. So far as we know, Gallop is the only law firm in St. Louis with a progressive program of this kind. 'The Year of Making a Difference' is one way that Gallop is trying to assist non-profit enterprises in a challenging economy."

Throughout the "Year of Making a Difference", Gallop is partnering with at least one non-profit organization each month. Every month, Gallop will launch a charity awareness campaign on http://www.LinkedIn.com and via additional communications. The firm will acknowledge every new follower of Gallop's LinkedIn profile by donating one dollar to that month's participating non-profit organization. Every month, Gallop attorneys and staff also will provide volunteer support and hands-on participation in activities managed by the non-profit organizations.

Guests at the BlackFinn's VIP reception for Gallop included St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley; representatives from the office of St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay; PGA Tournament Championship Director Jason Mengel; veteran members of the St. Louis Blues hockey team; top executives from leading businesses and professional associations in metro St. Louis, and more than 400 top executives and board members from St. Louis non-profit organizations participating in "The Year of Making a Difference."

For the "Year of Making a Difference," Gallop is showcasing these groups: Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri (www.bbbs.org/); Focus St. Louis (focus-stl.org); Habitat for Humanity St. Louis (www.habitatstl.org); KidSmart (www.kidsmartstl.org); The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Gateway Chapter (www.lls.org/gat); 501Connect, Inc. (www.501Connect.com); Operation Food Search (www.operationfoodsearch.org); Operation Home Front (www.operationhomefront.net/Missouri); St. Louis Sports Commission Sports for Kids Program (www.stlouissports.org/); United Cerebral Palsy Heartland (www.ucpheartland.org); Wings of Hope (www.wings-of-hope.org); Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis (www.lhbindustries.com) and the St. Louis Society for the Blind & Visually Impaired (www.slsbvi.org).

Charlotte, N.C.-based BlackFinn is a polished-casual restaurant that offers contemporary styles of classic American fare made using local ingredients. The new Saint Louis Galleria location is BlackFinn American Grille's only location in the Midwest and seats 414 people, with a decor highlighting the region's colorful history. (http://stlouis.blackfinnamericangrille.com.)

Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C., is a full-service law firm that provides legal services to clients in diverse industries and is one of the largest law firms headquartered in St. Louis. With more than 30 practice areas, Gallop also has offices in Washington, D.C. and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Gallop serves public corporations; privately-held companies; entrepreneurs and start-up enterprises; individuals and families; trustees and trust beneficiaries; charities; and non-profit entities. The firm's headquarters are at 101 South Hanley Road, Suite 1700, in St. Louis, Missouri.

For information about Gallop, please contact Laura B. Callahan at 314.615.6000 or visit the website http://www.GallopLaw.com. Media contact: Jeff Dunlap at 314.993.6925.

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