Sheri Qualters
The National Law Journal
September 22, 2014
“The Walt Disney Co. built an empire on wholesome entertainment, so its robust pro bono program that focuses on children and family issues is a natural fit.
The 175,000-employee company, which had $45 billion in revenues for its fiscal year 2013, has a couple of long-running pro bono relationships, including with Los Angeles civic education organization Constitutional Rights Foundation. But the big push for child-focused pro bono began in August 2013, according to associate general counsel and pro bono chairwoman Karen Frederiksen.
‘When there are children and family members who are going to face a legal proceeding, that’s where we’ve stepped in and that’s where we’ve focused,’ she said.
So far, more than 240 lawyers, paralegals and assistants have participated in pro bono programs involving child welfare and uncontested adoptions, Frederiksen said. About one-third of the volunteers are attorneys, she said. ‘We have really had a huge, enormous, enthusiastic turnout for these various projects.'”