Goodwin Procter Invests in Youth Entrepreneurship Through Multilevel National Partnership With BUILD

Goodwin Procter LLP, an Am Law 50 firm, today announced a
multilevel national partnership with BUILD, a nonprofit
organization that uses entrepreneurship to challenge and engage
youth at some of the nations most troubled high schools. With more
than 1.2 million students dropping out of high school each year,
BUILD has helped 100 percent of its participating students complete
high school and get accepted into college. Goodwin Procter will
contribute $40,000 and provide volunteers to support BUILD business
and academic programs. The firms attorneys and staff in Boston,
Washington, D.C. and the San Francisco Bay Area will work with
BUILD to help students create micro businesses and boost their
performance in school through regular tutoring, test prep and
college planning sessions. This partnership with BUILD is one of a
number of community and public service initiatives Goodwin will be
undertaking in connection with the firms celebration of its 100th
anniversary this year. Founded in 1999 with four students, BUILD
uses entrepreneurship to propel disengaged, low-income youth
through high school to college. BUILD currently serves over 900
high school students in five locations. By launching real start-up
businesses, BUILD students learn to write business plans, forecast
financials and present to potential investors. The experiential
learning program engages the students by making school relevant and
motivating them to succeed. Eighty percent of BUILD students are
the first in their family to go to college, and yet last year 84
percent were accepted into at least one four-year college or
university. We are proud to partner with an organization that has
made education a priority for students who would not otherwise
graduate high school and go to college, said Regina M. Pisa,
Chairman and Managing Partner of Goodwin Procter. BUILD has
motivated so many students to succeed in school and in life, and we
are confident that our contribution will help BUILD assist even
more to achieve a college education. We are excited to receive this
financial contribution from Goodwin Procter and even more excited
to connect our students with volunteers from the firm. We look
forward to the commitment and energy we know they will contribute
to our organization and students, said Suzanne McKechnie Klahr, CEO
and Founder of BUILD. David Cappillo, a partner in Goodwin Procters
Technology Companies practice, serves on BUILDs Local Advisory
Board, which includes venture capitalists, college presidents,
business leaders, entrepreneurs, educators and opinion leaders.
Other BUILD corporate partners include ATT, Bank of America, Wells
Fargo, Citibank, State Street, Microsoft, Bain Capital Partners,
Mintz Levin and Skadden Arps law firms, and John Hancock Financial
Services. BUILD believes that the power of student ideas in action
drives youth to reach their fullest potential in school and beyond.
Its four-year high school program offers a unique blend of
entrepreneurship, academics, and personal support that attracts and
motivates many students who are otherwise at high risk of failing
classes and dropping out of high school. BUILD currently serves
high school students at programs located in East Palo Alto and
Oakland, CA; Washington, D.C., and Boston, MA. About Goodwin
Procter Goodwin Procter LLP is one of the nations leading law
firms, with offices in Boston, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New
York, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C.
The firm provides corporate law and litigation services, with a
focus on matters involving real estate, REITs and real estate
capital markets; private equity; technology companies; financial
services; intellectual property; products liability and mass torts;
and securities litigation and white collar defense. Information may
be found at www.goodwinprocter.com. Follow us on Twitter
@GoodwinProcter.