Archive for November, 2009

To get into the “real” holiday spirit, our law firm is foregoing its annual holiday party and will feed the hungry instead.
Our attorneys and staff are planning to serve a free holiday meal to the homeless and poor on Saturday, December 12 at Izzy’s Restaurant at 2613 W. State St. in Milwaukee from noon to 3 p.m., or until everyone is fed.

Hausmann stated: “When I opened Izzy’s, I wanted to bring some good home cooking and pleasant surroundings to my old neighborhood. I envisioned we could use Izzy’s for community service down the line. This is the first chance we have had to open it up to people who are disenfranchised, poor or homeless.”  Izzy’s is owned by Attorney Charles Hausmann, the law firm’s president.

Among those we are inviting to the holiday lunch are people who regularly come to the St. Benedict the Moor Ministries at 1015 N. Ninth St., Milwaukee. St. Benedict’s serves an average of 340 people at its evening community meals. Although they offer a meal Sunday through Friday, they do not serve on Saturdays. Hausmann-McNally is hoping a good number of those people will be our guests Saturday December 12. Invitations and posters announcing the meal will be circulated at the St. Benedict community meal.

http://www.stbensmilwaukee.org/index.shtml

Our attorneys and staff  members are volunteering to help Izzy’s Partner/Chef Brandon Roethel coordinate the event and serve. Hausmann-McNally will pay for all the food and costs associated with the event.   Not to be outdone, Izzy’s employees are donating their time and plan to give a cash donation to St. Benedict’s.

Our Milwaukee employees agreed to forego the annual holiday party which is traditionally held at an upscale club or restaurant and paid for by the firm. The decision was to channel the money to feeding the hungry.  Many employees said they wanted to be involved and will be helping to prepare and serve the meal on December 12.

People tell me this will get them in the holiday spirit.
We are preparing to feed around 340 people. The restaurant seats 55, but we will be offering takeouts if it is too crowded.  There is no good way to get an advance count because many homeless do not have phones or email. So we are relying on the invitations and word of mouth and crossing our fingers that our estimate is close.

The menu will include turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, corn, bread and butter, beverages and cookies.
While we are excited to exercise our holiday spirit, we really have no idea how this will go. We have confidence in Brandon Roethel’s cooking and organizational skills and know our employees are the best on earth…but none of the staff here has fed so many people. So…stay tuned.

Happy holidays!