By Hannah Means
Continuing an annual tradition, attorneys and staff from Dinsmore & Shohl’s Charleston office struck out in a big way December 9, coming together along with their families to compete in the Friends of Shohl Bowl. This bowling night is the final leg of their friendly competition to raise money for local charities, and in 2018, they rolled up their sleeves in an effort to raise money for Legal Aid of West Virginia (LAWV).
In anticipation of the main event, the two Dinsmore teams—the King Pins, led by associate Kelsey Haught Parsons, and the Little Lebowskis, led by associate Clayton Harkins—began raising funds for their respective teams in November. This year, one of the teams held a chili cook-off and art auction, inviting tenants from Chase Tower in Charleston and the staff of LAWV. Participants purchased tickets for $10, sampled the chili recipes and voted for their favorite.
Their appetite for competition continued as the two teams took to the alleys at Galaxy Lanes in Charleston, each hoping to knock down more pins than the other. This year the King Pins did so well they declared themselves the winners before the Little Lebowskis had finished bowling. Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, the Little Lebowskis won by one point, earning the privilege of presenting the entire sum raised, a check for $8,000, to LAWV. Meanwhile, the King Pins now owe the Little Lebowskis a homemade lunch on a cold, wintery day in 2019.
Dinsmore’s Shohl Bowl started as a football contest, borrowing its name from the Friends of Coal Bowl, a rivalry between West Virginia University and Marshall University. Their football contest evolved into a bowling contest in recent years to allow more people to participate with less likelihood of injuries. To date, the Shohl Bowl has raised more than $24,000, plus substantial donations of needed supplies for local charities. Attorneys from Dinsmore’s Huntington and Morgantown offices also contribute by making donations on behalf of their favorite team.
“Legal Aid is an outstanding organization that assists low-income families, seniors, victims of domestic violence and the disabled,” says Office Managing Partner Anna Dailey, who previously served on LAWV’s board of directors and who began her career in a legal services office. “We were proud to be partnering with them as this year’s recipient of our Shohl Bowl effort. Our lawyers know the importance of providing the best legal advice possible to a client, and we realize not everyone can afford to get legal advice when they need it the most. We truly admire the attorneys and staff at Legal Aid who do so much needed work on a very tight budget.”
In years past, the Shohl Bowl has provided support for the Charleston Family Resource Center, Kanawha-Charleston Humane Society, Ronald McDonald House of Southern West Virginia, Tiger Morton Juvenile Center, the Greater Kanawha Long Term Recovery Committee and Pollen 8, a local charity that helps recovering drug addicts. “The Shohl Bowl is a great opportunity for our entire office and their families to join together in giving support to our local charities,” says Office Administrator Tom Hamm.
Dinsmore’s commitment to local communities is one of its core values. Attorneys and professional staff participate in a variety of community service and outreach programs, from packing lunches for needy children to taking active roles of leadership. They serve on boards and committees for charitable, arts, civic and professional groups locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
