Baker & Daniels' Fort Wayne Team Uses Fort-4-Fitness As Fundraiser

Lawyers and staff in Baker & Daniels' Fort Wayne office have presented Matthew 25 with a cash donation and in-kind items worth approximately $2,000 after their support and participation in the first Fort-4-Fitness weekend.

Baker & Daniels' collaboration with the fall festival began as a gold corporate sponsor. As interest and excitement spread throughout the firm, participation grew to include lawyers, staff and their families. In the end, the effort expanded to raising money and gathering in-kind items for Matthew 25, a local nonprofit organization that provides free medical, dental and vision services to uninsured, low-income residents of Allen County.

In Fort-4-Fitness running events, Baker & Daniels manned a volunteer water station in which 25 employees and their families assisted participants. Fifteen of the runners they aided were Baker & Daniels colleagues who participated in the half marathon or 4-mile run/walk, whose courses included Main Street in downtown Fort Wayne.

"What a great day and a wonderful experience our people and their families were able to enjoy with more than 6,200 other participants and attendees," said Jon Bomberger, a Baker & Daniels partner. "By the end of the weekend, everybody felt better by participating in one way or another to promote fitness and help others in our community. We're already looking forward to next year's event."

Fort-4-Fitness also featured 40 health care and fitness exhibitors, as well as a Healthy Food Expo and live music in Freimann Square. For Northeast Indiana, the two-day festival focused on developing and maintaining healthy lifestyles.

"Baker and Daniels' leadership role as a Gold Level Sponsor for the Fort-4-Fitness Festival was instrumental in the tremendous success of this event. Their desire to use the event to provide support for Matthew 25 is an example of their commitment to this community and sets a wonderful example for others," said Brad Kimmel, Executive Director of the Fort-4-Fitness Festival.