To make a difference in the lives of people in need by serving and giving back to our community.
To pay forward our successes, comfort those in pain and give hope to those in need.
During the month of April, Patterson Legal Group focused their efforts on raising money for Heartspring’s Austism Care Walk through the Puzzle Pal program. Individuals could purchase a Puzzle Pal for $1 and show their support as an autism awareness advocate.
The 2019 Care Walk event raised over $100,000 for Heartspring Autism Services to provide much needed services to local children impacted by autism. To learn more, visit http://www.autismcarewalk.org/.
Aaron completed two deployments throughout his 11 years of service. His first deployment was in Africa for 12 months serving as a security element for the Air Force Special Operations Pararescue Team. He spent 9 months in Kuwait and Syria during his second deployment, serving as a security element for the Army Special Forces to train the Free Syrian Army, the people’s opposition to the regime.
He has received Army Achievement, Army Good Conduct, Army Reserve Component Achievement, National Defense Service, National Service, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals as well as the Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon.
Aaron, an avid Shocker fan, streamed WSU games overseas and has been a season ticket holder for over 15 years. Congrats Aaron and thank you for your service!!!
Jason, a retired deputy, has found himself protecting long after serving. In early 2019, off-duty Jason responded to a car wreck he heard late at night near his suburban home. He found one coherent victim and another in a locked truck 50 yards from the road due to the impact of the wreck. After breaking the glass on the passenger’s side, Jason found a man barely breathing and called 911.
Without Jason’s quick response, the truck would most likely not have been found until morning – and the second victim, Al (wearing a black hat in right photo), would not have attended the game. Jason has helped evacuate a family from a nearby fire, helped a hitchhiker in the Flint Hills on a freezing night, and called for help upon finding multiple highway wrecks. Congrats, Jason, and thank you for your sacrifice!
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Francesca served this country in the Air Force for nine years. Her service included assignments in Afghanistan and right here at McConnell AFB. Now a full-time student at WSU majoring in Communications and Electronic Media. Francesca actively participates in the Student Veteran Organization and Peer Advisors for Veteran Education. Recently she worked to raise funds for hurricane victims as well as military families. Francesca strives to bring attention to issues plaguing the veteran’s community.
Dean, a combat veteran, served this country in the Army for 10 years. His service included assignments in Iraq, South Korea, and Fort Riley, KS. Dean now serves as a Freedom of Information Act Officer for the Wichita VA. Recently, Dean completed a suicide awareness 22-hour walk/run fundraiser to raise money for veterans in the Wichita community. A motivator at heart, Dean participates in runs throughout Wichita helping runners get the inspiration they need to get across the finish line.
For the past 9 years, Michelle has worked as a Victim Assistance Unit Coordinator helping domestic violence, homicide, and many other victims get through unimaginable trauma. Michelle has participated in countless events to raise awareness about domestic violence. From setting up booths and tables at the “Purple Mile Awareness Walk” to hosting speaking events to discuss the importance of domestic violence awareness, Michelle continuously serves this community.
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Patterson Legal Group has been working to help charitable organizations in our community for more than 20 years and we now have officially mobilized our employees into organizing our help. Our entire staff worked to form a new committee, Patterson Legal Group Give, to give back to our city. At Patterson Legal Group, we take pride in our Patterson Legal Group reputation and lead by example to uphold it. Actions speak louder than words…and our newly formed committee is determined to do just that!
Each Thursday, the staff at Patterson Legal Group voluntarily pay to wear jeans. Not only are we comfortable as we fight for our clients, but the money saved is put to good use. In 2017, our team created the Patterson Legal Group Give, a committee formed to find ways we can help, whether it be time or treasure, in our wonderful community. Thursday’s staff jeans donations along with money from Patterson Legal Group helps fund Patterson Legal Group Give. Each staff member took turns monthly in choosing a local organization to which our money or volunteer time would be donated.
One organization Patterson Legal Group’s team helped with was AVID, a program designed to prepare middle schoolers and high schoolers for collegiate futures. Gary and Tyler participated in mock interviews to prepare the middle schoolers for a brighter future. We were able to donate school supplies for two new teachers and spent time organizing mountains of supplies at the Salvation Army. The Patterson Legal Group were able to financially help three high school students by providing college scholarships to them.
Education and the future of our youth is extremely important to our firm. The Patterson Legal Group reached out to Bridges, a program through the Wichita Children’s Home benefiting young adults who have aged out of the foster care system. Many of them have no support system and are living independently while still in school and starting jobs. Our team adopted all members and their children, donating Christmas presents to each one so as to be certain no one was forgotten.
Other organizations the Patterson Legal Group gave to benefit local children and families were Wichita Crisis Center and the Ronald McDonald House, where we volunteered and cooked dinner. Our time spent at the Ronald McDonald House provided for families to spend more of their own time with loved ones at the hospital.
Did we mention the Patterson Legal Group love animals? Our team spent time helping set up Woofstock and also provided water and cookies to Wheel of Fortune Ranch, which enables children and disabled adults to have the ability to interact with animals including horses. Another fun event we contributed to was Pando Initiative’s 100 Men Who Cook, a benefit for the charity who works to connect students and help them thrive in the community. Gary helped cook and even won the award for best dessert!
With the end of the year comes the holidays, which can be a less than joyous time for those in need. Patterson Legal Group heard that Bread of Life, a food pantry, had lost a big supporter and used our team’s Patterson Legal Group Give funds to enable their work to continue. We happily provided monetary support to Bread of Life during Thanksgiving as well as giving warm meals for individual needy families, which were nominated and chosen by our staff. Our team also volunteered to sort food at the local food bank to help the hungry during Thanksgiving.
During the 12 days leading up to Christmas, the Patterson Legal Group practiced random acts of kindness by handing out gift cards to unsuspecting people. These acts included gas cards to people fueling up, rolls of coins to patrons at a laundromat or giving gift cards to people with full shopping carts at both Aldi and Walmart. Their reactions were the best gifts in our opinion!
At Christmas, our firm partnered with local Mary Kay ladies who had the idea of remembering the lonely in area nursing homes. We provided some funds and helped stuff over 600 stockings. We proudly acted on their vision to bring a ray of sunshine to those who would otherwise be forgotten in nursing homes.
Finally, the Patterson Legal Group gave by taking our Hats Off to Heroes, a program very special to us. Our firm has partnered with KWCH to recognize and honor local heroes. During home Wichita State University Shocker basketball games, attendees in the stadium remove their hats to recognize deserving chosen nominees that have been submitted by the public.
The Patterson Legal Group was honored and thrilled to help reach out to such a wide variety of deserving organizations in our community and encourage others to give time or financial help if possible. The feeling of giving is one of great reward and we are blessed to have this opportunity. We consider our first year of Patterson Legal Group Give to be a great success. Thank you for an amazing 2017, Wichita. We look forward for what’s to come in 2018!
Patterson Legal Group, Wichita State and KWCH have partnered to recognize and honor our local heroes. The nomination process is simple, fill out the form below and tell us who you think deserves to be recognized. During each men’s home basketball game, everyone in the arena will join Patterson Legal Group and KWCH by taking our HATS OFF TO HEROES.
Each selected HERO will receive two behind the bench tickets and be honored during a WSU Men’s Basketball game.
Attorney Gary Patterson is a die-hard Wichita State Shocker fan. He likes to hear the roar of the crowd at Koch Arena and watch the game with hundreds of yellow-clad fans. This season Patterson Legal Group has provided tickets for dozens of lucky Facebook winners, but this past weekend, Gary enjoyed the company of a very brave and special guest.
Seated in the private room at a local restaurant reserved for PLG’s contest winners Gary met 10-year-old Kody, his older brother, Donovan and his dad, Mike. For Kody and his mini entourage, having the chance to attend the game was another milestone on his road to recovery.
Patterson says that the best part of the event was being able to provide basketball packages to people in the community who might never be able to afford such an event. For the February 7 game, they offered tickets to the Make-A-Wish foundation. Ten-year-old Kody, a super Shocker fan who has been battling Leukemia since he was three years old, was excited to receive the invitation. Make-A-Wish of Kansas grants wishes for children ages 2.5 to 18 who are battling life-threatening conditions.
Before the winners filed into a Hummer Limo to go watch the Shockers take on Missouri State, Kody munched on pizza, nibbled on his dad’s Fish-n-Chips and even schooled Gary at the shuffleboard table. During the game, Kody’s dad said he enjoyed the noise of the crowd and the activities at halftime like the jugglers and free-throw demonstrations. Kody’s favorite part of the game, “The Shockers beating the other team.” Dad was quick to point out, “He really enjoyed that.”
Today, although Kody is in remission, he continues to have his blood drawn every week and routine checkups with his oncologist. “He’s a tough little kid, but he’s always been really happy,” said Mike (Dad). “We hope the worst is behind us and now he’ll be okay.” Gary had a great night spending time with this young man and his family. We wish them all the best.
Under a blue sky that threatened rain by the afternoon, the women of Patterson Legal Group shucked their corporate outfits for sneakers and jeans as they gathered for the All Women Build hosted by Wichita’s Habitat for Humanity.
For several hours on Tuesday the women (and a few male supervisors) met in an inner city neighborhood to nail plywood, cut support beams and contribute to a project very near and dear to Ann Patterson’s heart. In the area of 12th and Poplar, the Habitat for Humanity group is not only building homes, they’re building hope and giving deserving families a shot at affordable home ownership.
As President of the Board of Directors for Wichita’s Habitat for Humanity for two years, Ann has seen the process go through several changes but the goal is always the same, “be a good neighbor.” Over the last decade, Habitat Wichita has gone from seeking out large plots of land to build subdivisions, and instead, focused their resources on neighborhoods within the city that already have a working infrastructure.
Located on the same block as the new construction site, you’ll find three lots waiting patiently for their turn to host a new building and three completed homes. Careful consideration was given to this location and ultimately it was deemed to be desirable because of the close proximity to community resources. A full service grocery store is within walking distance, as well as the new 64,000 square foot Spaght Elementary school.
Next door to the home that the group was working on today, Ann was excited to point out a residence that will be the first “owner-occupied” rehab project. Jutting out from the front door is a wheelchair ramp used by the current occupant whose grandmother originally owned the property. In the yard sits a wishing well that was rescued from the overgrowth in the backyard.
Over the years, both Ann and Gary have held positions on the Habitat Board of Directors. They continue to remain actively involved with the group because with each new roof that goes on and each new appliance (provided by Whirlpool) that slides into place, they see tangible proof of a life-changing moment for one hard working family.
Volunteering your time for a day or even a few hours is as easy as visiting the Habitat for Humanity site and following the links to the volunteer page. And remember each time you shop at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, a portion of your proceeds goes directly toward Habitat Wichita.