St. Louis Park, MN (June 30, 2005)—Perspectives, Inc., one the largest nonprofit supportive housing programs in Minnesota, announces Dorsey & Whitney as the winner of its 2005 Community Partnership Award. For the past 12 years, the firm has provided key pro bono legal assistance to Perspectives programs, guided its real estate decisions, and offered ongoing legal counsel.  

Perspectives’ President Jeannie Seeley-Smith noted, “Dorsey & Whitney’s pro bono support has been absolutely critical to our recent success. The firm has helped us to make wise decisions concerning our growth while also enabling us to conserve much needed resources for direct programming to children and families.” 

Dorsey guided Perspectives through the process of acquiring five apartment buildings and its family center, all in the city of St. Louis Park. The firm helped in arranging financing of multimillion dollar building rehabilitation efforts and has also provided ongoing legal counsel to Perspectives. 

Steven E. Carlson, partner in charge of pro bono activities at Dorsey’s Minneapolis office said, “Over the past 12 years, 11 of our attorneys have worked with Perspectives on a variety of real estate, employment, intellectual property and other matters. It’s gratifying for all of us to witness how this organization has grown in its ability to make a difference in the lives of so many mothers and children. It’s a privilege for us to work with a team that produces such positive results for families in the Twin Cities.” 

News Briefs by  Minnesota Council on Foundations
 

Jeannie Seeley-Smith, Executive Director/CEO presents Community Partnership Award to Dorsey & Whitney LLP Partners, Steven E. Carlson (right)
and Jim Kremer.

Now in its second year, Perspectives’ Community Partnership Award is presented annually to an organization that has provided significant contribution to assisting Perspectives in furthering its mission:
**To improve the quality of life for homeless and at risk families and children.
 

**Our mission statement was changed in 2006

WELLS FARGO RECEIVES PERSPECTIVES’ FIRST ANNUAL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AWARD

Wells Fargo was presented with Perspectives’ first annual Community Partnership Award On October 8, 2004 at Perspectives of Hope’s Fundraiser. Wells Fargo’s Great Lakes Regional President, Jon Campbell accepted the award on behalf of the company.

“When you change the way you look at things – the things you look at change. Such has been our relationship with Wells Fargo,” said, Jeannie Seeley-Smith. “Their creative and innovative thinking, and their can do attitude has changed the way we look at things –– and when we did – things began to change – for the better.”

Wells Fargo attributes listed as: 

– The 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers
– The 10 Largest Givers in Corporate America
– The top 25 companies in all industries for diversity

Seeley Smith said that they liked Wells Fargo’s value statement so much that they borrowed it for their own strategic planning process. She went on to say, “It applies not only to our agency’s long range planning but it certainly is a guiding principal for all the families we serve.”

Jeannie Seeley-Smith, Executive Director presents Community Partnership Award to
Wells Fargo's Great Lakes Regional President, Jon Campbell

Wells Fargo’s values
 statement states:

Learn who we are, where we’re headed,
and what our guiding principles are.