Day Pitney partner Richard Wasserman joins student Jaylamyah and  family at the Hartford mayor's office. Courtesy photo

Day Pitney Partner Recognized For Commitment to Child Literacy The Hartford Volunteer of the Month Award was presented this week to Read to a Child program volunteer and Day Pitney partner Richard Wasserman.

Read to a Child's Lunchtime Reading Program includes more than 1,800 volunteer mentors from 150-plus socially minded organizations who read one-on-one to more than 1,400 at-risk elementary school students in Greater Boston, Detroit, Hartford, Los Angeles and Miami. Wasserman received the award for his outstanding commitment to at-risk children in Hartford as both a Lunchtime Reading Program mentor at the Betances School and as Read to a Child's regional board chairman.

Each month, one adult and one youth are selected by representatives from the mayor's office, City Council, and relevant city departments to receive a Volunteer of the Month Award.

Mayor Luke Bronin stated, “Read to a Child is an important partner for Hartford public schools. Mr. Wasserman's leadership as the regional board chair and volunteer shows his strong commitment to improving children's literacy in our city. On behalf of the city of Hartford, I express our sincere gratitude.”

Wasserman added, “I am honored to receive this award. I accept it on behalf of Read to a Child and my board colleagues who continuously work to garner resources and recruit volunteers for Read to a Child. My volunteer work in the classroom is always one of the best parts of my week. I hope others will consider this wonderful opportunity to make a difference in a child's life.”

“I am extremely pleased that Rich has been recognized for his outstanding service. Not only is he a wonderful role model for the children he mentors, but he is also an excellent board chair and a civic-minded member of the community,” said Paul Lamoureux, CEO of Read to a Child. “On behalf of Read to a Child and the many thousands of students who have participated in the Lunchtime Reading Program, I sincerely thank Rich for his service and for his dedication to improving children's literacy among those most in need.”

Firm Renews Commitment To Diversity Collaborative Hartford firm Murtha Cullina has announced it will continue to host the Lawyers Collaborative for Diversity in the firm's Hartford office through 2020. The organization has been in residence at the firm with complimentary office space since 2014.

LCD's mission is to make Connecticut a more attractive place for attorneys of color and other diverse individuals to practice law and find satisfying professional opportunities. Over the next two years, LCD and Murtha Cullina express hope to develop new initiatives for LCD members and to advance the firm's diversity and inclusion agenda.

Murtha Cullina is also a charter member of LCD and a regular sponsor of LCD events. In addition, a group of Murtha Cullina attorneys lead the Associate Advisory Committee for the annual LCD Building Careers Symposium.

“Murtha Cullina is proud of our continued partnership with LCD,” said Proloy K. Das, chairman of Murtha Cullina's Diversity Committee. ”We are committed to diversity initiatives both inside the firm and out of the office and we support all of LCD's efforts to create a more diverse legal community in Connecticut.”

“We are very grateful to Murtha Cullina for continuing to host and support LCD and our mission,” said LCD President Joaquina Borges King. “As a charter member of LCD, Murtha Cullina has been a valuable sustaining partner along with our member corporate law departments, law firms and government agencies in building LCD as an important advocate for diversity in the Connecticut legal community.”