Attorney General Chris Carr announced that law firms and legal organizations across Georgia raised a record breaking 419,321 dollars and 17,617 pounds of food during the 8th Annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy. This is the equivalent of 1.7 million meals for Georgia’s food banks and a 9.5 percent increase from last year.

“Each year, our legal community steps up to the plate and delivers for Georgia’s children and its families.” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “1.7 million meals will be delivered to those in need because of the generosity of lawyers across our entire state. To all who participated by donating in any amount, and in any way, thank you for breaking another donation record this year. Your contributions will help our communities thrive.”

A total of 193 law firms and legal organizations, representing more than 13,000 members of the legal community, competed for the two grand prizes: the Attorney General’s Cup awarded to the team with the most points per person and the Bar President’s Award given to the team with the most overall points. Every 1 dollar raised is 4 points and every 1 pound of food is 1 point with various bonus point opportunities.

“Georgia’s lawyers continue to amaze by their commitment to this great cause,” said State Bar of Georgia President-Elect Darrell Sutton. “Raising more than $400,000 and more than 17,000 pounds of food is amazing in and of itself. But to outperform last year’s Legal Food Frenzy results by nearly 10% is astounding! Attorney General Carr should be commended for championing this competition. Because of the unique partnership between him, the Georgia Food Bank Association, and the State Bar of Georgia, fewer of Georgia’s children will go hungry this summer, and we are one step closer to ending food insecurity.”

Reclaiming his title, Joe S. Habachy, PC, Attorney at Law of Atlanta, won the Attorney General’s Cup earning 134,950 points per person. The Bar President’s award winner was Coleman Talley LLP of Valdosta for the third year in a row having raised 172,125 total points, the most in the competition’s history. A full list of winners and regional highlights can be found below.
For the first time this year, Attorney General Carr issued a challenge to individuals and firms to donate the equivalent of “one billable hour.” The legal community rose to the occasion. 144 individuals will be recognized on the Legal Food Frenzy website for donating $500 or more during the 2019 campaign. These Georgia Legal Food Frenzy VIPs are listed here.

“The energy and commitment of the legal community was astounding this year,” said Executive Director of the Georgia Food Bank Association Danah Craft. “People don’t realize that for many kids, the end of school year isn’t a happy occasion. Over 60 percent of Georgia’s children rely on free and reduced lunch at school, but when school is done so are those meals. The 1.7 million meals that Georgia’s legal community raised will be critical in ensuring these kids have proper nutrition all year-round. Thank you to the Attorney General’s Office, the State Bar, the YLD and every single person that made this year a resounding success.”

Since its inception in 2012, the Georgia Legal Food Frenzy has raised the equivalent of 8.9 million meals for Georgia’s food banks.