Leadership, Competition, and a $50,000 Match: The 2026 Campaign Begins

At the 2026 Associates Campaign & Corporate Counsel Challenge Kick Off last week, we were gratified by the excitement, engagement, and enthusiasm of everyone who turned out.

Last Thursday, this incredible group gathered at Number Thirty Eight in Denver to launch a month of friendly competition, bold leadership, and real impact for families across our state.

The evening was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Faegre Drinker and Holland & Hart, whose commitment to access to justice set the tone for the Campaign ahead. We are especially grateful to Mary Hershewe of Faegre Drinker, who joined us as a representative of our sponsor firm and helped kick off the month with energy and enthusiasm. Thank you for your leadership and partnership.

The program featured inspiring remarks from Stephen Robin, Associates Advisory Board Co-Chair; Chalyse Robinson, Chair of the Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado Board; Matt Baca, Executive Director of Colorado Legal Services; and Jessie Clark-Daugherty, Associate Director of the Legal Aid Foundation and Associates Campaign Director.

But perhaps the most moving moment of the evening came from Alexa Child, attorney at Colorado Legal Services, who shared firsthand stories from her work representing clients facing eviction and crisis. Her remarks were a powerful reminder that behind every dollar raised is a real person: a parent fighting to keep their children housed, a survivor seeking protection, a Coloradan navigating an overwhelming legal system alone.

Thanks to these speakers, we were all energized not only by competition, but by purpose. 

Then came the big news: thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the Colorado Foundation for a Better Earth, gifts made through the Corporate Counsel Challenge will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000.

This is a rare opportunity to double your impact. The stakes are real, and so is the opportunity. Corporate counsel across Colorado now have the chance not only to compete, but to unlock $50,000 in additional funding for civil legal aid.

For more than two decades, the Associates Campaign has brought together legal professionals across Colorado in a spirited competition that builds camaraderie while strengthening access to justice statewide.

Participation is simple, with ready-to-use online fundraising tools and support from the Legal Aid Foundation team every step of the way. Teams compete for recognition, build firm pride, and join a long-standing tradition of leadership and justice.

One month. One challenge. Statewide impact.

Learn more and register your team at legalaidfoundation.org/2026-associates-campaign or contact Jessie Clark-Daugherty.

Click here to see photos from the event.