Taking care of our local and firm communities is an important priority for Ropes & Gray. We have raised millions for cancer research, treatment and patients while coming together to support members of our own community whose lives and families have been touched by cancer.
Raising $3 Million for Dana-Farber Through the Pan-Mass Challenge
The Pan-Mass Challenge cycling fundraiser supports cancer research and treatment at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, one of the world’s premier cancer treatment and research centers. Ropes & Gray has been one of the PMC’s leading longtime supporters, fielding a team for more than 20 years that has now raised more than $3 million over that span.
Firm Creates Speaker Series to Honor Colleague Fighting Lung Cancer
In 2019, Ropes & Gray’s Women’s Forum created “She Speaks, The Tracy Brown Speaker Series” as a way to thank and honor our colleague Tracy Brown for her contributions to the firm. Tracy, who has been battling lung cancer since her diagnosis in May 2017, worked as a litigation associate for eight years before becoming the firm’s first associate development manager, and then director, pioneering a new role that helps lawyers develop their careers. She also spearheaded the Women’s Forum and later served as a director of special projects. Over several years, Ropes & Gray has welcomed women speakers to offer our lawyers and support team perspective on their own careers. The speakers have included Tracy herself; Mika Brzezinski, co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe; Lisa Fairfax, legal scholar and Presidential Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School; and Laura Huang, professor at Harvard Business School and author of Edge: Turning Adversity into Advantage.
Rallying for Kaiya
Ropes & Gray partner Ruchit Patel shares the story of his late daughter Kaiya, who was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia when she was five. The Kaiya Foundation honors Kaiya’s generous and compassionate spirit by funding research and creating support networks for children and families dealing with very-high-risk leukemia. Learn more about The Kaiya Foundation.
Bringing Hope to Breast Cancer Patients with the Ellie Fund
Ropes & Gray executive assistant Heidi Popkin and her husband, Jeff Popkin, founded the Ellie Fund to honor Jeff’s mother, Ellie, who died of breast cancer. Learn about the Ellie Fund’s impact in providing essential support services for breast cancer patients.
Stronger Together
Mary Kay Henry, Ropes & Gray Chicago office administrator and assistant to partner Debbie Gersh, reflects on the determination and courage Debbie demonstrated while raising a family, leading the firm’s renowned health care practice, and coping with her husband, Bob Schroeder’s, health struggles. Bob passed away in 2021 from COVID-19 after a prolonged battle with cancer.
Source of Inspiration
Ropes & Gray director of business development Adrienne Cohen shares how the loss of her husband, Bret, to glioblastoma at age 56 has inspired her to advocate for other cancer patients.