The Knoxville Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) is part of a world wide group providing support to professionals involved in the management of law firms, corporate legal departments and government legal agencies. Last year ALA held the First Annual Community Challenge Weekend. As Past President Michael E. Palmer explained, "Our goal was to create an event where ALA members could come together from around the world for a common cause—to contribute time, energy and resources toward improving our own communities." Last year 89 out of 108 chapters throughout the world participated, and the weekend was a huge success. The Knoxville Chapter participated last year by working with Keep Knoxville Beautiful, Inc. to clean up the downtown area. The volunteers finished the day with an estimated 100-125 pounds of trash removed from Knoxville’s streets!

Because last year was such a success, the ALA has organized the Second Annual Community Challenge Weekend. As a part of this endeavor, the Knoxville Chapter teamed up with the Ronald McDonald House. On October 14, volunteers gathered with rakes, brushes, brains and brawn to spruce up the Ronald McDonald House, inside and out, assisting with landscaping, raking, and general inside "spring" cleaning. Rothchild’s enhanced this joint effort by catering lunch for families staying at the House.

Ronald McDonald House provides a "home-away-from-home" for the families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.

There are 206 Ronald McDonald Houses in 19 countries, and since 1974, the program has helped more than 10 million family members. The members of the ALA were very excited about "putting on the Ritz" for the House and for these families, and at the same time participating in this international effort to give back to ALA members’ communities.

As of the last official count, 79 out of 109 ALA Chapters joined in this year’s Community Challenge Weekend. Other Chapters participated by conducting clothing drives, used book collections for seniors, serving meals in food kitchens and homeless shelters, and raising money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

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