Serving Our Community
Berliner Cohen’s attorneys are dedicated to their clients and committed to the community. For forty years philanthropy has been one of the Firm’s core values. Giving back to the community starts at the top. Our co-founder, Stan Berliner, and his wife personally donate their time and financial resources, which sets the example for the rest of the Firm.
Currently, our attorneys are involved with more than 60 organizations. Over the past two years, Berliner Cohen has financially supported over thirty community agencies with significant gifts. Berliner Cohen’s commitment to the community is not limited to financial resources. Our attorneys draw from their involvement in local organizations to assist these community agencies in matters including planned giving, governance, employment issues, and directives including advanced health care. Our commitment is to enhance these organizations, promote their sustainability, and augment the services they provide to clients and donors.
Awards
Berliner Cohen was recently honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Santa Clara County as its Corporate Grantmaker. The award recognized Berliner Cohen for its outstanding commitment to philanthropy through financial support and community involvement. The AFP works to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education, and certification programs. www.afpsiliconvalley.afpnet.org
Representing Hospice of the Valley
Of particular note is Berliner Cohen’s twenty-nine year relationship with the Hospice of the Valley. The Firm’s most recent contribution includes over $20,000 in gifts and pro bono work for the organization. Since 1979, Hospice of the Valley has provided compassionate end-of-life care and grief supoprt to those in Santa Clara County. www.hospicevalley.org
Local environmental efforts
Berliner Cohen has worked with the Friends of Guadalupe River Park and Gardens for over ten years, with more than $40,000 contributed in support of the development of Guadalupe River Park and its educational programs. The Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens provide community leadership for the development and active use of the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens through education, advocacy and stewardship. www.grpg.org
In the community
In addition to the organizations above, Berliner Cohen attorneys support numerous business and nonprofit organizations, including serving on boards and committees:
American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley (The Red Cross is dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.) www.scv-redcross.org
Arts Council Silicon Valley (The Council supports the arts in Silicon Valley by providing funding and services to hundreds of arts groups, artists, schools and community groups.) www.artscouncil.org
Ballet San Jose (Known as one of the country’s most innovative, “classically-based” ballet companies, the organization has a resident company of 33 dancers, and a repertoire of over 120 traditional and modern classical ballets.) www.balletsanjose.org
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County (Catholic Charities helps people of all cultures and beliefs rise up out of poverty and overcome the barriers to self-sufficiency through a broad range of services.) www.catholiccharitiesscc.org
Child Advocates (The organization matches trained volunteers with dependent children to ensure the needs and best interests of foster children in the Silicon Valley.) www.cadvocates.org
Cystic Fibrosis Research, Inc. (CFR exists to fund research, to provide educational and personal support, and to spread awareness of cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disease.) www.cfri.org
Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY provides at-risk and disadvantaged youth with vital information regarding the decisions they make in their lives.) www.flyprogram.org
Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley (HFSV is a public foundation dedicated to encouraging community philanthropy and engaging people to invest in the health, educational achievement, and leadership development of a thriving Hispanic community in Silicon Valley.) www.hfsv.org
Habitat for Humanity Santa Cruz County (The nonprofit and ecumenical organization is dedicated to eliminating substandard, poverty housing throughout the world.) www.habitatsc.org
Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network (Joint Venture provides analysis and action on issues affecting the region’s economy and quality of life.) www.jointventure.org
Montalvo Arts Center (Montalvo gathers global talent to incubate and produce compelling new work and to ignite learning through the arts.) www.montalvoarts.org
National Association of Office and Industrial Parks, Silicon Valley (NAIOP is the leading organization for developers, owners and related professionals in office, industrial and mixed-use real estate.) www.naiopsiliconvalley.com
Opera San Jose (The Opera maintains a resident company of principal artists, this company specializes in showcasing the finest young professional singers in the nation.) www.operasj.org
Pacific Autism Center for Education (PACE provides high quality programs for individuals with Autism and associated developmental disabilities living in the San Francisco Bay Area.) www.pacificautism.org
Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley (Rebuilding Together brings communities and volunteers together to rehabilitate the homes of low income homeowners.) www.rebuildingtogether-sv.org
San Jose Dance Theater (The Theatre trains beginning through advanced dancers for a lifetime of participation in as well as appreciation of the art of classical ballet.) www.sjdt.org
Save Our Shores Marine Conservation (Save Our Shores focuses on marine conservation through policy research, education and citizen involvement in Santa Cruz County.) www.saveourshores.org
Senior Adults Legal Assistance (SALA serves over 2,000 persons each year over 60, focusing on low income, abuse, exploitation or premature institutionalization issues) www.sala.org
Silicon Valley Planned Giving Council (The SVPGC is dedicated to the education and training of planned giving specialists, fund-raisers and donor advisors, and to raising public awareness of charitable giving overall and planned giving.) www.svplannedgivingcouncil.org
South County Housing (The community organization serving four South Bay counties helps to build communities through affordable housing development, property management and neighborhood development.) www.scounty.org
Symphony Silicon Valley (Founded in 2002, the symphony has progressed from daring idea to exciting reality, rapidly becoming the greater South Bay’s premiere orchestra and a notable community success story.) www.symphonysiliconvalley.org
Tech Museum of Innovation (The museum is an educational resource established to engage people of all ages and backgrounds in exploring and experiencing technologies affecting their lives.) www.thetech.org
The Alameda Business Association (The association works to promote and strengthen the commercial, professional, civic and general business interests through education, common cultural ties and community involvement.) www.the-alameda.com
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America, Northern California (The mission of the Society is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.) www.leukemia-lymphoma.org
Young Audiences of Northern California (The organization is the nation’s leading source of arts-in-education services.) www.youngaudiences.org
YWCA of Silicon Valley (The mission of the YWCA is to empower women, children, and families, and to eliminate racism, hatred, and prejudice.( www.ywca-scv.org