Community Involvement

From the lineage of the Brouse McDowell founding fathers to the commitments of our attorneys and staff today - Community Service is in our DNA. Since the founding of Brouse McDowell in 1918, our reach for service has grown, from the Akron area, to all northern Ohio. It is our honor to make a difference in organizations that benefit the communities in which we live and work.

Here at Brouse, we are family, and we pride ourselves in contributing not only experience and financial resources, but also our time, energy, and leadership to a wide range of organizations. Over the years this has included upwards of 150 professional, civic, cultural, educational, and religious organizations. Their personal contributions to the spirit of volunteerism honors our firm and enriches our community.

In 2002 the firm began the tradition of presenting the Karl S. Hay Community Service Award annually to Brouse employees who have made exceptional contributions of time, talent, and enthusiastic service to others. Each recipient designated a non-profit organization to receive a monetary donation from Brouse McDowell. Organizations that have received past award donations include Akron Community Foundation, Domestic Violence Center, Hattie Larlham Foundation, Akron Road Runner Marathon, and Youth Challenge. Karl Hay, a former partner at Brouse McDowell, was widely known for his pro bono work in Akron and Summit County and was a driving force behind downtown Akron’s redevelopment. Thus, the firm found it fitting to create this award in his honor. Hay once noted “I learned from my predecessors at Brouse McDowell that this is a great community – it’s our home.” “If you want it any better, you do something about it, and you get involved.” After a pause in 2012, we reinstated the Karl S. Hay Award and are happy to continue this tradition honoring the ideals of Karl and his support of his peers and his community.

In 2020 the firm created a Community Service Committee to further our support of our neighborhoods by focusing on four large initiatives each year. This includes volunteer work, donations, awareness, and outreach that will empower our team and the supporters of these organizations.