The Woodruff Arts Center has honored Morris, Manning & Martin’s attorneys and staff for their generosity. The firm’s donations to Employees for the Arts– the Woodruff’s workplace giving program – rose 80% over the previous year. This earned MMM the EFA Needle Mover Award for the largest percentage increase in giving.

MMM partners John Yates and Christina Graham accepted the award at a reception June 11. Graham chairs MMMPact, the firm’s corporate social responsibility program, which guided the fundraising efforts. Yates, who leads the firm’s Technology Group, is a Woodruff Trustee. Last year he received the Charles Yates Trailblazer Award (no relation) for outstanding service on the Art Center’s Annual Corporate Campaign. His wife, Ellen Yates, is a Leadership Member of the Woodruff’s Women’s Giving Circle.

Employees For The Arts encourages employees to make personal contributions to support the arts in Atlanta.

“Earning the Needle Mover Award is a testament to the hard work we put into this campaign,” Yates said. “We set our goals high and beat them.”

“The fact that Woodruff mirrors MMMPact’s mission in many ways – especially regarding education – struck a chord for a lot of people,” Graham adds. “A cocktail party featuring a performance by members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra raised more than $6,000 in donations within one hour. The firm also set up an electronic system to allow people to give with a click of a button.”

“We are so grateful for the support of all the employees of Morris, Manning and Martin,” said Janine Musholt, Senior Vice President of Advancement and External Affairs for the Woodruff Arts Center. “Their fantastic support for our Employees for the Arts campaign is a perfect way to demonstrate their commitment to corporate social responsibility and to our community."