Our Law Firm and the Local Community Celebrate the Past, Cultivate the Future
The Griswold LaSalle Community Foundation: Empowering Our Community and Inspiring Future Legal Leaders
Established in 2022, the Griswold LaSalle Community Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) that serves Tri-County communities. Our charitable organization is run by staff members, with senior associate attorney Christina D. Smith currently serving as the foundation’s president.
Embodying our core values, the foundation supports clients and community members who make a positive impact. We also provide opportunities for young people in the Central Valley who are interested in pursuing careers in law. To learn more about our initiatives and how we give back, we invite you to review our page for details on the programs and support we offer.
Our mission is to honor the legacy of our building by welcoming visitors with open arms and providing a sanctuary of comfort and warmth. We believe in creating an environment where every individual feels not only heard and understood but truly welcomed.
Our Annual Christmas Window Display
Every year since 2020, our law office opens its doors to the entire community for a Christmas Window Unveiling. This holiday tradition is our chance to honor the legacy of our historic building, which was home to Hanford Furniture from 1937 to 2006.
Hanford Furniture began its Christmas window displays in 1979, designed by owners Pat and Gordon Blue. These displays became a major holiday attraction, but sadly, the business closed just weeks before the next display could be unveiled.
As stewards of the building and members of the community, we take great pride in bringing light, color, and warmth to these windows each Christmas season.
The Griswold LaSalle Community Foundation hosts a festive scavenger hunt with hot chocolate and pizza, culminating in an exciting countdown to unveil our beautifully decorated holiday windows.
The return of this annual tradition is deeply meaningful to locals. One year, a guest was moved to tears as the unveiling of the Christmas window evoked treasured childhood memories in Hanford.
The Griswold LaSalle Foundation uses proceeds from our Christmas Window Festivities to Help local children and families in need.
Celebrating National Law Day with Our Future Legal Minds
Each year on National Law Day, the Griswold LaSalle Community Foundation welcomes local high school students into our office. We are honored to engage with the future leaders of the Central Valley, providing them with valuable insights into the legal profession and how our work serves the community. Through hands-on experiences and real-world exposure, students gain a deeper understanding of the legal field, helping to inspire and prepare them for their future careers.
Getting Students Excited About Legal Work
During National Law Day, our young guests have a chance to meet our paralegals, associates, and other valued members of the local legal community. This experience allows students to ask questions, receive honest insights, and explore whether a career in law aligns with their aspirations.
Mentorship, and Community Engagement
National Law Day is observed annually on May 1st, serving as an opportunity for our law office to engage with the community in a meaningful way. Through educational initiatives, mentorship, and outreach, we are proud to give back and inspire the next generation.
National Law Day is a meaningful opportunity for our attorneys and local students to connect, share insights, and inspire each other.
Supporting Our Local Students With Legal Scholarships
So much of what the Griswold LaSalle Community Foundation does involves celebrating the past and cultivating the future. That’s why we created a scholarship for local students seeking paralegal certificates and degrees. We want talented paralegals to stay here in the Central Valley. These future legal professionals can help maintain and improve the legal landscape.
Offering legal scholarships is just one of many ways our foundation plants seeds and tends to the future of the San Joaquin Valley.
Meet Christina D. Smith - President of The Griswold LaSalle Foundation
Christina D. Smith is a proud Fresno native who graduated from Bullard High School before attending CSU Fresno. She earned her law degree from McGeorge School of Law and joined Griswold LaSalle in 2019.
As a senior associate attorney at our firm and president of the Griswold LaSalle Community Foundation, Christina is deeply committed to serving her local community. She also plays a vital role as the City Attorney for Lemoore.
Rooted in core values of hospitality and service, our foundation supports clients and community members who strive to make a positive impact.