Humane Society of New York

The firm has taken an active role in sponsoring the Humane Society of New York by hosting an annual party for the Society in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Unlike certain other animal-focused organizations (which we view expend too many funds on lawyers and lobbyists), the 100-year-old Humane Society of New York has a long history of caring for animals in need when illness, injury, or homelessness strikes. The Society provides a free medical clinic and a small adoption center for cats and dogs. The Society helps over 34,000 dogs and cats annually.

For more information about the Humane Society of New York, please go to www.humanesocietyny.org.

The American Swiss Foundation

Created in 1945, the Foundation seeks to preserve and strengthen the historic friendship between the United States and Switzerland on a person-to-person basis. A private, non-profit organization, the Foundation is directed by President Patricia Schramm and Ambassador Faith Whittlesey. The American Swiss Foundation Young Leaders Conference was initiated in 1990 by then-Chairman Ambassador Faith Whittlesey to create meaningful dialogue and foster mutual understanding among the next generation of leaders in Switzerland and the U.S. Every year since then, a group of approximately 50 young Swiss and Americans, aged late 20s to early 40s and nominated by prominent senior national leaders, has participated in the weeklong Young Leaders Conference held in Switzerland.

Mark W. Smith was honored to represent the United States in the American Swiss Foundation's Annual Young Leaders Conference in 2009. Smith spoke alongside Michael Mack at the Foundation's Annual Dinner at New York's Union League Club.

Read more about the American Swiss Foundation at www.americanswiss.org.

American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards

Smith Valliere proudly supports the American Theatre Wing, which is dedicated to celebrating excellence and supporting education in the theatre. The ATW has been an integral and influential part of the theatrical community for the better part of seven decades, adapting its activities for each successive theatrical generation. ATW focuses today on programs and activities which help students, audiences and members of the theatrical community itself to learn more about what makes theatre tick from the people who make it so vital. Best known for creating The Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards, now presented with The Broadway League, ATW has developed the best-known national platform for the recognition of theatrical achievement on Broadway. Yet ATW's reach extends beyond Broadway and beyond New York, with educational and media work that offers the very best in theatre to people around the world.

For more information about the American Theatre Wing, please go to www.americantheatrewing.org

North Shore Animal League

Smith Valliere supports the North Shore Animal League America, which has saved the lives of hundreds of thousands dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens since being founded in 1944 through its unwavering commitment to rescue, nurture, and foster the adoption of animals. The League constitutes one of the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, and is a leader in the no-kill movement, rescuing and rehabilitating animals instead of euthanizing them. Rescuing animals from overcrowded shelters, unwanted litters, and from owners no longer able to care for them are at the heart of its life-saving efforts. The North Shore Animal League increases adoptions and raises awareness of shelter animals through innovative programs, education, mobile programs, and partnerships.

For more information about the North Shore Animal League, please go to www.animalleague.org.

Lauren and Sharon Bush's FEED Bear Project

FEED Projects' mission is to create good products that help FEED the world. FEED does this through the sale of FEED bags, bears, t-shirts, and other accessories by building a set donation into the cost of each product. Thus the impact of each product, signified by a stenciled number, is understandable, tangible, and meaningful. FEED takes great pride in using environmentally-friendly and artisan-made materials, along with fair-labor production, in creating all FEED products. We stand behind our brand and the organizations and humanitarian programs each FEED product supports. Ultimately, we believe that everyone has the right to basic human necessities, such as healthy and nutritious food. FEED is proud to help FEED the world, one bag at a time.

For more information about the FEED Projects, go to www.feedprojects.com.

RID: Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths

Smith Valliere supports the ongoing work of RID and its founder Dr. Betsy McCaughey as they continue their not-for-profit educational campaign intended to combat the danger of hospital infections, which kills over 100,000 each year. Because these infections are mostly preventable, RID supports the effort to motivate hospitals to make infection a top priority; to disseminate to hospitals the latest, most authoritative research on how to prevent infections; to make the compelling economic case that preventing infections not only saves lives but also makes hospitals more profitable; to ensure that no matter where you live, you can find out which hospitals in your area have the worst infection problems; and to inform patients about steps they can take to reduce risk of infection.

To learn more, go to www.hospitalinfection.org.

Cardiovascular Research Foundation

Smith Valliere supports the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) and its founder Jeffery W. Moses, MD, in their ongoing efforts to improve the survival and quality of life for people with cardiovascular disease through research and education. Since its inception in 1990, CRF has played a major role in realizing dramatic improvements in the lives of countless numbers of patients by establishing the safe use of new technologies and therapies in the subspecialty of interventional cardiology and endovascular medicine.

More information can be found at www.crf.org.

Denise Rich's Gabrielle's Angel Foundation "Angel Ball"

Smith Valliere supports cancer research including Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, which was founded by Denise Rich and her family. The Foundation encourages the development of therapies for patients with leukemia, lymphoma and related cancers. The Foundation funds clinical and basic science research that will hopefully lead to new therapeutic approaches for treating individuals suffering from these diseases.

For more information Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, please go to www.gabriellesangels.org.

The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy

Mark W. Smith has served as the Vice President of the New York City chapter of the Federalist Society since 1997, and has been a frequent speaker at their events around the country, including a recent appearance with Ken Feinberg and Richard Epstein. The Federalist Society is a group of conservatives and libertarians interested in the current state of the legal order. It is founded on the principles that the state exists to preserve freedom, and the Society seeks both to promote an awareness of these principles and to further their application through its activities.

For more information about the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy, please go to www.fed-soc.org.