Simmons Law Firm Pledges $25,000 to Help Union Workers Through Labor Council's "$5 for the Fight" Fundraiser

The Simmons Firm, one of the St. Louis region’s largest personal injury law firms, has announced a new fundraising effort to match donations up to $25,000 to the Greater St. Louis Labor Council’s “$5 for the Fight” Emergency Relief Fund, assisting union members and their families facing financial hardship.

“The Simmons Firm has been a longtime supporter of workers’ rights and unions,” said Mike Angelides, managing shareholder of the Simmons Firm. “We hope others will be even more motivated to help local union families when they know their donation will go twice as far.”

The “$5 for the Fight” Fund was originally established in 1996 by the St. Louis Labor Council, AFL-CIO, to assist union members and their families during a financial crisis while they supported a collective bargaining action. It was redirected in 2009 to support unemployed union families, who through no fault of their own, had fallen on hard times because of the down economy. Last year, the campaign raised $134,000 that helped 472 families pay their rent, afford their mortgage, keep their utilities on, eliminate medical bills and more.

“This fundraiser helps St. Louis families who have spent decades working hard to improve their lives and their surrounding communities,” said Simmons Firm Attorney Chris Guinn. “We hope to help raise $50,000 through ‘$5 for the Fight’ and give folks a helping hand during these difficult economic times.”

The $50,000 raised from the Simmons campaign would mark the largest corporate donation the fundraiser has received since it started. All donations will directly benefit St. Louis-area families because the labor council and the United Way of Greater St. Louis cover administration costs.

“The “$5 for the Fight” Emergency Fund is only possible because of generous donations made by caring businesses like the Simmons Firm, union organizations and dedicated individuals. Without them, many of these families would have nowhere to turn for help,” said Robert A. Soutier, president of the Greater St. Louis Labor Council. “Thanks to the leadership of the Simmons Firm, we hope it will be possible for us to help even more unemployed union workers with mortgage payments, rent, utilities, medical bills and more in the coming year.”

Donations can be made by check or online. Mail a check or money order to “$5 for the Fight,” c/o St. Louis Labor Council, 3301 Hollenberg Drive, Bridgeton, MO 63044 and include your union affiliation if applicable. To make an online donation, visit www.labortribune.com and click “$5 for the Fight” Donations in the left hand column. An option to create a reoccurring automated donation is also available.

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Obama's star-studded New York fundraiser

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AppId is over the quota

NEW YORK - Facing a tightening presidential race and onslaught of cash from pro-Republican outside groups, President Obama tonight got a boost from some of his loyal allies in the film and fashion industries with an exclusive multimillion dollar campaign fundraiser at the home of actress Sarah Jessica Parker and her husband, actor Matthew Broderick.

A party of 50 donors, each paying $40,000 to attend, gathered around a long table just inside the entryway of Parker's four-story brownstone in the West Village to dine with the president and First Lady Michelle Obama. Spotted at the table were actress Meryl Streep, producer Andy Cohen, designer Michael Kors, "Vogue" editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, and actress Olivia Wilde. (Broderick was not in attendance; the president noted he "had a show to run off to.")

President Obama, standing in close quarters with his guests and members of the press pool brought in to hear the remarks, spoke candidly about the challenges of the general election race underway.

"We're going to have to fight for it because the American people are tired, they've gone through a very tough economy. They're still having a tough time. And that's why this election is going to be close," Obama said.

"The other side is going to spend $500 million with a very simple message, which is 'You're frustrated, you're disappointed, and it's the fault of the guy in the White House.' And that's an elegant message. It happens to be wrong. But it's crisp. You can fit it on a bumper sticker.

"So we're going to have to work hard in this election. We're going to have to work harder than we did in 2008," he said.

Obama underscored a point he made earlier in the day during a campaign speech in Cleveland, casting the November vote as a stark choice between his economic visions and those of GOP rival Mitt Romney. And he charged his supporters with helping to make the case to the American people.

"What we're going to have to do is present that choice," he said. "You're the tie-breaker, you're the ultimate arbiter."

Parker - dressed in a navy lace cocktail dress with three-quarter length sleeves, a jewel-studded necklace and an enormous diamond ring - appeared emotionally engaged with the president's message, indicating in her introduction of the Obamas that she is eager to help him win a second term.

"It is a great, a rare, a very special and I'm assuming a singular treat to welcome you into our home - our radiant, our extraordinary first lady," Parker said motioning to Michelle Obama, who was seated beside her at the head of the table.

"You've done amazing important things these past four years…. I very much look forward to the things you're going to accomplish in the next four years," she said of the first lady. Parker then turned to the president, standing a few feet away, saying the crowd was gathered "hopefully and with enormous enthusiasm" for the "beloved current and future president of the United States."

Taking the microphone in the intimate space, Obama thanked "Sarah Jessica" and "her whole crew" as "great friends" and a "great leader and champion on behalf of the arts." He also hailed Wintour, calling her "Anna," as a "great friend" who is "working really hard here … and in Chicago as well."

"I recognize that most of you are here to see Michelle," Obama joked. "I always explain I rank fifth in the hierarchy in the White House. There's Michelle, my mother-in-law, the two girls and Bo. So that actually makes it six. In terms of star wattage, people come to the White House and say, Where's Michelle?"

The president then publicly hailed his wife: "Some of you know that Michelle had some skepticism about a life in politics. I think that's well known. And so the grace and the strength and the poise and the warmth that she has brought to an extraordinarily difficult task as first lady and still being the best mom couldn't make me prouder. I'm very pleased she's here. This is sort of our date night."

As Obama spoke, holding a microphone in the small space, Parker's 9-year-old son - sporting a short sleeve dress shirt and tie - looked on from a few feet away. When the president mentioned that U.S. automaker GM is "back on top," the child started clapping, impromptu. "That's worth applauding," Obama said with a grin as the room laughed and joined in. "Right on cue," Obama said.

The Parker event was expected to net more than $2 million in ticket sales alone for the Obama Victory Fund, a joint fundraising account for the Obama Campaign and Democratic National Committee. An online grassroots fundraising contest in conjunction with the dinner also netted several million dollars, officials said.

Robin Hunt of Baltimore, Md., was named the lucky winner of the contest, according to the campaign. She and her mother, Elvita, of Winston-Salem, N.C., received an all-expenses-paid trip to attend the dinner and meet the president and first lady.

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