On August 24, Katten sponsored and participated in the Special Olympics Southern California's (SOSC) annual Plane Pull event on the Long Beach International Airport runway. In our largest showing yet, alongside our Honorary Co-Pilot and Special Olympics athlete Krystal Johnson, Katten was the third-highest fundraising team this year, contributing over $11,000 to the total raised amount of more than $180,000.
Katten's two teams of 25 attorneys, business professionals, family and friends pulled a 124,000-pound Boeing 737 jet down the runway for 12 feet, competing against other teams, such as the Long Beach Police Department, to complete the challenge the fastest. Katten clocked in at 6.82 seconds. As a result of our efforts to generate registrations during the Los Angeles office's August 8 "lunch and learn," three additional teams joined the event for the first time, including Katten client Paramount Global, Relativity Space and Hyatt Hotel Long Beach.
"I am so moved by the outpouring of support from those who participated on behalf of the firm," said Katten's team captain and Litigation Partner David Halberstadter, who is also a member of the SOSC board of directors.
The event raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for SOSC, which enriches the lives of athletes with intellectual disabilities through sports, health and leadership programs. Money raised from Katten's sponsorship will go toward providing free year-round sports training and competing to help participating athletes develop self-confidence and independence while enjoying the fun of competitive sports.
