There is a good reason why the law firm’s well-known logo includes a shield.
That is because there is a message it delivers not only to clients of Bordas & Bordas but also to residents of the Upper Ohio Valley, according to the firm’s managing partner, Jamie Bordas.
“If you look at our firm’s logo, there is a shield that has four quadrants to it, and there is a cross that goes down the middle,” he explained. “That cross is very important to us because we want to keep our Christian principles in mind with everything we do. Those four quadrants also symbolize some things that are very important to us, including community, family, experience, and results.
“The community part of it is a very important part because of my mom’s and dad’s beliefs when they started this firm,” he said. “The community has to be front and center in our minds because we’re not doing what we do to go out and get results. It was important to my parents that they gave back, and that’s very important to the people with this firm today. If you’re not giving back, then you’re not in it for the right reasons. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the support of our community, so that is why we do what we do to thank our community.”
That is why the firm has continued that tradition in many ways, including recent donations to the Ronald McDonald House in Pittsburgh and the Access to the Park program operated by the Ogleybay Foundation.
The League Leader
The math is quite simple.
Bordas & Bordas pledged $500 for each sack recorded by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the course of the 2020 season. It just happens the Steelers paced the NFL with 56 sacks, including the 15 recorded by All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt.
The team’s defensive performance not only helped lead Pittsburgh to an AFC North Division title with a 12-4 record, but it also netted the Ronald McDonald House a generous donation of $28,000.
“Our partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Ronald McDonald House has been a great one during the past six years, and we’ve been able to give over $200,000 during that six-year period,” Bordas said. “A lot of that has been because the Steelers’ defense has been so successful. I like to think that some of the players might be encouraged knowing that the money is going to a great cause when they get a sack.
“Our partnership with them has been for the entire course of the Steelers’ NFL record-setting sack streak,” he said. “When you have that many consecutive games with a sack and you lead the league with sacks, it’s been a great way to raise the funds that our partnership has.”
The Ronald McDonald House may be located near UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, but Bordas is well aware the facility has helped many residents in the Upper Ohio Valley as well.
“When you look at the Ronald McDonald House, it really serves people throughout the region, including western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, and southeastern Ohio,” he said. “A lot of children and their families have to go to Pittsburgh for medical care for a very serious illness, and the last thing you want as a parent is leave your child and be an hour or more away from them.
“But a lot of folks can’t afford to stay in hotels every night, and that’s where the Ronald McDonald House comes into play because it gives those parents a place to stay when they are not with their child,” he explained. “Our partnership is our opportunity to give back and to help those families when they need it the most. To do that with the Steelers, a very like-minded organization that is always giving back to their community, it was a very easy to decision to enter into that partnership.”
The People’s Park
Several years ago, Oglebay officials recognized the fact that not all local residents could enjoy the many amenities offered by Wheeling’s two municipal parks, and that is why the Oglebay Foundation implemented the Access to the Parks program.
The initiative permits a qualified child and an accompanying adult to enjoy everything from paddle boating to golfing free of charge throughout the year.
“Through our golf tournament, we were able to raise funds ($10,000) that will allow more children to enjoy what our parks offer,” Bordas said. “That tournament is believed to be the oldest golf tournament in the state of West Virginia, so when we made the decision to get involved, we wanted to make the sure the proceeds were utilized in the best way to help our community. That’s why we decided to support the Access to the Park program through the Oglebay Foundation.
“That program allows for under-privileged children to have the opportunity to experience and use the parks, and that’s why it is such a wonderful program,” he said. “I believe Wheeling and Oglebay parks to be the finest amenities that we have here in our community, and to be able to help those children to have those experiences regardless of their socio-economic situation is really a blessing for the kids and for us.”
