Spotlight on
Giving
CAMP ONE STEP
Every year, more than 10,000 children in the
United States under the age of 15 are diagnosed
CHICAGO
with cancer. Camp One Step in Chicago provides
empowering, educational and fun experiences for
kids coping with this grave diagnosis. Through 11
year-round programs for children and their families
throughout the Midwest, Camp One Step has served
more than 16,000 campers in its 39-year history.
Bill Strotman, a Municipal Bonds Trader in Baird’s
Chicago office, learned about Camp One Step when
his son, Luke, was diagnosed with cancer 10 days
before his 4th birthday in 1999. Luke attended his
first camp session at age 7.
“It’s all about empowering the kids with a sense
of normalcy so they know they’re not alone with
what they’re going through,” says Bill. “It’s a
phenomenal place, and I really think it helps treat
the whole child.”
Luke attended camp every year – through multiple
remissions and relapses – and still returns each
SEATTLE
summer as a counselor. Six years ago, he underwent
a successful bone marrow transplant and is now a
happy and healthy 23-year-old.
Bill now serves as Treasurer of Camp One Step,
with extensive support from his colleagues and the
Baird Foundation, which sponsors an annual Poker
Tournament in Chicago that raises approximately
$100,000 for the organization. Bill’s colleagues often
attend golf tournaments benefiting Camp One Step,
SEATTLE SPECIAL OLYMPICS USA GAMES
Last July, Phil Banta, Vice President and Financial Advisor with
Baird’s Seattle Private Wealth Management (PWM) office, donned
a matching blue shirt with dozens of Baird associates, settled
into a basketball stadium in Seattle and waved pom-poms to
cheer for teams of strangers he’d never met before.
and he credits Pat Lawton, Director of Fixed Income Phil and 60 associates from the Seattle and Bellevue branches
Capital Markets, with inspiring the team to raise an volunteered as “Fans in the Stands” for the USA Games of the
astonishing $34,000 in one afternoon during a golf Special Olympics, held in Seattle from July 2-6, 2018. The USA
outing several years ago. Games featured 14 sports, including swimming, flag football,
“The whole Fixed Income department has my back.
Baird has been nothing short of wonderful,” he says.
basketball, tennis and soccer.
“Over a two-day period, Baird associates showed up over the
week of Independence Day to cheer Special Olympians in an
amazing display of sportsmanship, courage and competition,”
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