AIG to Receive Street Law’s Excellence in Service Award

Street Law’s 2021 Excellence in Service Award will be presented to American International Group, Inc. (AIG). Lucy Fato, AIG’s Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Global Head of Communications and Government Affairs, will accept the award on the company’s behalf at the 2021 Virtual Street Law Awards Program on April 21, 2021.

The Excellence in Service Award recognizes the volunteer efforts of companies, law firms, and organizations that provide exceptional community service in the form of a Street Law program.

Since 2012, AIG has participated in Street Law’s Legal Diversity Pipeline Program. Using the training and curricular materials received from Street Law, AIG partners with local high schools to teach young people about the law and legal careers. More than 150 AIG volunteers have spent over 3,500 hours working with nearly 800 high school students teaching Street Law lessons across three program sites: Heights High School in Houston; the Urban Assembly School of Business for Young Women in New York; and Theodore Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles.

The Street Law Legal Diversity Pipeline Program is one of AIG’s most popular pro bono initiatives. Volunteers teach the students how to navigate legal situations that might arise in their daily life, such as the relationship between cyberbullying and the law, developing and maintaining credit, identifying sexual harassment, and entering into contracts.

“AIG’s program is unique because of its incredibly committed volunteers,” says Joy Dingle, Street Law’s Director of Legal Diversity Pipeline Programs. “AIG creates a culture that encourages and supports employees who want to share their time and talents with young people. Their collective impact on students in the Legal Diversity Pipeline program is immeasurable.”

“AIG has a long, proud history of volunteerism and providing pro bono legal services in communities across the world where we work and live,” says Lucy Fato. “Our colleagues show kindness, empathy and compassion while also teaching and mentoring individuals, particularly young students such as those served by Street Law. The Street Law Legal Diversity Pipeline Program, in particular, is very popular at AIG because the students and our volunteers have fun in addition to learning valuable lessons that can be used over a lifetime. Everyone involved benefits.”

Students who participate in the program report a deeper understanding of the laws that affect their everyday lives as well as a greater interest in pursuing a legal career. When asked if they were more interested in the legal profession after completing AIG’s Street Law program, a student from the 2019 program in Houston said, “Yes, [this program] makes me more interested in law because I know more of the law [and the] rights I have.”

In honor of the company’s exceptional partnership with Street Law and its dedication to diversifying the legal profession, Street Law is proud to present AIG with its 2021 Excellence in Service Award.

Image: AIG logo