The Deka Law Group Fund

Deka Law Group was built across generations to support families for generations and focuses solely on trusts, estates, and tax. Its founder, Kelley Bannon Lashley, worked alongside her grandfather, Robert D. Bannon, and eventually took over the practice that has served Pasadena and the greater Los Angeles area for more than 50 years. Kelley has served on PCF’s Professional Advisors Committee since 2015.

Deka Law Group is dedicated to community engagement and created the Deka Law Group Fund to support charitable causes in the Pasadena area.

Created December 2020

From KellEy Bannon Lashley 

The following is a guest piece written by Kelley Bannon Lashley for PCF’s 2023 spring newsletter.

“Giving back to the community is more than just a nice thing to do; it’s at the core of who we are at Deka Law Group. As part of our community service program, Deka Gives, we established a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) at the Pasadena Community Foundation in late 2020. I’m very much a believer in “team” and that we work better when every person’s role is valued. That concept can be challenging in an environment like a law practice, which is historically very hierarchical.

I’ve always been community minded, and I recently realized that maybe the way I’ve been giving charitably was not necessarily consistent with my notion of “team” that I try to foster professionally. So, at the end of 2021, one year after creating our DAF at PCF, I awarded bonuses to my staff that included an additional $1,000 for each staff member to use as a charitable gift to a nonprofit organization of their choice. Each team member would be assigned one month during 2022 and would share with the team which organization they chose and why it is significant to them. We feature those pieces, accompanied by photos, on our social platforms.

We now have more than a year of giving under our belt, and I could not be more amazed at the enthusiasm and commitment my team has shown in choosing nonprofit recipients that are personally meaningful to them. (this next part can be cut if space is an issue) For example:

• One chose Elizabeth House because she serves on its board
• One chose PCC Foundation because she is working toward her paralegal certificate there
• One chose an Orange County food bank where she volunteered as a student while attending Cal State Fullerton
• One chose City of Hope because she is a breast cancer survivor who relied on its treatment expertise

Our DAF with PCF has been a phenomenal vehicle in helping Deka Law Group diversify the issues and nonprofits it supports, as well as realize the power of teamwork.”