Permit me a personal word this Friday afternoon about what is happening in our beloved country.

The images we have seen over the past 10 days have been horrific. It is appalling to watch acts of violence being committed, whether by private individuals or by the officials whom we charge to serve and protect us. It almost is more than one can bear. One is tempted to simply turn away, to say that’s not us, that’s not who we are. Can’t we just arrest and punish the wrongdoers, and move on?

The legendary football coach Vince Lombardi once said, “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”

His quote came to mind during the past few weeks as I have been taking stock of the past year and looking forward to 2018. In particular, I have been thinking about my colleagues who have been recognized for doing the kind of excellent work they always do. They don’t expect any fanfare or special recognition, but the kudos started coming in the form of awards and rankings for individual lawyers, teams and the firm.

“If you move here, you move the world.”

That is the message in Detroit’s bid to attract Amazon to the vibrant city that has been our headquarters for 165 years. And we wholeheartedly agree.

We understand the appeal for those who want to come to Detroit and to all of the downtowns we call home. In fact, the appeal is so strong that we never left. We welcome the wave of new businesses that have opened in Detroit in recent years, and are excited to continue our relationship with the city that has always been our home and has shaped who we are as a firm.

Spring is finally here, and with the warmer weather come the sights and sounds of newness everywhere you look, including downtown. It seems only fitting that this time of year we’re also celebrating and contributing to the success of Detroit’s newest businesses, businesses that are bringing energy and vitality to the city as fresh as spring itself.

We are excited that our client, Detroit Blows, one of the city’s first blow-dry bars, and its owners Katy Cockrel and Nia Batts, are receiving a $20,000 grant from Motor City Match, which connects new and growing businesses with funding, real estate and the tools entrepreneurs need to succeed.

It might be hard to believe, but one of my favorite times of the year is February. It’s not because of Michigan’s winter weather. Nor is it because I’m a hopeless romantic who just loves Valentine’s Day. It’s because February is the time of year my colleagues from all over the world come to Michigan to gather for the firm’s annual meeting.

As the year 2016 comes to a close, many of us are reflecting on what has been a year of ups and downs, challenges and opportunities. As I look back on the year, a few things stand out and make me feel especially proud of my colleagues and my firm and the ways we’ve grown this year and the many ways we have supported our clients, our communities and each other. Among them:

They are generous. The staff and attorneys I work with are some of the most giving people I know. Whether they are contributing money to support worthy charitable causes, or giving of their time through pro bono work and volunteerism, my colleagues never fail to make me proud. This year alone, the firm contributed more than $1.8 million and thousands of volunteer hours to endeavors that promote the greater good in our communities. These contributions included more than 5,000 hours of pro bono service performed by our lawyers. And Leo Goddeyne, a senior attorney in the firm’s Kalamazoo office, was recognized by the State Bar of Michigan as the recipient of the John Cummiskey Award in recognition of his outstanding service in pro bono. Finally, this year Wendy Richards joined the firm as Pro Bono Counsel, which will help our attorneys make even deeper commitments to give back in 2017 and beyond.