Daniela Walters, a patent attorney at The Dobrusin Law Firm, and president of Main Street Pontiac, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works with the City of Pontiac government, Oakland County Economic Development, and the Pontiac Downtown Business Association, was a driving force behind the inaugural Pontiac Phoenix Races. 

The event, open to Pontiac resident high school students, encouraged kids to form a team, work with mentors to build wooden gravity-powered cars, and race the cars down Wayne and West Lawrence Streets which were closed to traffic, all in one day. There was also a bracket-oriented competition for adults who wanted to join in the fun. The goal of the event was to cultivate comfortable and fun relationships between professionals in STEAM careers with high school students in Pontiac and with one another while also creating scholarships for rising seniors who entered the race. 

“It was wonderful to bring such a popular, old pastime as the derby races to downtown,” said Daniela. “The day was about camaraderie and fostering interest and involvement in STEAM fields – science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics.”

Daniela also gathered a group of law clerks, interns, and attorneys from Dobrusin Law to test build their selected kit. 

Last year, the City of Pontiac, Downtown Pontiac Business Association, and Main Street Pontiac presented The Dobrusin Law Firm with their Partner Award at the Community Awards dinner, honoring its dedication to improving the downtown community. The Dobrusin Law Firm was selected for the Partner Award not only for continuously and reliably sponsoring a number of events over the years, but also for supporting the active involvement of their employees in a myriad of organizations within the community.