Associated Black Charities (ABC) honored Ballard Spahr Chair Mark Stewart with the Change Agents Award at its Annual Gala in Baltimore on Saturday.

ABC is a Maryland foundation that works to create healthier, more prosperous communities through responsible leadership and philanthropic investment. The ultimate goal of ABC is a thriving African American middle class.

Honorees were selected based on their work to provide greater access and opportunities to the African American community. Mr. Stewart was one of three individuals honored at the gala, which is the organization's largest annual event.

Mr. Stewart is recognized as a leader in the effort to bring greater diversity to the legal profession. In 2016, the Business Law Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association honored Mr. Stewart with the Albert S. Dandridge, III, Diversity Award. He has also been recognized by the Profiles in Diversity Journal.

“Mark champions diversity and inclusion by example and through his leadership,” said Ballard Spahr Chief Diversity Officer Virginia G. Essandoh. “He makes sure it is a priority and that it is incorporated throughout all aspects of the firm.”

As Chair, Mr. Stewart has appointed diverse lawyers to firm leadership positions. He is also a member and former co-chair of Ballard Spahr’s Diversity and Inclusion Council.

Ballard Spahr recently joined with PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (PNC) to strengthen the pipeline for diverse law students. Together they launched a 1L Diversity Fellowship Program in Baltimore. The program selects an outstanding first-year law student to work as a summer associate in Ballard Spahr’s Baltimore office and to spend two weeks interning in the PNC Legal Department.

About Ballard Spahr

Ballard Spahr LLP, an Am Law 100 law firm with more than 500 lawyers in 14 offices in the United States, provides a range of services in litigation, business and finance, real estate, intellectual property, and public finance. Our clients include Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, life sciences and technology companies, health systems, investors and developers, government agencies and sponsored enterprises, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations. The firm combines a national scope of practice with strong regional market knowledge. For more information, please visit www.ballardspahr.com.