Baird Honors Haws Falasco with Brenton H. Rupple Award

Akron, Ohio – May 29, 2020 – Baird, an employee-owned, international wealth management, asset management, investment banking/capital markets, and private equity firm, has named Kim Haws Falasco the 2020 recipient of the Brenton H. Rupple Citizenship Award, the firm’s highest community service honor. The award, which is bestowed on one associate each year for his or her outstanding dedication to community service and support, was presented to Haws Falasco at Baird’s annual meeting on May 14. The award includes a donation from Baird Foundation to Akron Community Foundation.

Haws Falasco, Director, Branch Manager and Financial Advisor in Baird’s Akron wealth management office is the 23rd recipient of the award, first presented in 1998 to the late Brenton Rupple, Sr., former Baird President and Chairman of the Board. Rupple devoted countless hours throughout his life to more than 40 civic and charitable organizations and college boards.

“On top of building and leading a successful private wealth business, Kim has remained devoted in her quest to constantly better her community,” said Steve Booth, President & CEO of Baird. “She selflessly has shown a deep commitment over the years to celebrating women in our industry, supporting initiatives for underprivileged youth, and raising awareness of environmental issues. We are proud to celebrate her for all she does, both for Baird and in her local community.” Booth presented the award to Haws Falasco during Baird’s annual meeting held for the first time in an entirely virtual format.

Among her many volunteer efforts, Haws Falasco is involved with Girls on the Run and United Way of Summit County, Ohio, as well as the Women's Endowment Fund of the Akron Community Foundation. She also served as American Heart Association's 2016 campaign executive committee, where she chaired the Go Red for Women campaign. Haws Falasco was past president of Baird Women Advisors and the Women's Network of Northeast Ohio, which named her a 2015 "Woman of Professional Excellence" and an Athena Award Finalist in 2009. In 2018, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Northeast Ohio Chapter presented Kim with the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award.

Haws Falasco has been involved with Keep Akron Beautiful since 1997, and currently serves as the Board Chair. In 2019, the organization awarded her with the Keep Ohio Beautiful Board Member of the Year – Dan Weisenbach Spirit Award.

"Kim is truly one-of-a-kind and embodies all the qualities of Baird’s Rupple Award," said Jacqui Flaherty, Chief Executive Officer at Keep Akron Beautiful. "She's very deserving of this award, and Keep Akron Beautiful wouldn't be what it is today without her."

Haws Falasco has also dedicated more than 15 years of service to the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve (BGCWR). Lastly, since 2010, Haws Falasco has also been a member of the Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Board of Summit County and is currently President of the Board.

Baird’s commitment to the community

Baird has a long-standing tradition of giving back to the communities in which its associates live and work, on a corporate and individual level. Baird Foundation provides support to charitable organizations and Baird associates actively volunteer in their communities. Baird’s firm-wide Charitable Gift Matching Program provides

a match for associates’ financial contributions to eligible nonprofit organizations. Associates also receive two paid days off each year to perform volunteer service through the “Baird Cares” program.

Each year, associates team up during Baird Gives Back Week to help with projects such as preparing and serving food, tutoring students, working with seniors, building homes, and cleaning up parks. In 2019, Baird Gives Back Week’s 10th annual year, associates donated more than 7,800 volunteer hours to help nearly 180 nonprofit organizations at 105 Baird locations around the world, making it the largest BGB Week to-date.

About Baird

Putting clients first since 1919, Baird is an employee-owned, international wealth management, asset management, investment banking/capital markets, and private equity firm with offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Baird has approximately 4,600 associates serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and municipal clients and more than $305 billion in client assets as of December 31, 2019. Committed to being a great workplace, Baird ranked No. 13 on the 2020 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list. Baird is the marketing name of Baird Financial Group. Baird’s principal operating subsidiaries are Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated in the United States and Robert W. Baird Group Ltd. in Europe. Baird also has an operating subsidiary in Asia supporting Baird’s investment banking and private equity operations. For more information, please visit Baird’s website at www.rwbaird.com.

For additional information, contact:

Baird Public Relations
(414) 765-7250