Calfee has been honored as the recipient of the 2004 CBF/CBA Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service Project.  The award was presented at the Columbus Bar Foundation's annual meeting on Thursday, November 18th, 2004.

In September of 2003, Calfee joined Jewish Family Services (JFS) of Columbus to offer the Microenterprise Development (MD) Program, addressing the needs of Central Ohio’s growing immigrant population.  The MD Program, now a part of Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI), focuses on low- to moderate-income immigrants interested in starting or sustaining a small business.  Aspiring entrepreneurs who qualify for the program obtain pro bono training and services necessary to start their business. 

Calfee’s services include providing monthly classes on Ohio’s business organization process and assisting participants in preparing and filing legal documents necessary to launch their business.  Several attorneys and staff members from the Columbus and Cleveland offices have volunteered their time, including Yelena Antipova and Steve Karzmer who have been with the program from the very beginning.

Other volunteers include Doug Morgan, Senator Finan, Bob Ross, Kip Wahlers, Troy Terakedis, Mark Belleville, Sean Myers-Payne, Robert Lech, Mark Losey, Courtney Miller, Dan Reinhard, Pete Rosato, Chris Ward, Stephen Wiley, Anne Will, Lori Hannan, Joan Drew, Theresa Hairston and Laurel Marazita.

The firm, along with partners ECDI, JFS and PricewaterhouseCoopers, has counseled over 300 people, had 17 referrals and helped organize 7 new Central Ohio businesses during the past 14 months, including a not-for-profit counseling service, coffee shop, jewelry store, cleaning company, web-auction company, clothing store and trucking transportation company.  Calfee also was honored with a special recognition award by Jewish Family Services for the firm's work on the project.