Oklahoma City law firm donates air conditioners to OKDHS clients

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- Record-breaking heat can take a serious toll on Oklahoma residents, especially for those without air conditioning. In some cases the high temperatures can be fatal.

In an effort to help their fellow Oklahomans, members of the Oklahoma Association for Justice (OAJ) have launched a movement called "Lawyers are Cool." The group's goal was to place 100 window unit air conditioners in the homes of those in need, identified by OKDHS staff. With the tremendous response, they exceeded this goal and will be able to purchase 200 units.

OAJ has partnered with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) to distribute the air conditioning units to families in Oklahoma, Cleveland, Garfield, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie and Tulsa counties. Additional efforts are underway to provide more air conditioners to households in Pittsburg and Woodward counties.

Under a blazing sun on the afternoon of Aug. 2, 2012, Brad Gungoll, a founding partner of the Oklahoma City law firm of Gungoll, Jackson, Collins, Box and Devoll, helped deliver 75 window units to OKDHS in the parking lot of the Lowe's Home Improvement store at 1501 South I-35 Service Road in Moore.

"This is absolutely amazing," said Karen Jacobs, OKDHS Office of Volunteerism and Faith Based and Community Initiatives. "These air conditioners provide relief to families who desperately need the help to stay cool. We cannot say 'thank you' enough to Brad and his colleagues. This effort is saving lives."

Thanks to the generosity of various communities across Oklahoma, OAJ has raised more than $30,000 to pay for the window units and their installation.

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Brad Gungoll does an interview with KFOR, Oklahoma City television Channel 4.

Karen Jacobs, OKDHS Office of Volunteerism and Faith Based and Community Initiatives (center), accepts donated window unit air conditioners from (L-R) David Berstein, Noble McIntyre and Brad Gungoll from the group, "Lawyers are Cool."