Black in-house lawyers have rallied around the legacy of one of their own, gone too soon, to inspire and support young women and girls in Missouri.

The Verona Dorch Memorial Fund plans to raise $50,000 for Girls Inc. St. Louis professional and educational programs in and around St. Louis, and is managed by the Cleveland Foundation. Money will go toward mentorship programs for as many as 9,000 girls aged 6 to 18.