Client Profiles

Client Profile – The Frazer Center

The Frazer Center was founded in 1949 as a school for children with cerebral palsy, and currently serves kids and adults with a wide range of delays, disabilities, and differences, as well as typically developing children. Today, inclusion is still at the core of the Frazer Center’s mission, but its delivery has evolved.

While the Frazer Center has only been a client of Pro Bono Partnership since 2019, it has utilized PBPA’s workshops, webcasts, and online resources for many years. According to Chief Executive Officer Paige McKay Kubik, the Frazer Center especially benefitted from PBPA’s guidance during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic:. “The Frazer Center is so grateful to have such incredible resources to call on to provide guidance on ongoing and emerging questions and to flag issues we weren’t aware of. Very few organizations have a legal counsel on staff, so it has been great to have an organization so familiar with the issues faced by nonprofits.”

The Frazer Center offers support for a variety of ages and needs, including an early childhood education program that serves children aged six weeks to five years old. The program provides early education, school readiness, and childcare for working families. Approximately 20-30% of the children in the program have a developmental delay or disability. The inclusive setting provides challenges, motivation, and role modeling for the children with delays or disabilities and teaches the typically developing children that while everyone is different, everyone belongs.

For older adults with intellectual disabilities, the Frazer Center provides support with the skills they need to be active decision-makers and advocates for themselves. The Frazer Center partners with local organizations and businesses to provide tailored support for each individual’s goals including job search assistance.

During much of the pandemic, the Frazer Center continued providing services, including childcare for essential workers, virtual services, and small-group outdoor programming. Additionally, to combat staffing shortages, the center started an internship program for refugee women in partnership with PBPA client Refugee Women’s Network. The women spend 16 weeks as paid interns shadowing lead teachers, improving language and communication skills, and receiving training in child development. Upon completion of the internship, the women may accept full-time positions with the Frazer Center.

Some of the PBPA volunteer attorneys who have worked with the Frazer Center include: Christine Kim (Ballard Spahr); Adrienne Wimberly, Thomas Ryan, Abigail Castleberry and Samantha Smith Lewis (Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP); Charlie Morgan and Andrea Galvez (Alston & Bird LLP); Devaan Bernard (The Home Depot); Karyn Heavenrich (Equifax); Elaine Tapp (Alston & Bird LLP); Justin Victor (Greenberg Traurig) and Scott Cahalan, (Smith Gambrell & Russell, LLP).

Client Profile: SheWill Inc.

SheWill Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Norcross, provides programming and mentorship to girls regarding financial literacy and career empowerment. Through partnering with local schools, churches, and public organizations, SheWill educates young women (ages 8-17) on planning for a brighter, financially secure tomorrow with lecture-based materials, activities, events, and field trips.

SheWill is a long-time Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta client, receiving assistance on a variety of legal matters that have helped the organization’s outreach programs to expand. Sheena Williams, SheWill’s Founder and President, noted that PBPA volunteers not only advised her on matters she requested help with but also on contractual issues that most nonprofits are not aware of without proper legal advice. ”We would not be in total compliance or be able to provide these opportunities without the help of the volunteers and staff at Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta. They have helped us tremendously and we are very appreciative.”

SheWill has expanded to help girls throughout the country in states including Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, and Nevada. The organization builds skills like financial literacy, career preparation, and informed decision-making with activities including entrepreneurship classes, journaling, shopping simulations to understand consumer behaviors, stress management practices, and post-graduate preparation seminars. Despite the impact of the pandemic and challenges to hosting face-to-face financial literacy lessons, SheWill has shown resilience and is working to implement a new hybrid model to allow for continued expansion and assistance for youth nationwide, providing more interactive activities.

PBPA volunteer attorneys who have assisted SheWill include Olivia Hunter (Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner), James Johnson (Eversheds Sutherland), Petra Stewart (Independent), Leah Farmer (Kilpatrick Townsend), and Jake Carroll (Nelson Mullins).

Hire Heroes – Helping Everyday Heroes

Hire Heroes USA, a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Alpharetta, empowers U.S. military members, veterans, and spouses to succeed in the civilian workforce by providing personalized, one-on-one employment assistance throughout their career search. Job seekers receive a high-quality resume, job search strategies, interview advice, and LinkedIn guidance. Additionally, Hire Heroes connects individuals to other resources such as a job board, virtual events, mentoring services, and training partners. In 2021, Hire Heroes USA assisted a record 12,594 veterans and spouses achieve meaningful employment!

Since becoming a PBPA client in 2018, volunteer and staff attorneys have advised Hire Heroes USA on almost 50 legal matters including privacy, fundraising and tax compliance, remote work and other HR policies, and multiple contracts and leases. Most recently, the organization came to PBPA for legal advice on working with social media influencers. According to Michele Wiesner, Director of Capacity Building, Hire Heroes USA is “a better, stronger organization because of our partnership with PBPA.” She added that “working with such friendly people can make addressing legal questions and issues less intimidating” and “we are fortunate to have such an excellent organization serving Atlanta-area nonprofits.”

Volunteer attorneys who have recently completed projects with Hire Heroes USA include: Richard Kruse (AT&T), Helena Gu (Alston & Bird), Reiko Feaver (Culhane Meadows), Eric Larson (Morris, Manning & Martin), Danny Mack (Seyfarth Shaw), Alina Lee (Your Ad Attorney, LLC), John Bradbury (McKesson Provider Technologies) and Alisha Gibson (Kilpatrick Townsend).

Client Profile – Wholesome Wave

Wholesome Wave Georgia (WWG) is a local nonprofit organization that passionately works with local farmers and community partners to provide Georgians in need with access to fresh, healthy, and locally grown food. Founded in 2009, WWG’s mission is to fight nutrition insecurity by facilitating access to and awareness of healthy food choices.

One way WWG furthers its mission is through its Georgia SNAP Connection program. The Georgia SNAP Connection provides a myriad of benefits, including free assistance with food stamps, Medicaid, and child care and family services. Additional programs include Georgia Fresh For Less which matches, dollar for dollar, SNAP dollars spent at participating local farmers markets; Georgia Food for Health, which partners with local healthcare providers to give Georgians creative food prescriptions; and Georgia Plant 2 Plate, which provides households on SNAP a huge discount on local fruit and vegetable plants. Through WWG’s compassion, hard work, and partnership with 77 committed community partners, the organization has been able to serve 37 communities, 47 cities, and over 1,100 households.

Many exciting things have happened for WWG over the last two years, despite the pandemic’s significant impact on the country, and various PBPA volunteer attorneys have assisted WWG along the way. Will Sellers, WWG’s Executive Director, stated that “The relationship we have with PBPA has given us access to some amazing attorneys that there’s no way we could afford on a small budget. The quality of representation, the level of advice we are recipients of, I know you can price it, but we can’t. I can’t imagine WWG dealing with some of the issues we have faced during the pandemic and after without the solid advice and counsel we received from the volunteer attorneys within the PBPA.” He added, “What gets us excited about PBPA and its volunteer attorneys is that the attorneys are accessible and they’re incredibly vested. It’s been an honor to work with them and be in partnership with the PBPA.”

WWG has been a PBPA client for seven years. During that time, volunteer attorneys have assisted WWG with a number of matters. Some of those volunteer attorneys include Vivian Chew and Joel Bradley (Eversheds Sutherland), Kelsie Willett (Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP), Theresa Clark (Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP), Douglas Duerr (Elarbee, Thompson, Sapp & Wilson LLP), Richard Rosenblatt (Jones Day), Thomas Spillman (Smith, Gambrell, & Russell LLP), Jennifer Schumacher (Kilpatrick Townsend), and Emily Borna (Jackson Lewis).

Client Profile – Livramento Delgado Boxing Foundation

Livramento Delgado Boxing Foundation (LDBF) is a nonprofit organization focused on helping those affected by movement challenges. Established in 2013 by Larry and Ellie Kahn with the assistance of Paul Delgado, LDBF developed a vigorous, non-contact boxing exercise program specifically for people with Parkinson’s disease. Research has shown vigorous exercise helps slow the progression of the disease and lessen the severity of symptoms, improving balance, cognitive function, and prolonging independence. Paul ran the program for many years until his retirement.

Denise Formisano, the current chairman of LDBF, is passionate about the work she does as she understands first-hand the challenges those with Parkinson’s face. After being diagnosed with both Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis, she immediately enrolled in the boxing program which has had numerous benefits on her health. The organization has greatly expanded its offerings and outreach, going from eight classes a week to thirty-five. In addition, the organization now offers services for those with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis, as well as programs serving veterans.

Many exciting things have happened for the organization over the last year despite the pandemic and PBPA volunteer attorneys have assisted along the way. Due to the Covid-19 crisis, LDBF began offering virtual classes which have expanded the organization’s outreach. This spring, LDBF opened the new, state-of-the-art Walter and Estelle Strauss Wellness Center. The organization is now able to offer more services including physical therapy, massage therapy, neurology, nutrition counseling and workshops as part of their continuum of care model.

PBPA volunteer attorney Steve Kennedy (Seyfarth Shaw) helped negotiate the lease for the new facility offering legal guidance as they took on this large endeavor. Denise adds, “Steve is always a phone call away. He has worked on several matters and really the reason we are here today.”

LDBF has been a PBPA client for three years. In that time, volunteer attorneys have assisted the organization with twenty matters. Other attorney volunteers include Ami Rodrigues (Chipotle), Mike Pavento (Kilpatrick Townsend), Stan Shapiro, Ben Russell, Michelle Marchiony (Invacare Corporation), Bob Stupar (Kilpatrick Townsend), Creighton Frommer (RELX Group), Gabby Fulton (Troutman Pepper), Richard Tulis (Morris, Manning & Martin), Gail Gunnells (E Gail Gunnells PC), Dusty Otwell (Dusty Otwell), and Rebecca Kennedy (Goodwin Procter).

Girls on the Run of Atlanta: Running for Confidence and Self-Esteem

Young girls face an overwhelming number of societal challenges around self-esteem, confidence, and building healthy relationships. Girls on the Run of Atlanta believes every girl is inherently full of power and potential. Social-emotional learning is the cornerstone of their research-based lessons for girls ages 8 – 14. Whether in-person or virtually, trained volunteer coaches lead girls of all abilities through research-based lessons which creatively integrate movement and strengthen their emotional and social health. According to Lea Rolfes, Girls on the Run of Atlanta’s Executive Director, the programs are non-competitive, encouraging body movement and mind-body connection.Girls on the Run of Atlanta is an independent 501c3, part of the international organization of Girls on the Run. Primarily serving metro-Atlanta area counties including Cobb, Fulton, Gwinnett and DeKalb counties, Girls on the Run of Atlanta can be found in over 150 schools, after-school programs and working with community partners like the YMCA. In addition to after-school programming, the organization also offers spring break and summer camps. All programming is offered on a sliding fee scale with a third of girls participating at no cost at all. Girls on the Run of Atlanta ensures these participants start the program with a running bra, shoes, and snacks.

Due to the pandemic, Girls on the Run of Atlanta has shifted many of their programs to a virtual format. Lea Rolfes states the organization’s primary concern is to deliver safe online programs but she adds, “This is not your average Zoom. We are up running, having a dance party and encouraging movement.” Whether virtual or in person, the organization aims to offer programming that is intentional and impactful.

Girls on the Run of Atlanta has been a Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta client for over ten years and has worked with several volunteer attorneys on matters including employee handbooks, policies and procedures, and risk management related matters. Some of the volunteer attorneys who have worked with Girls on the Run Atlanta include: Matthew Clarke (Smith, Gambrell, & Russell LLP), Gail Gunnells (E. Gail Gunnells PC), Kara Ong (Truist), Paul Libretta (Credigy), Mike Pavento (Kilpatrick Townsend), Alison Prout (Bondurant Mixson and Elmore) and Stephanie Aferiat (Home Depot).

Lea adds, ” We have benefited greatly from PBPA over the years! It is so reassuring for a small organization like ours to have this resource. Amazing volunteer attorneys have helped us with projects big and small, and our team frequently uses the website and online training events to ensure we\’re keeping our staff, volunteers, and more importantly the girls we serve, safe and supported. “

Client Profile: Cool Girls, Inc.

Founded by Dawn Smith in 1989 in response to the desperate plight of young girls living in the East Lake Meadows housing community, Cool Girls works to develop girls into confident women through education and exposure to a broad world of opportunities. Having served over 5000 girls in its 32 years of existence, Cool Girls has empowered these young girls to overcome obstacles in their way of becoming successful women.

According to Executive Director Tanya Egins, the goal of Cool Girls is to work with girls living in low–income areas to achieve academic success and build confidence to break cycles of poverty. She underscores the importance of creating a support system for the girls throughout their formative years. In light of this, all participants have an opportunity to be in the Cool Girls program from the time they are seven years old until they graduate from college.

Cool Girls aims to achieve its goals through three core programs, Cool Girls Club, Cool Scholars and Cool Sisters. As their flagship initiative, the Cool Girls Club is a weekly after-school program for girls in 2nd to 8th grade. The program focuses on providing the girls social and emotional learning emphasizing communication, healthy relationships, conflict resolution, STEM and nutrition. Highschool girls participate in Cool Scholars, concentrating on college prep and college tours. The aim of the program is to increase their self-esteem and expose them to varied cultural opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable.

Once participants have been with the program for a year, they are then matched with a mentor through the Cool Sisters program. This program offers one-on-one mentoring and has matched over 1,000 Cool Girls with caring adult role models. These role models serve as positive influences in the lives of the girls and reinforce the program’s principles. These unique relationships provide motivation, inspiration, and life-long friendships for the young girls. The mentor becomes a person with whom they can share their troubles, receive advice and career guidance.

Cool Girls has been a client of Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta for over a decade. The organization has worked with many different PBPA volunteer attorneys including Destiny Washington (Ford Harrison), Jake Harris (King & Spalding), Ivor Longo (Coca-Cola Refreshments), Bob Nance (Insight Global), Kier Prince (Emory University) and Don Prather (Meunier Carlin & Curfman). Tanya Egins, Executive Director of Cool Girls believes “Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta is so valuable to small organizations like Cool Girls. “The workplace skills the volunteers provide are necessary for us to achieve the scale, sustainability and program delivery to the girls we serve and our community.” PBPA is privileged to support Cool Girls’ incredible and passionate work for the community.

Client Profile: Paint Love

In the midst of the global pandemic, many client-facing organizations have struggled to maintain client engagement without in-person programming. Paint Love, however, has creatively adapted to new challenges and used the online shift to expand the reach of their work to empower kids through art.

Paint Love is an Atlanta-based nonprofit that partners with local artists, Title I schools, and other organizations to develop artist-led projects for kids facing trauma and poverty. These children may not otherwise have access to different forms of art. Since 2014, Paint Love has served over 10,000 youth with their projects that are specially formulated by trauma-informed standards. Artist partners have donated their skills in dozens of art forms including metalsmithing, jewelry design, glassblowing, sculpture, mural painting, graphic design, photography and more. In addition to visual arts, Paint Love recognizes the importance of all art forms and has also incorporated yoga, spoken word, slam poetry and writing into their programming.

Laura Shaw, Executive Director of Paint Love, emphasizes the importance of promoting art as a method of healthy expression and as a coping strategy. According to her, “COVID-19 has increased the demand for stress-informed care because the pandemic has thrust a lot of kids, even those in stable homes, into some level of uncertainty.” Paint Love has adapted with the changing environment and has begun to offer resources on their website which can be downloaded at home. Besides art project guides with instructions for different at-home projects, Paint Love also offers resources to help caregivers in promoting healthy expression through art. “We’ve had a unique opportunity to focus on a different growth path and to expand our reach to help people use art to cope with the stress of the pandemic,” Laura states, noting that Paint Love recently developed a curriculum based on the work of Black artists which was downloaded in fifteen states and five different countries.

In-person painting projects prior to pandemic

Paint Love has been a client of Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta since 2014 and worked with volunteer attorneys including Ryan Schneider of Troutman Pepper LLP, Ashley Heggi of Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Ted Solley of Moser Law Co. Gaylon Hollis of Ballard Spahr, Eric Reynolds of Jones Day, Joe Freeman of Cox Enterprises and Candace Rodriguez of Home Depot, have helped Paint Love navigate a wide variety of legal questions. “We’re very thankful for the partnership. So many weird things come up running a nonprofit and it’s been such an asset to be able to draw from the knowledge and connections at Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta” Laura adds. For more information on the resources Paint Love provides, visit gopaintlove.org.

Client Profile: Second Helpings

Second Helpings Atlanta has been serving the mission of reducing hunger and food waste in Atlanta for over 15 years. The organization serves as a food rescue network, picking up unused surplus food from area businesses and delivering it to partner agencies with feeding programs such as food pantries, soup kitchens and day programs, many of which serve children. In 2019, Second Helping Atlanta’s network, consisting of nearly 400 volunteers, facilitated the delivery of 1.7 million pounds of food – roughly 1.4 million meals to those in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, Second Helpings Atlanta like many organizations had to quickly pivot its operations to serve the suddenly changing needs of the community it serves. In March, due to the rapid shutdown of area businesses and organizations, including stadiums, corporate kitchens, and restaurants, a new need arose. Executive Director Andrea Jaron states, “Second Helpings Atlanta received a flurry of calls requesting immediate pickup of food surpluses that would have otherwise gone to waste.” Second Helpings immediately facilitated the delivery of tens of thousands of pounds of food from these facilities to its partners.

As businesses continued to navigate this new and constantly changing environment, many corporate kitchens and restaurants, in a desire to both keep their underutilized kitchens open and to serve those in need, used their facilities to prepare meals. Second Helpings Atlanta made sure those meals were delivered to its partner organizations with feeding programs.

Due to the pandemic, Second Helpings Atlanta has fostered new relationships and partnerships with organizations, restaurants, and other food service businesses. Most notable is the Atlanta Community Kitchen Project which is a collaboration between the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Second Helpings Atlanta, and the Atlanta Rotary Club. This collaboration has a goal of providing 500,000 meals before the end of summer 2020. In addition, through the Atlanta Community Kitchen Project, Second Helpings Atlanta has expanded its partner agencies from 40 to 55, resulting in an increased impact of 50%.

Second Helpings Atlanta is a new client of Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta. In this short time, it has participated in the Nonprofit Legal Check Up and has been able to benefit from legal advice and guidance from several volunteer attorneys including Nick DuPuis and Arthur Gambill of McGuireWoods, Clark Calhoun of Alston & Bird, Richard Kruse of AT&T, Jill Wasserman of Boehringer Ingelheim, Ethan Picone of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., and Angela Robert of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.

Client Profile: YWCA of Greater Atlanta

Eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. That is the mission of YWCA of Greater Atlanta, which works to eliminate racism and empower women through three pillars: education and empowerment, advocacy and social justice, and health and safety.

According to CEO Sharmen Gowens, the goal of YWCA of Greater Atlanta is to help people find their common humanity. She wants their work towards racial justice to be accessible within the Atlanta community and emphasizes that the organization can be a resource for both individuals and corporations in navigating the waters of combating racism.

Through its Conversations program, YWCA of Greater Atlanta focuses on the intersection of race and gender by engaging participants in small-group discussions that illuminate the challenges faced in moving towards a more equitable community. These Conversations are meant to break down the barriers in discussing topics of race and allow participants to learn from those who have lived much different lives. Robyn Miller of Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta has personally experienced the eye-opening conversations. By interacting with women from different walks of life and hearing personal accounts of racism, Robyn says, “I learned so much more than I ever expected through that one lunch conversation about race.”

YWCA of Greater Atlanta emphasizes the importance of education and empowerment for young women through several programs including Teen Girls in Technology and its Early Learning Academy. Their work to eliminate barriers to health services for women in need includes the EncorePlus program which provides nearly 200 free mammograms a year. And the signature program of their advocacy work is The Georgia Women’s Policy Institute which has the goal of improving the lives of women and girls in Georgia.

YWCA of Greater Atlanta has been a client of Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta for over a decade and has worked with many different PBPA volunteer attorneys including Meredith Shaughnessy, Gregg Jacobson of King & Spalding, David Golden of Troutman Sanders, and Hannah Loo of Kilpatrick Townsend. Ms. Gowens describes the relationship as an asset and a gift. PBPA is proud help make possible YWCA of Greater Atlanta’s work towards making Atlanta a more equitable community.

Client Profile: PCCI

For over 20 years, Project Community Connections, Inc. (PCCI) has helped people in Atlanta and beyond experiencing homelessness find permanent affordable housing.

Alison Boyer began working with PCCI as a volunteer with Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta in 2018. Originally PCCI had a very specific request for Alison – help with reviewing a lease agreement. Over the course of the next several months, the team at PCCI and Alison developed a close working relationship which has continued.

After the initial lease review, Alison graciously and willingly continued reviewing purchasing and joint agreements for PCCI. But beyond that, she has been able to offer comprehensive legal reviews of all of PCCI’s real estate projects. “As a non-profit, sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know. Alison’s work with us has given our board a great deal of security,” states Margaret Schuelke, Co-CEO of PCCI.

In 2019, PCCI received news they’d been waiting for – the approval to receive a low-income housing tax credit. This was the first step to a much bigger goal which will allow PCCI to build 117 units of affordable housing on their property.

Alison has been an essential part of bringing this goal to fruition. “Throughout tricky and complicated real estate transactions, she has always been there for us,” said Co-CEO Jimiyu Evans. “She always treats us as she would any other client. She always makes time for us, taking phone calls when she’s traveling, at the airport – even on family vacations.”

One of the things that makes Alison such a remarkable volunteer is that she maintains a low profile. “She stays in the shadows, doing what needs to be done without fuss and staying out of the limelight,” Margaret comments. “She doesn’t know what an integral part of our team she is,” adds Jimiyu.
PCCI continue to thrive because of great Pro Bono Partnership volunteers like Alison Boyer.

Client Profile: Just One Africa

Having access to clean water is something that many people take for granted, but almost 18 million people in Kenya do not have access to clean water. Over 3,100 Kenyan children die every year from diarrhea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation. Founded by Amy and Clay Churchill, Just One Africa’s mission is to care for vulnerable children in Kenya by providing access to clean water and by partnering with local leaders to provide sustainable solutions which create hope through care, education, and community development.

Through their Clean Water Program, Just One Africa provides water filter kits to communities in Kenya and also educates the recipients on hygiene and sanitation. Just One Africa also works with local partners in central and southern Kenya to provide quality education, life skills training, adequate safe housing, and more efficient agricultural methods. For example, a local partner in central Kenya cares for 31 children in a holistic and familial environment to meet the specific needs of each child. In southern Kenya, a local partner provides awareness and education on critical issues like FGM (female genital mutilation), child marriage, and human trafficking. They even started a transitional center and primary school for girls who have been rescued from these dangerous situations.

Amy Churchill, the Director of Operations of Just One Africa shared: “Just One Africa is a solid organization in part to the dedication, diligence, and excellence of the partnership we have with Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta. Over the years we have worked through many matters with several of their highly qualified lawyers, allowing us to conduct our programs in the US and in Kenya with the assurance we are in line with all necessary legal guidelines for operation. Having an understanding of what processes need to be put in place and the resources to accomplish them is a tremendous blessing and [it’s a] relief knowing we aren’t navigating all of this on our own. The ability to ask a question or run a situation past [our staff attorney] Robyn is also a gift as it has allowed us to be efficient with our time and energy, making us much more effective in areas of greater importance. We are very grateful for the investment Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta has made in Just One Africa and look forward to continuing to grow as an organization.”

Just One Africa became a PBPA client in 2014 and has received assistance on 22 legal matters such as drafting an employee handbook, reviewing a lease and drafting financial policies and procedures. The volunteer attorneys who have worked with the nonprofit include Joanne Burrus from GE Power, Maritza Knight Winfunke from Kilpatrick Townsend, Steven Press from Baker Donelson, Brittany Cassell Raway from Hogan Lovells, Jason Howard and Charles Yates III from Alston & Bird, Ken Barr from The Home Depot, Brooks Marro and Christina Meddin from Seyfarth Shaw, Laura Phillips from Equifax and Logan Thore from Chick-fil-A.

Client Profile: Step Ahead Scholars

Applying to college is an investment that requires both time and resources. But not all high school students in Atlanta have access to the basic resources necessary to complete and submit college applications. Kamal Carter and Debra Nealy cofounded Step Ahead Scholars to ensure that all students have access to the resources and tools needed during the college application process. Their mission is to eradicate college inequality.

Kamal Carter recognized the inequality in access to education while teaching chemistry at an underserved Atlanta public high school. Ten years ago, Carter created a volunteer program that gave students an opportunity to have lunch with a mentor and Debra Nealy volunteered to be one of those mentors. At one of these lunches, Debra Nealy’s mentee asked for help with applying to college. The student explained that he lacked internet access and did not know how to even begin to the college application process. Nealy agreed to help and the student was eventually accepted into college and even received scholarship funds to attend for free. Once Carter and Nealy identified this transition pitfall they immediately began providing students and their families free college access support. Based on that success, Carter and Nealy were inspired to start Step Ahead Scholars.

Today, Step Ahead Scholars continues to eliminate barriers to a college education by providing informational sessions, in-school workshops, one-on-one mentoring and community awareness events. In nine years, Step Ahead Scholars has made a tremendous impact on the Atlanta community. The organization, which is 100% volunteer run, has reached more than 2,000 underserved students who have earned over $50 million in scholarships. Ninety-six percent of Step Ahead Scholar seniors enroll in college immediately after graduation.

Step Ahead Scholars became a Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta client in early 2019. With the help of volunteer attorneys, the nonprofit is currently working on three corporate and intellectual property projects. Amber Philogene from Jones Day recently drafted a new volunteer agreement for the organization.

Carter is thankful for PBPA and its volunteer attorneys. He shared “PBPA is an amazing community stakeholder and their willingness to help Step Ahead Scholars has exponentially enhanced our organization’s infrastructure. Working with PBPA volunteers has been invaluable experience. Their gifts of time and expertise have strengthened our foundation, and in doing so, safeguarded our mission, of eradicating college access inequality.”

Client Profile: AWARE Wildlife Center

What would you do if you found an injured hawk in your backyard? Or a nest of abandoned baby squirrels? You might start by contacting the Atlanta Wild Animal Rescue Effort (AWARE). Founded in 1999, AWARE Wildlife Center focuses on the sustained rehabilitation of injured and orphaned native Georgia wild animals, as well as public education for peaceful coexistence with wildlife. In 20 years of operation, AWARE has grown to become an established presence in Georgia for wildlife preservation, environmental education, and rehabilitation efforts.

AWARE accepts up to 2,000 injured and orphaned Georgia native wild animals annually, including songbirds, possums, ducks, deer, and even armadillos. AWARE coordinates with local rehabbers around the state to aid additional rehabilitation efforts and publish educational resources. AWARE also provides community education on peaceful human-wildlife coexistence through educational and fundraising events, including the AWARE Wildlife Night Owl 5k

In 2018 alone, AWARE engaged 12,547 volunteers and community members in programs. On-site AWARE volunteers commit to regular weekly shifts, working in animal care (feeding animals, cleaning, and preparing animal meals) or in areas such as photography/videography and animal placement services. Remote volunteers spread community awareness and assist with Wildlife Hotline operations, rescue, and transport.

Baby foxes.

Katy Smallwood, a Seyfarth Shaw attorney and member of PBPA’s young professionals committee (SpringBoard), first got involved with AWARE when she volunteered for a PBPA project helping the organization in 2013. Katy became so passionate about the work that AWARE does in the community that she later joined AWARE’s board. ”The wildlife that we share our environment with enrich our lives, make this earth a more interesting place to live, and are crucial to a healthy ecosystem, and our own health and wellbeing,” according to Katy.

A long-time volunteer with PBPA, Katy now has a unique appreciation for what PBPA does for nonprofits: “PBPA has been a key partner for AWARE for many years. Without PBPA’s help, AWARE would have had to divert resources away from executing its mission in order to address basic legal needs that were met by PBPA and its volunteers.”

Many PBPA volunteer attorneys have assisted AWARE Wildlife Center with legal matters ranging from lease renegotiations to drafting volunteer and employee handbooks. These attorneys include most recently Angie Woo of Cisco, Da-shon Dixon and Bill Pauly of The Home Depot, Sandy Sullivan of National Vision, Amy Kluesner of InComm, Michelle Johnson of Nelson Mullins, Guinevere Christmann of Flexport, and Jessica Keenum of Alston & Bird.

Nonprofit Client Profile: The Foundation for Hospital Art

PBPA staff volunteer day at the Foundation for Hospital Art

Foundation for Hospital Art began with Paris and a childhood memory. While in Paris showcasing his art, John Feight recalled how his grandfather—a doctor in rural Ohio—was motivated by a desire to care for people regardless of their ability to pay for services. When John returned to Georgia, he began volunteering at Northside Hospital. He was discouraged by the blank walls of the hospital and the effect they had on the children who were already suffering so much.

In 1984, John founded the Foundation for Hospital Art, which strives to give comfort and hope to those who suffer in hospitals by providing artwork at no cost to hospitals. Initially, the artwork was painted directly onto the hospital walls during PaintFest events where patients and volunteers worked together to ease the anxiety that so often accompanies illness and sterile hospital settings.

The Foundation has grown to include over a million volunteers who have completed 44,000 paintings placed in 4,000 hospitals and nursing homes in 195 countries. John’s son, Scott Feight, remembers painting at Northside Hospital as a kid. When he returned to Atlanta after college and began working for GE Energy, his passion for nonprofit work led him to join the Foundation’s Board and serve as President of the GE Volunteers Council. Now, he is the Foundation for Hospital Art Executive Director.

Perhaps most notable in the Foundation’s tremendous growth over the past three decades has been the transition from murals on hospital walls to painting on canvas. Donors select PaintFest kits from a variety of designs and the Foundation ships the canvases, design, and all necessary supplies directly to them. The designs are a “paint-by-number” format so no artistic ability is required. When the canvases are complete, they are shipped back to the Foundation where an artist touches up the artwork. They are then sent to a hospital and displayed with the sponsor’s name.

PaintFest America

The canvases have also been essential to PaintFests that still occur on site at hospitals. “Canvases allow you to paint with a patient who may not be able to get out of bed, or who is confined to a wheelchair,” Scott said. This work has created emotional experiences for volunteers and patients, as Scott recalls painting with a child at a cancer hospital in Argentina who knew he only had a day or two longer to live and the only thing he wanted to do was paint so that patients would have something pleasant to look at and remember him by. The switch to canvas has also taken the Foundation to unique PaintFest locations such as Mongolia, Siberia, and a drug rehab hospital in Cambodia. The Foundation has hosted PaintFests with homeless veterans, prisoners, and military troops overseas.

The quest is to paint in every hospital in the world, which they are well on their way to doing with PaintFest America. This summer, Foundation for Hospital Art embarked on a nationwide trip to paint with cancer patients and survivors in one hospital in each state and the District of Columbia from July 5 to August 23. PaintFest America will culminated in New York where a full installation of canvases featured each state’s bird, flower, and cancer ribbons painted during the tour will be assembled and displayed.

Foundation for Hospital Art recently became a Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta client and participated in Legal Check Up where attorneys identified issues that volunteer attorneys will resolve over the next year. Thus far, the Foundation has worked with Patty Butler of Turner Broadcasting System, Evan Pontz of Troutman Sanders LLP, Robbin Rahman of Kilpatrick Townsend, and Corbin Kennelly, Alexandra Greene, and Danielle Vega of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP. Scott said that Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta has really made Foundation for Hospital Art aware of the small issues that often get overlooked and the importance of compliance.

“Sometimes we just get so focused on our mission and getting artwork out there,” Scott said, “but this allows us to take steps now to ensure that we will be able to continue on.”

Nonprofit Client Profile: Urban Recipe and Wholesome Wave

An Urban Recipe delivery

Urban Recipe and Wholesome Wave Georgia: Two PBPA Clients Bringing Healthy Food to Atlantans in Need

Providing access to affordable, healthy food in disadvantaged communities is a defining mission of many nonprofits. Urban Recipe and Wholesome Wave Georgia are two of the local organizations working to meet this important need.

Urban Recipe (formerly known as Georgia Avenue Community Ministry) began in 1991 when founder Chad Hale learned about food cooperatives and decided to start one. The organization has since grown to form seven food co-ops, each of which is composed of fifty families. Co-ops meet biweekly and members work to sort and distribute the food amongst families while volunteers assist with unloading the food trucks or transporting food for elderly co-op members. Urban Recipe also partners with other food-based organizations to further community impact, such as collaborating on classes with Cooking Matters to teach healthy food education to co-op members. Ultimately, Urban Recipe seeks to affirm that “dignity tastes good” and to provide a sense of community and security by furthering access to food and food resources.

Urban Recipe has been a PBPA client since 2006. Volunteer attorneys including Sireesha Ghanta, Brian Harris, Nicole Ibbotson, Amanda Langston, Sara Loft, Anton Mertens, Amy Michigan, Carly Regan, Rick Rufolo, Logan Thore, Kabir Uddin, Stan Wasowski, Todd Williams, and Tamera Woodard have assisted with numerous projects, including employment issues, a name change, and the creation of their Urban Health clinic which operates with the help of volunteer doctors and nurses to provide free healthcare services.

Said Hale of the free legal assistance provided by PBPA volunteers, “on all sorts of fronts, Pro Bono Partnership has been there for us.” Executive Director Jeremy Lewis appreciates having the opportunity to get to know the attorney assigned to each matter and believes PBPA’s strength lies in the issue-focused partnership between every client and attorney. “I really think Pro Bono Partnership is one of the best nonprofit organizations in the city,” Lewis said, “and working with the attorneys who volunteer, we know that we’re standing on firm ground.”

An Atlanta Farmer’s Market.

Wholesome Wave Georgia began in 2009 and seeks to strengthen local food communities by empowering networks of farmers to facilitate access to and awareness of healthy food choices. The organization’s flagship program—Double Value Coupon Program (DVCP)—is now in effect at fifty farmers’ markets. DVCP allows participants to double the value of federal nutrition benefits from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) and Women, Infant and Children (WIC) funding when used at participating farmers’ markets. Wholesome Wave Georgia also offers transportation to and from the markets on their Fresh Food buses, assists with the often confusing SNAP enrollment process, and has implemented a Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program, which supports healthy lifestyles by prescribing fruits and vegetables to patients for redemption at farmers’ markets.

Wholesome Wave Georgia participated in PBPA’s Legal Check Up in 2014 and has since received assistance from volunteer attorneys including Noelle Abastillas, Jeff Adams, Clayton Coley, Zachary Crowe, Michael Deaton, Andrew Head, Jason Howard, Alison Musto, Dan Noice, W. Scott Ortwein, Sarah Parker, Gloria Robinson, Ellen Samuels, Bryan Stillwagon, Amanda Witt, and Steven Wong.

Executive Director Sara Berney found the Legal Check Up to be incredibly informative and appreciated how the attorneys took the organization step-by-step through each issue and prioritized and assigned the projects accordingly. She also commended the attorneys for how quickly each matter is resolved, especially those flagged as “urgent.”

“As a small organization, there are all sorts of legal questions that come up, and it could really put us in a bad situation,” Berney said.

Both organizations are celebrating milestones in the community this year. Urban Recipe will host their 25th Anniversary party at Mason Art Center on October 23, 2016 and Wholesome Wave Georgia hosted their 6th Annual Southern Chefs Potluck at the Inn at Serenbe on September 13, 2016.

Client Profile: Auditory-Verbal Center

Kelly Duncan, born profoundly deaf, was the first hearing impaired firefighter ever hired at Station 4, the busiest station in Clayton County. Because of cochlear implants and the therapy she received at the Auditory-Verbal Center, she is able to do the job she loves. Jonathan Brilling was also born profoundly deaf and started therapy at the Center when he was only six weeks old.

Therapy at Auditory-Verbal Center

He just graduated as a Lieutenant and member of the Armed Exhibition Drill Team from Riverside Military Academy. Auditory-Verbal Center has many more success stories like these with 100% of its graduates age three or older attending regular schools.

The Auditory-Verbal Center has two locations, Atlanta and Macon, but serves people all over the state of Georgia. The audiology department provides total hearing healthcare through diagnostic testing, hearing aids, and even newborn screening. The Auditory-Verbal Center is one of only a few organizations to provide newborn hearing screening or ABR without sedation. The Audiology department serves anyone from birth to senior.

The Auditory-Verbal Center provides auditory-verbal therapy for very young children who are deaf or hard of hearing. There is an optimal period of time for therapy because a child’s greatest capacity for learning language occurs within the first few years of life. The goal of the therapy is to enable mild to profoundly deaf children to have independent hearing and communication, without the use of sign language or lip reading. Both the child and the family attend therapy sessions at the Center once a week and then implement the techniques at home. When a child graduates from the program they are age appropriate expressively and receptively to their hearing peers by the time they enter kindergarten.

The Auditory-Verbal Center provides this hearing therapy for a fraction of the cost of conventional methods. The Center does not turn families away because of lack of funds and often provides families with discounts and scholarships. According to Debbie Brilling, the CEO of the Auditory-Verbal Center, “Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta is an amazing resource that helps to ensure more money goes toward helping children. The pro bono attorneys we have worked with have been top-notch.” Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta has matched the Center with the following volunteer attorneys to help with various contracts and employment matters: Todd Grice of The Coca-Cola Company, Bryony Bowers of AGL Resources, and Kelly Giustina of Delta Airlines.

The S.H.A.R.E. House

According to the American Bar Association’s Commission on Domestic Violence, 1.3 million women are physically assaulted by an intimate partner every year in the United States. In 2000, 1,247 women were killed by an intimate partner.

S.H.A.R.E. House Quilt

In response to this tragic situation, battered women’s shelters such as the S.H.A.R.E House, in Douglasville, Georgia, have made it their mission to offer a safe place for victims of domestic violence. The S.H.A.R.E. House’s 24-hour emergency shelter provides 25 beds to battered and homeless women and children, as well as three meals per day.

The S.H.A.R.E. House is devoted to bringing a sense of order and stability into the lives of women and children affected by domestic violence. The organization offers seven transitional apartments to help get women get back on their feet and take back their lives. Women who participate in the transitional program can receive job-readiness training, enroll in school, and take advantage of employer connections. Support groups, such as parenting classes and life-skills classes, are offered to battered women, and children who come from violent homes are also provided counseling.

Of the work that Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta has done for this deserving organization, S.H.A.R.E. House executive director Teresa Smith has said, “we greatly appreciate the knowledge and support that the volunteer attorneys have provided to S.H.A.R.E House. Their compassion for our needs as a nonprofit and willingness to work with us and guide the organization on issues when legal services are not available have been outstanding.”

Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta has matched the S.H.A.R.E. House with several volunteer attorneys to strengthen the legal health of the organization. Currently, Diane Prucino of Kilpatrick Stockton is advising the S.H.A.R.E. House on an employment-related matter; and Tamera Woodard of Schiff Hardin is making revisions to the employee handbook. John Lewis of the Coca-Cola Company and Jill Wasserman of King & Spalding advised the S.H.A.R.E. House during a recent Nonprofit Legal Check–Up organized by Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta. The organization is currently seeking assistance from a volunteer attorney with revising its client handbook and addressing liability concerns.

VOICE Today

When VOICE Today founder Angela Williams spoke to three hundred women attending a retreat last year at Callaway Gardens and asked for volunteers to share if they had suffered from sexual abuse, over half of the women stood up. Many of these women broke the silence on their abuse for the first time that day and subsequently made a commitment to healing and restoration.

Angela Williams (founder) &
Tom Scales (executive director)

VOICE Today’s mission is to break the silence and cycle of sexual abuse through protection, prevention, and healing. VOICE Today offers educational workshops that teach adults how to actively and proactively protect children from sexual abuse. Parents learn how to talk to their children about sexuality and personal boundaries. Understanding personal boundaries prepares a child to recognize the difference between OK behavior and not OK behavior. VOICE Today promotes engaging in this communication early on so that even young children will know if someone is acting inappropriately.

In addition to teaching prevention skills, VOICE Today’s workshops teach adults how to detect signals of abuse. An abused child is more likely to tell a nurse, teacher, or classmate about the abuse than his or her own parents, often because the perpetrator is someone the child’s family knows and trusts. VOICE Today strives to take the burden of reporting abuse off of the child by emphasizing adult intervention. VOICE Today empowers adults to be alert to symptoms of abuse in their own children as well as other children in their community.

VOICE Today also hosts workshops and support groups for survivors of sexual abuse to promote restoration and healing. Because the full-time VOICE Today volunteers are survivors of sexual abuse, they know firsthand what it is like to endure the abuse and live with its devastating effects.

It is the vision of VOICE Today to change the world into a place that is safe for children and compassionate to survivors. While child abuse is a worldwide problem, awareness and prevention programs are virtually unheard of in many other countries. VOICE Today has promoted its cause in Mexico and is currently working with a ministry for exploited children in Bulgaria. VOICE Today is also collaborating with students at the Savannah College of Art and Design to create educational books and dolls based on the books’ characters.

Pro Bono Partnerhip of Atlanta has matched VOICE Today with Chris Bussert and Sabina Vayner of Kilpatrick Stockton and Mialeeka Williams of The Coca-Cola Company who are currently advising VOICE Today on trademark, copyright, and website issues, and Mona Maerz of Chamberlain Hrdlicka, who is working with the organization on waivers and releases.

kidz2leaders

Studies have shown that over 80% of children of prisoners will one day be incarcerated themselves. These children grow up without the support of one or both of their parents. kidz2leaders teaches children of prisoners that they are in charge of their destiny, and while the statistics say one thing, they can grow up to be whoever they want.

kidz2leaders began in 1999 to help change the lives of prisoners’ children and to break the vicious cycle of incarceration. They teach these often overlooked children leadership, social skills, and financial responsibility. Most importantly kidz2leaders provides these children with emotional and spiritual support.

kidz2leaders starts with a week-long fun-filled camp, camp hope®. Third through fifth graders learn to rise above their circumstances with sports, art, singing, camp fires, and praise and worship time. Seventh through ninth graders who have been with the program at least two years attend the Leadership Training Academy. This program teaches children to have self-control, develop group strategies, and create personal goals and ideals.

interns4tomorrow, another kidz2leaders program, connects former campers with companies throughout Atlanta. Many children of prisoners only know a life of government dependence; interns4tomorrow enables graduates of the Leadership Training Academy to gain valuable job skills as interns while they earn money. These students grow up with kidz2leaders, having learned to overcome major adversity and break the cycle of incarceration and government dependence.

kidz2leaders became a Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta client in March of 2009. Of the work that Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta has done for this deserving organization, kidz2leaders founder and president Rev. Diane H. Parrish has said, “[w]ithout the generosity of the Pro Bono staff and participating attorneys, these efforts would not be possible. Our non-profit organization is extremely focused on minimizing operational costs and does not have the budget to pay for these legal services … We are most grateful for the advice, guidance, and expertise of the attorneys that have willingly consulted with us.”

The following volunteer attorneys have worked with kidz2leaders to help ensure the organization’s continued success: Michelle O’Leary of Littler Mendelson and Marcia Alembik of Hunton & Williams LLP assisted kidz2leaders in evaluating its risks in the internship program; Brynne Goncher of Morris, Manning, & Martin LLP has provided legal advice regarding HIPAA compliance in connection with its camp applications; Peter Farley of Beaulieu Group, Lou Barbieri of Womble Carlyle, and Lori Shapiro of Graphic Packaging Corporation did a legal assessment during Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta’s Nonprofit Legal Check-Up. Presently, George Sewell, Shymeka Hunter of Jackson Lewis, and Adam Humphrey of King and Spalding LLP are assisting on various legal matters for the organization.

The Atlanta Micro Fund

Keeping it all in the family is important to Ashley Richardson, owner of City Automotive. Thirty-two years ago his father began this family-owned business, where Mr. Richardson and his wife now work. Even their 11-year-old son can occasionally be found helping out.

Ashley Richardson of City
Automotive

Mr. Richardson recently found himself in need of an equipment loan in order to keep this family-centered business thriving. Several banks turned Mr. Richardson down but eventually he found the Atlanta Micro Fund (AMF). After completing the loan program orientation and application process, City Automotive received a $3500 loan from AMF to purchase a vehicle lift. This additional equipment will help City Automotive repair more cars in less time, thus making it possible for Mr. Richardson to continue the business his father started long ago.

The Atlanta Micro Fund, a certified Community Development Financial Institution and U.S. Small Business Administration Micro Loan intermediary, helps to create jobs for low and moderate-income small business entrepreneurs in metropolitan Atlanta. AMF began operations in April 1999 and serves microenterprises in Fulton County and surrounding counties.

From its inception, AMF recognized that entrepreneurs, like Mr. Richardson, are often excluded from traditional small business sources of financing. AMF operates a small business loan program that gives entrepreneurs and business owners the opportunity to receive up to $15,000 in capital to launch or expand small businesses in metropolitan Atlanta. Additionally, the Atlanta Micro Found provides small business counseling to assist borrowers in developing personal budgets, business cash flow projections, marketing strategies and materials. These programs help AMF achieve the goal of stabilizing and increasing the household income of low to moderate-income small business owners.

Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta has matched the Atlanta Micro Fund with several volunteer attorneys to strengthen the legal health of the organization. Currently, Reginald O’Shields of Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta and Cindy Hanson of Kilpatrick Stockton are ensuring that AMF complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Diane Prucino of Kilpatrick Stockton is addressing employment questions, Jennifer Miller of King & Spalding is drafting an agreement, and Edward Falso of GE Energy is preparing a waiver form for the organization.

Albert T. Mills Enrichment Center

Rosa Arnold’s son, Albert T. Mills, was shot in the back and killed during a robbery in 1994 when he was working a second job over the holidays to support his family. Rosa went to the arraignment hearing for the two young men who shot her son and was struck by how callous and cold they were. She felt compelled to take action in the wake of her son’s death and chose to focus her efforts on the children in the neighborhoods where the perpetrators grew up in order to break the cycle that leads to hopelessness and violence.

Rosa Arnold & Albert T. Mills
Enrichment Center Students

Rosa opened a free preschool for underprivileged children from violent neighborhoods in 1995 and named it after her son. The Albert T. Mills Enrichment Center provides a loving, nurturing, and stable Christian environment to help counteract the family and neighborhood situations in which the children are raised. The center serves the children’s basic needs by providing free breakfast and lunch, which may be the only meals they eat that day. Ms. Rosa and the teachers daily assess other needs such as clothing and provide those as needed. A bus picks the children up from their home and returns them every day.

Albert T. Mills Enrichment Center prides itself in preparing children for kindergarten and teaches the children how to sit, listen and show respect for each other and their teachers, in addition to teaching the basic academic skills appropriate for preschool and pre-K programs. The Center also provides spiritual development and basic life skills training to the children. Over fifty children are currently enrolled in the school.

Rosa has faced many challenges in trying to help others. The Center suddenly lost its lease in August and quickly moved to donated space in Ormewood Presbyterian Church. Shortly after the move, thieves broke into the church and stole computers, CD players, TVs, furniture and even frozen meat that was meant for the children. Fortunately, the community came to her aid and soon replaced everything that had been stolen. In spite of the challenges, Rosa stays focused on the mission of helping the children.

Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta has matched the Rosa with several volunteer attorneys as she and her Board seek to strengthen the legal health of the organization. Rachel Eisenstat of Paul Hastings, Clayton Coley of McKenna Long & Aldridge and Tim Silvis of Miller & Martin have each provided free legal assistance to the Center.