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Pro Bono Law Firm Liaisons Meet June 21st
Learn more about volunteer opportunities available for you (or your representative) and attorneys at your law firm by attending the Pro Bono Law Firm Liaison Luncheon on Tuesday, June 21st from noon to 1:00 pm.
The luncheon is hosted by The Project's Board Chair, The Honorable Jay Zainey, Judge, US District Court, Section A, Eastern District of Louisiana, and will be held in his courtroom at the Federal Courthouse, 500 Poydras Street.
Please RSVP to Linton Carney at The Project via email or at 504.581.4043.
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Dancing Shoes ...
We've got some funky strutting music lined up for this year's 23rd Annual Justice for All Ball so get your dancing shoes ready. Louisiana's own Jon Cleary and the Philthy Phew will be rocking The Audubon Tea Room for the 2011 JFAB on Friday, November 4, 2011, from 8:00 pm to midnight.
Sponsorships for law firms and area businesses are also available by contacting Rachel Piercey at: JFAB 2011 or 504.581.4043. These packages include with tickets to the Ball and Patron Party, as well as various promotional opportunities. Those on board by July 15th will be acknowledged in the printed invitation, which is mailed to more than 8,000 individuals locally and nationally.
More details to come and so watch this space in coming issues of In Brief for more announcements
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Open the Door: Be A Partner for Pro Bono
 Please open the door for our clients and volunteers and support The Project by clicking on the Louisiana Giving logo above.
Become a
Partner for Pro Bono
by checking the
"make this a recurring donation" box on The Project's donation page when you click the above link. Make your Annual Donation over 12 months.
Help us plan for the future by contacting
Rachel PIercey at 504.581.4043 about the Pro Bono for Life Planned Giving program. |
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Greetings!
There's always something going on at The Pro Bono Project to help move our work forward whether it's applauding our volunteers, seeking funding for our programs, supporting our clients through trying times or encouraging law students and attorneys to make pro bono a part of their work lives. We'll share some of these activities with you in this month's articles.
But first, among our most exciting happenings is our new Facebook page. After much work by the Resource Development Committee and our spring communications intern, Mathilde Semmes, The Project's Facebook page is up and waiting for you. Please check it out often, as we'll be posting information on events, needs for volunteers and other critical data of importance to you. Find us here: 
Hope you enjoy this month's stories. Happy summer!
All the best,
Rachel
Rachel Piercey
Excutive Director
PS -- Spread the word about The Pro Bono Project by using the new social media buttons and connect this newsletter to your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or other social media page. Thanks! 
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Bring 'Em Home: A New Collaborative Effort
The Pro Bono Project along with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS), Louisiana Appleseed and the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under Law have launched a new title clearing collaborative in New Orleans.
Over the next two years, the partner organizations will work together to help 400 low-income homeowners in Orleans Parish clear title to their property, enabling residents to rebuild, make productive use of their land and build wealth and assets. The group will also help many more residents through reforms aimed at increasing access to the civil legal system.
Since the storms of 2005, The Project and SLLS have worked to help homeowners obtain clear title to their property in order to access state, federal and insurance recovery funds to return and rebuild their homes and their lives. The longer this process takes, the more homes continue to deteriorate, leaving the surrounding neighborhoods blighted, which affects the community as a whole.
At the same time Louisiana Appleseed has worked to simplify Louisiana laws to make it easier and more cost-efficient for people to clear title, while the Lawyers' Committee has worked on the bigger legal issues of title clearing across several states.
The title clearing collaborative is made possible by a generous grant from the Greater New Orleans Foundation's (GNOF) Community Revitalization Fund. The grant enables the assembled partners to better determine unmet needs and channel their pro bono resources and expertise in heir property and title problems to assist low-income homeowners by clearing title, consolidating ownership and securing federal rebuilding and repair grants.
The Project's share of this grant makes it possible to expand the capacity of its succession attorney, Christopher Coty and staff so that volunteer attorneys can help more of The Project's clients in need of succession assistance.
Our thanks to the GNOF's Community Revitalization Fund, our partner legal organizations and our succession pro bono panel who have been key in working with staff and clients on successions.
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Congratulations From All of Us ...
 | | David Bienvenu, Past Board Chair, 1990 |
The Louisiana State Bar Association recently presented the David A. Hamilton 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award to Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn partner David F. Bienvenu.
The Award recognizes a Louisiana attorney who demonstrates a commitment to the provision of legal services to the poor, has made significant contributions to enhance the pro bono movement in Louisiana over their lifetime, and has shown significant leadership and service on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised.
Mr. Bienvenu has been involved with The Pro Bono Project since its inception in 1986. He served as one of its early Board Chairs, in 1990, chaired the first Justice for All Ball in 1988, and hosted this year's 2011 Board Installation event in January.
Always a staunch supporter of The Project, he was instrumental in many of the early efforts to recruit volunteer attorneys and maintain funding to ensure that The Project would always be able to meet the civil legal needs of the less fortunate within the metro community. He continues to be an active supporter of the work of and funding for The Project.
The Board and Staff of The Project salute this past chair for his continued efforts on our behalf and applaud the Louisiana State Bar Association for its recognition of this worthy pro bono supporter.
The Award was presented at a ceremony at the Louisiana Supreme Court.
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Pro Bono for Life ...
Carole Cukell-Neff and members of the Planned Giving Committee have been hard at work for several months in putting together The Project's planned giving program - Pro Bono for Life.
This program provides giving opportunities where The Project is acknowledged through estate programs, cash legacy, asset legacy, IRAs, 401Ks, or even as a life insurance beneficiary. There is no limit to the number of ways that donors can create a living legacy for the future work of The Project.
Ms. Neff and Executive Director Rachel Piercey are happy to discuss specific details with those interested in learning more about becoming a part of the Pro Bono for Life Legacy Society. Please contact Rachel Piercey directly at 504.581.4043 or via email to schedule an appointment.
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Our Mission
The Pro Bono Project's mission is to provide free, quality civil legal services to the poor by engaging volunteer attorneys to render pro bono services. The Project serves Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany and Washington Parishes with funding from the Justice For All Ball and other sources. The Project works in collaboration with other legal and social service providers to improve the quality of life for our clients and our community.
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