OUTSTANDING YOUNG ATTORNEY AWARD WINNER August 2003 - Toni Anne Nichels was recently named recipient of the American Bar Association Business Law Section's Outstanding Nonprofit Attorney - Outstanding Young Attorney Award for 2003. The award is sponsored by the ABA Business Law Section's Nonprofit Corporations Committee and recognizes attorneys who make notable contributions and achievement in the nonprofit sector. Toni is an attorney for Xerox Corporation in Stamford, Connecticut, focusing on the areas of labor and employment law. Toni has provided volunteer legal assistance through the Pro Bono Partnership for (at latest count) 12 different nonprofit organizations, providing guidance on 18 pro bono matters, ranging from the creation and updating of personnel policies and employment forms, to counseling on a complex internal investigation of an employment matter, to developing employee screening guidelines and advising on numerous other employment-related issues for the Partnership’s clients. Toni’s contribution as an enthusiastic and consistent volunteer was recognized by the Partnership when it named Toni as “Volunteer of the Year” in 2001. Her work on behalf of so many clients has been particularly significant to the Pro Bono Partnership’s program, since employment issues are often a source of potential liability for nonprofit organizations and their boards. In addition to providing direct legal services to the Partnership’s clients, Toni has also presented workshops for the staff of some of the nonprofit organizations with whom she has worked. Finally, Toni has been a terrific ambassador for the Partnership, encouraging other employment lawyers in New York and Connecticut to become volunteers with the Pro Bono Partnership. Ms. Nichels is an honors graduate of both the State University of New York at Plattsburg and of Notre Dame Law School.