United Way of Coastal Fairfield County

Assistance with the merger of United Way of Eastern Fairfield County with United Way of Westport-Weston and the subsequent merger of the new entity, United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, with United Way of Norwalk & Wilton.

“The legal representation [provided by the Partnership] was SO good, the Norwalk Wilton merger has been approved by both boards and will be effective February 1^st [six months earlier than scheduled]. Honestly, you folks saved us tens of thousands of dollars so our scarce resources can be used to improve the community.  Please let all the legal teams know they have contributed to making the system stronger thereby enabling us to respond to the challenges in this difficult economic situation.  [W]e could not have done this without you.”

Merle Berke-Schlesse, President & CEO

Children’s Community Development Center

Assistance with a variety of corporate, contracts, real estate and employment matters

There have been several significant issues for which the Partnership has provided legal assistance:  bylaw amendments, employee manual revisions, a change in the organization's name and real estate matters.  These services have helped us keep pace with current laws and regulations and, therefore, provided the legal protections we need to stay in business for the long term and enabled us to spend our time and resources on the important work we exist to do for children and families.  Each of these matters was handled in very professional manner that left us feeling not only extremely satisfied but gave us peace of mind.  However, I think that it is the availability of the staff attorneys for the smaller questions and worries that is the most beneficial and useful to our organization.  We have called with questions about government filings, personnel matters, policies and procedures and have always had responses that are not only indicative of the breadth of their legal knowledge but, perhaps most importantly, indicate a level of patience, thoughtfulness and courtesy.  It always feels like they care -- not always something associated with the legal profession.  We are deeply grateful to have the opportunity to be associated and benefit from this outstanding organization.

Eileen Ward, Director

Assistance with HIPAA, corporate, real estate and intellectual property  matters

The Partnership has advised us on the launch of a job-training program/potential business, and also put us in touch with an outside attorney to advise us on HIPAA. This assistance allowed us to initiate a training program for a small group of our clients (homeless women residing in one of our shelters) that will enable them to get job experience and soft job skills training and, we hope, assist them in becoming self sufficient and getting off welfare. The HIPAA assistance is enabling us to comply with federal law as we perform contracted services for the County Department of Social Services. We have been delighted to work with the Partnership’s staff attorneys, as well as with the outside attorneys they have connected us to.

Helen Rosenberg, Esq., General Counsel

Girl Scouts of Housatonic Council

Assistance with a variety of corporate, contracts, intellectual property and employment matters

The Partnership has reviewed our bylaws and articles of incorporation, our employed and seasonal personnel policies, contracts with outside organizations and acted as a resource regarding both volunteer and employee issues.  As a result, we have been able to expedite approval of these documents and to resolve issues quickly.  In addition, the Council has saved financial resources enabling us to devote these dollars to girl programming.  We have always been extremely pleased with the Partnership and the attorneys that we have worked with over the years.

Lynne Raymond, Executive Director

Court Appointed Special Advocates of New Jersey, Inc.

Assistance with tax exemption and real estate matters

The Pro Bono Partnership staff has answered questions regarding group exemption issues, lobbying, affiliation and membership corporations, and similar issues throughout the year. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. CASA of NJ is extremely satisfied with the assistance we receive from the Pro Bono Partnership and we often recommend the Partnership's services to others. Many thanks!

Liza M. Kirschenbaum, Esq., Director of Public Affairs

Assistance with a variety of ax exemption, employment, corporate, contracts and intellectual property matters

If I had to choose only one resource from the dozens I use, The Partnership would be my choice. The Partnership is the number one most valuable resource to my organization.  We can't thank you enough for the comprehensive, responsive and valuable service you provide to Somerset Home.

Jeffrey Fetzko, Executive Director

Assistance with a variety of contract, corporate, employment, intellectual property and tax  matters

The Partnership has assisted MCS in so many ways, it is hard to begin. The Partnership helped MCS with several different employee issues, which were all very complicated.  The Partnership assisted us in deciding whether we should start a new nonprofit or begin new services under the existing nonprofit.  I don't know what we would have done without Pro Bono's services!

Allison Shorey, Executive Director

Westchester Housing Fund

Assistance with a variety of corporate, lending, contracts, real estate and  tax-exempt matters

It is a great relief to me as an Executive Director to know that I am able to call on the Partnership for assistance with these types of issues.  Having worked in the not for profit sector for so many years, I can assure you that it would be difficult to convince a Board to allocate a line item for legal consulting in a year to year basis.  The problem with this approach is that it doesn't give the agency any room for preventative legal assistance, and once an emergency does occur, a Board member may or may not have the lawyer friend with the with the expertise the agency really needs.  Thus, the Partnership has been of tremendous help.  I genuinely feel that I am able to run a better organization because of the support I have received from the Pro Bono Partnership.

Kim Jacobs, Executive Director