November 7, 2019, White Plains, NY — On October 16, 2019, Pro Bono Partnership (the Partnership) celebrated its 22nd Anniversary Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City, raising more than $1.5 million for its programs. Thanks to the generous contributions of Gala honorees and supporters, including volunteer lawyers, law firm and corporate executives, and clients, the Partnership will be able to continue fulfilling its mission of providing free legal services to nonprofit organizations in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.
Ari Melber, MSNBC Chief Legal Correspondent and anchor of The Beat, hosted the event where the Partnership presented the 2019 Pro Bono Champion Award to honorees Samir A. Gandhi, Managing Partner, NY Office of Sidley Austin LLP and the Mastercard Law, Franchise & Integrity team in recognition of their service to the community and their commitment to pro bono.
The Mastercard Law, Franchise & Integrity group has a distinguished history of pro bono service, and the Partnership is proud to count the company as a longstanding supporter of its programs. Tim Murphy, Mastercard’s General Counsel, accepted the award, noting that the company’s nearly 20 years of working with the Partnership enabled their legal team to give back to the community in a unique and meaningful way. A brief video featuring some Partnership clients that have benefited from the Mastercard team’s legal expertise can be seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwnvbDdQ7g8
As Managing Partner at Sidley Austin, Samir A. Gandhi leads by example and makes pro bono work a priority at the firm. Mr. Gandhi and his team recently worked with the Partnership’s nonprofit client Docs for Tots (http://docsfortots.org) in shoring up their legal foundation, which enabled them to help more children on Long Island thrive. “Our Firm is renewed every day by the work we do, and a predominant part of that is the work we do for those who need it most,” said Mr. Gandhi. “We are fortunate to have partners like Pro Bono Partnership to help us source these opportunities to serve,” he continued. A short video spotlighting Docs for Tots and Sidley volunteer lawyers can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYxscA3MM6w
“I am humbled and inspired every day by our steadfast supporters, our incredible volunteers, and the amazing nonprofits we serve,” said Pro Bono Partnership Executive Director Nancy Eberhardt. “I’m proud of our mission and the work we do to help build capacity for organizations that are doing such valuable work in our communities. This work requires a lot of passion, commitment, and dedication from so many, including the 1,400 in-house and law firm volunteer attorneys who, each year, make the Pro Bono Partnership program possible. Our volunteers assisted nearly 900 nonprofits in the tristate area last year, providing $10 million in free legal services to the nonprofit community,” Ms. Eberhardt continued.
The evening’s celebration included a special guest speaker, Jodi O’Donnell-Ames, President of Hope Loves Company (https://www.hopelovescompany.net), a Pro Bono Partnership client that provides resources and support to children whose lives have been affected by ALS. Ms. O’Donnell-Ames explained, “Pro Bono Partnership educated me on the process of starting a nonprofit and guided me through the start of something life changing for everyone involved. Hope Loves Company now provides more than six programs, all free of charge, to families in the tristate area and nationwide.”
Pro Bono Partnership received vital support from Gala Chair Eric I Cohen, Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel, Terex Corporation, and Dinner Chairs Tim Murphy, General Counsel, Mastercard and John L. Golden, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Athene Holding Ltd. The funds raised at the Gala make it possible for the Partnership to continue strengthening local nonprofits and improving neighborhoods throughout the tristate area.
Pro Bono Partnership 22nd Anniversary Gala Photos, high-resolution, and additional images can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185264611@N02/albums/72157711569402642
Pictured left to right (seated):
Jonathan Mothner, Richard Walker, Cathy Lueders, Nancy Eberhardt, Eric Cohen, Katherine Lipton, Evan Charkes, (standing) Mark Nordstrom, Edward Sebold, John Frantz, David Yawman, John Liftin, John Sander, Lauran D’Alessio, Rady Johnson
Click here for the Press Release PDF
Media Contact:
Mindi Lund, Director of Marketing
mlund@probonopartner.org
914-328-0674 ext. 339