SIDEBAR Spring 2018 - 27

C. Dale McClain, Esq.,
(left) accepts the President's
Award from 2017 MBA
President Eric B. Smith,
Esq. (right).

The Honorable Thomas M.
Del Ricci (left) receives the
Committee of the Year Award
on behalf of the Ad-Hoc Justice
Center Advisory Committee
from 2017 MBA President Eric
B. Smith, Esq. (right).

SIDEBAR FEATURE

MONTGOMERYBAR.ORG

Expansion of the
Pro Bono, Access
to Justice, and
Community
Service Committee

(formerly "Pro Bono/Access
to Justice Committee")
By Rebecca A. Hobbs, Esq.
Pictured (left to right):
PBA President-Elect
Charles Eppolito,
III, Esq., 2018 MBA
President Mary C.
Pugh, Esq., and 2017
MBA President Eric B.
Smith, Esq.

2018 MBA President Mary C. Pugh, Esq. with
husband William H. Pugh, V, Esq., daughters Katie,
Megan, Allie, and granddaughter Reese.
T. Michael Beaty, Montgomery County Chief Deputy Sheriff (right), receives
the Hon. Louis D. Stefan
Award from Montgomery
Bar Foundation President
Michael F. Rogers, Esq.
(left).

2017 Chair of the Young Lawyers
Section Lindsay H. Childs, Esq.,
(left) receives the Young Lawyers
Section Award from 2018 Chair
Aimee L. Kumer, Esq. (right).

T

he MBA's Pro Bono Committee has been hard at
work planning for 2018. Formerly the Pro Bono and
Access to Justice Committee, the Committee kicked off
the new year with a new name, Pro Bono, Access to Justice, and
Community Service Committee, which reflects the expansion
of the committee's focus. Lead by Barbara Smith, Esquire, of
McTighe, Weiss, O'Rourke P.C. as the Committee Chair, and
Jennifer Franks, Esquire, of Walsh Pancio, LLC and Michael
Kelley, Esquire, of Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, as
Co-Vice Chairs, the committee's expanded focus aims to add
non-legal community service projects to the many options for
MBA members interested in volunteer opportunities.
Previously the committee primarily acted as a conduit
between Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania and the
Montgomery Bar Association, supported Access to Justice
initiatives, and addressed the gaps in justice-related services
throughout the community, all functions it will continue
to serve. However, where the committee previously helped
primarily by recruiting volunteers and promoting events to
the community, it will now actively develop its own programs
and identify organizations with which to collaborate. Working
directly with recruited volunteers from within the MBA,
committee members will plan and implement both legal and
non-legal community service projects. The aim of the new
projects is to serve charitable institutions and underserved
communities throughout Montgomery County.
As the committee's expanded focus includes goals of
drawing more volunteers for legal and non-legal projects, the
MBA's website will now have a Volunteer tab on its member
portal, which will act as a platform for information regarding
upcoming events and ongoing opportunities with information
on how to volunteer. Members are encouraged to visit this
tab often and sign up for opportunities which align with their
interests and availability.
With an expanded focus on community service, committee
members seek to foster a strong spirt of volunteerism and
collegiality among MBA members and promote a positive
image of the legal profession throughout the community.
SPRING 2018 27
https://montgomerybar.org/
SIDEBAR Spring 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SIDEBAR Spring 2018
