Letter from the Executive Director

Why volunteering with PBPA is like riding a bike 

A few years ago, I bought an electric bike.  I felt guilty driving around my gas-guzzling SUV, and I figured I could save money on parking.  Maybe if I didn’t use the pedal assist, I could even get some exercise. I had very practical reasons for getting a bike.  But now, when I think about why I ride my e-bike, the #1 reason is because I really enjoy it.  Most of my commute is through Piedmont Park, and I catch myself smiling as I ride along the tree-lined paths.  I arrive at the office feeling refreshed and in a good mood, unlike when I used to fight traffic.   

So why is volunteering with PBPA like riding a bike?  I suppose our volunteers might first take a PBPA project for practical reasons - they know they are supposed to do pro bono work, or they hope to get credit towards a billable hour requirement, or simply because they were “volun-told”.  But when we ask volunteers on our annual survey why they volunteer with PBPA, many of their answers begin, “I enjoy the work”, “I love helping…” and “It makes me feel good”.   

If you’ve never taken a pro bono project with PBPA, now is a great time to give it a try. This is a very difficult time for our nonprofit clients, and you can make a meaningful impact by helping them navigate these challenges. Plus, you just might find that you enjoy it!

Rachel Spears
Executive Director

PS - (If you can’t volunteer right now, or want to do even more, please consider a donation to help us keep serving nonprofits when they need it most.) 

Pro Bono Week 2025

During this Pro Bono Week, we are celebrating the thousands of volunteers who have given their time and expertise to PBPA over the 20 years we have served the community! 

One particular group that stands out is our 20-in-20 volunteers. These volunteers have taken at least 20 pro bono matters with us since we started 20 years ago – some over 100 matters! Please join PBPA in recognizing these high achievers! The names of those volunteers can be viewed here. 

We will also be profiling many other volunteers and groups throughout the week, so stay up-to-date on our social media pages to help us recognize the people who make our work possible! 

Brews & Clues

We had a great time celebrating our 20th anniversary with volunteers, clients, and the PBPA team at our annual Brews & Clues event earlier this month! Thank you to the many supporters who came out and joined us for a night of trivia, networking, and fun. This event is organized by PBPA's young professionals committee, SpringBoard, and is always a hit. Through their efforts, this event raised over $13,000 to help us meet the needs of local nonprofits!

To see photos from the night, click below!

Shoutouts to our Volunteers

Thank you to the more than 811 volunteers who have signed up for a pro bono project in 2025! We could not do this work without you. Click here for a list of individuals who have volunteered so far this year.

From: Community Friendship, Inc.
To: Jason Lichtstein (Akerman)
I want to extend my sincere gratitude for your extraordinarily support bringing our property closing across the finish line! After months of waiting, everything seemed to move at once--and you rose to the challenge. Your expertise, attention to detail, and willingness to step in at the last minute made all of the difference. We are especially grateful for the time and energy you invested to ensure this was handled with care and precision. This closing represents an important milestone for CFI and we could not have achieved it without your last minute support. Please know that your pro bono support is not only appreciated by me and our board, but will ultimately benefit the individuals we serve.

From: Ascensa Health
To: Kady D’Amico and Alexander Merritt (Ogletree Deakins)
Thank you both for your time, expertise, and invaluable support during this case. We sincerely appreciate the difference that you make in the non-profit community and the hours of volunteer time you spent on this matter.  I wish you all the best, and thank you for the work you do for PBPA.

From: Atlanta Children's Shelter
To: Denver Ellison and Brennan Carmody (Polsinelli)
We are so appreciative of you taking on the website terms project! It was such a great help to us! Even though this might have felt like a small project, it has helped strengthen our organization so we can serve more homeless families. You have been part of some great impact!

Client Spotlight

Alcovy CASA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in foster care in Newton and Walton Counties of Georgia. By advocating for children who have experienced abuse or neglect, their volunteers amplify each child's voice and help change a child's story. PBPA volunteers have helped Alcovy CASA with 14 legal matters since the organization became a client in January. 

Alcovy CASA also participated in a Legal Check Up clinic, where volunteers from Delta, AT&T, and Kilpatrick Townsend helped identity legal issues for eight nonprofits.

Lindsay Dycus, Executive Director, had this to say about our LCU volunteers: " Your guidance started a strong foundation that not only helped ensure that our organization is on solid legal footing, but also gave us the peace of mind to continue focusing on what matters most—advocating for the best interests of children in Newton and Walton counties. Knowing that professionals of your caliber are willing to volunteer their time and talents to support nonprofits like ours is both humbling and inspiring. Thank you for being such a vital part of our mission. Your commitment to service uplifts our entire community, and we are truly grateful for your support."

New Clients

PBPA would like to give a warm welcome to our new clients:
Bagel Rescue
Coweta Court Appointed Special Advocates
Family Autism Support Team
Gateway Center 24/7
I Will Survive
Sur Legal Collaborative
The Kyle Pease Foundation
Thrive Community Lending
TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation
William's House