There’s a first for everything, and Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, was absolutely a day of firsts for pro bono in the Fourth Circuit as judges, attorneys, and members of local pro bono organizations got together to support local pro bono efforts in the “Run for One” walk/run, part of the bigger event — HandsOn Jacksonville’s “Human Race.”
Despite questionable and always unpredictable Florida weather (it was a rainy, windy morning), the Human Race brought out about 500 participants, including those who represented Fourth Circuit pro bono efforts on the Run for One team.
Gathering at the St. Johns Town Center at 7:30 a.m., these enthusiastic participants who put pro bono awareness before their own comfort included several local judges, attorneys, and legal services supporters, including Judge Jean Johnson, Judge Hugh Carithers, Judge Jim Daniel, Judge Virginia Norton, Kelly Coker-Daniel, Mark Bajalia, Karen Millard, Chris Vignieri, Kara Sidone, Giselle Carson, and Kathy Para.
The Fourth Circuit used this inaugural Run for One to pioneer the possibility of a yearly Run for One team in the Human Race as a way to raise money and create awareness of local pro bono efforts and needs.
Although this year’s team got into the race late in the game, the team raised some money for local pro bono and legal aid groups, had a great time, and generated ideas of how to make the event bigger and better next year.
The consensus of those on this year’s team paints the picture of a fun event with the added benefit of raising money to support and promote pro bono legal assistance for low-income and underserved persons.
With HandsOn Jacksonville and 1st Place Sports providing the administrative framework, local nonprofit organizations are able to field teams without the time and expense to implement the race logistics themselves.
“I thought it went well for a first effort,” said Judge Jean Johnson, the chairperson of the Fourth Circuit Pro Bono Committee.
“We said we were going to do a run to promote pro bono in the Fourth Circuit and we did it. We all extend our thanks to Mark Bajalia for leading the way and serving as our team captain,” she said.
Looking forward to next year, the Fourth Circuit’s pro bono team hopes to make the Run for One an annual event, with more participants, more money raised, and more enthusiasm to spread the word about pro bono opportunities and to support local legal services organizations.
Attorneys are encouraged to become involved in pro bono legal services today and can find out about the many opportunities available by contacting Kathy Para, chairwoman, The JBA Pro Bono Committee, [email protected].