Wills for Heroes Providing Invaluable Public Service

Article Date: Monday, March 29, 2010

Written By: Russell Rawlings

Success, it is often said, breeds success. One need look no further than the North Carolina Bar Association’s Wills for Heroes project to see that this is true.

 

Now in its third year, this Young Lawyers Division initiative continues to provide an invaluable service to North Carolina first responders, who along with their spouses have received thousands of free estate planning documents through this program.

 

Wills for Heroes also generates immeasurable goodwill for North Carolina lawyers, who along with volunteer paralegals, law students and notaries public donate their time and talent to this worthwhile endeavor.

 

This past weekend, YLD Wills for Heroes was back in business in Greensboro as some 90 volunteers showed up on Saturday at the Public Safety Training Facility to provide 600 free documents to 210 first responders (policemen, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians, etc.) and their spouses.

The story will undoubtedly be the same next month when Wills for Heroes makes its first stop in Chapel Hill. The event is scheduled Saturday, April 24, at East Chapel Hill High School located at 500 Weaver Dairy Road (27514).

Volunteers for the April 24 program are reminded that no prior estate planning background is required to serve as a volunteer. Click here for more information and to register as a volunteer. If you have additional questions contact Jacquelyn Terrell, director of section and division activities for the NCBA and staff liaison to the YLD, via the following e-mail address: sections@ncbar.org. 

Susan Finch and Jake Epstein are serving as co-chairs of the YLD Wills for Heroes Committee this year.

 

“I saw a lot of smiles as the volunteers, many of whom traveled long distances to be here, expressed their gratitude to the first responders for all they do on a daily basis,” Epstein said. “It was a pleasure watching these volunteers work tirelessly to provide this much needed service, and at the end of the day, hearing many of them express a desire to help out at future Wills for Heroes events.” 

 

The co-chairs especially wish to thank the following individuals who played key roles in the success of the Greensboro event: Greg and Eileen Connole who provided lunch for the volunteers; Leslie Lippa, assistant to the fire chief and community services liaison for the Greensboro Fire Department, who served as the contact person for first-responders and assisted with setting up for the event; and Brian Anderson (attorney), and Austin Morris and Megan Connole (students at the Elon University School of Law), who also assisted with planning for the event.

 

The Wills for Heroes program in Chapel Hill on April 24 will mark the 14th time this program has been conducted by the NCBA YLD. Make plans now to be a part of this event.

 

Better yet, volunteer now to be a part of the fabulous success story that is the Wills for Heroes project of the NCBA’s Young Lawyers Division.