Wills For Heroes Scores Another Success In Durham

Summary Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Written By: Russell Rawlings

Kristin Kirby, back right, walks couple through estate planning document.

Against the backdrop of ominous skies that held true to form on Saturday, April 16, the Young Lawyers Division of the North Carolina Bar Association conducted its 18th Wills for Heroes event at the North Carolina Central University School of Law in Durham.

 

The impending barrage of storms and tornadoes, which spared Durham but wreaked havoc, destruction and death across much of North Carolina, served as a poignant reminder of the potential circumstances first responders face every day of their working lives.

 

It was the most memorable of such days - Sept. 11, 2001 - that inspired creation of the Wills for Heroes Foundation and the pro bono service project that provides free estate planning documents for police officers, sheriff's deputies, firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

 

The NCBA YLD adopted the project in 2007 and has since taken it to levels unimagined when the first program was held in Charlotte. Eighteen of these events have now been conducted in North Carolina, serving thousands of first responders and their spouses.

 

The Durham event attracted 84 first responders and spouses who were served by 72 volunteers. Approximately 240 documents were drafted.

 

In keeping with the mindset that has permeated this program throughout its existence, the YLD and its Wills for Heroes Committee, currently co-chaired by Jillian Brevorka and Jake Epstein, takes but a moment to capture its collective breath and thank the volunteers before moving on to prepare for the next program.

 

That event will take place on Saturday, May 21, in Burlington, and details are forthcoming. There is no reason to believe that the program will be anything but a resounding success.

 

That's how the NCBA Young Lawyers Division and its Wills for Heroes Committee rolls, 18 times and counting.

Volunteer attorney provides valuable insight to firefighter and his wife.

Do you know of an attorney or law firm that has been active in the community or has made significant charitable contributions? The outreach section of the NCBA website is designed to highlight these efforts. Contact Amber Smith, Assistant Director of Communications for Community Outreach and Social Media for the NCBA, at asmith@ncbar.org.