Wilmington: Another Successful Wills for Heroes Program

Summary Date: Saturday, February 26, 2011

Written By: Russell Rawlings

When it comes to promoting a positive image for the legal profession, there are basically two courses of action: you can talk about it, or you can do something about it.

 

The Young Lawyers Division of the North Carolina Bar Association has pursued the second option – doing something about it – throughout its existence. Nowhere has this been more evident than Wills for Heroes, a project first undertaken by the YLD in 2008.

 

Today the YLD Wills for Heroes Committee is celebrating its 17th successful event, which took place in Wilmington on Saturday, Feb. 26. That’s right, Saturday, as in a lovely weekend day that was devoted to preparing free estate planning documents for first responders and their spouses.

 

Every Wills for Heroes program has taken place on a Saturday, including the next one which is scheduled April 16 at the North Carolina Central University School of Law in Durham.

 

The Wilmington program attracted 70 first responders and their spouses who were assisted by a splendid team of volunteers.

 

“We had an overwhelming amount of support from the attorneys, paralegals, notaries and witnesses in the area,” said Jillian Brevorka, who co-chairs the Wills for Heroes Committee with Jake Epstein. “About 54 attorneys, law students, paralegals and lay volunteers from as far west as Greensboro and Charlotte donated their time for this event.

 

“What made this event wonderful was that the Wilmington Police Department was generous enough to provide all of our volunteers with hot breakfast from Chic-fil-a and sandwiches for lunch. Plus they baked cookies and provided other snacks.

 

“The Wilmington Police Department truly bent over backwards to make this event a special experience for all involved. All of the attendees seemed so appreciative.”

 

“Thank you for the service you provided to Wilmington last Saturday by organizing Wills For Heroes here,” writes Candace Britt, a paramedic with New Hanover Regional EMS, in appreciation for services rendered free of charge by the volunteers. “I was able to take advantage of the event and have documents prepared that I would otherwise be without.

 

“You and the volunteers there were much appreciated.”

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.