NCBA and Legal Aid Matching Gift Campaign Exceeds $100,000 Goal
In 2025, Legal Aid of North Carolina faced significant funding challenges, including the loss of more than $6 million due to the freezing of IOLTA grants. In response, the organization made thoughtful and strategic decisions to ensure long-term strength, sustainability and continued access to justice for those who need it most. It entered 2026 focused, resilient and renewed in its commitment to serving more than 50,000 people each year with excellence and dedication.
The North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA) partnered with Legal Aid in a joint effort to raise $100,000 — a gift to match the 2026 distribution from the North Carolina Bar Foundation’s Legal Aid Endowment Fund. Mark and Joanna Holt and Caryn Coppedge McNeill hosted a reception at Smith Anderson on March 6, 2026, to benefit the organization.
Legal Aid Executive Director Ashley Campbell addresses the crowd, pictured with Mark Holt and Caryn McNeill.
The people who came together to support the cause exceeded NCBA’s goal by raising more than $104,000. These funds will help more North Carolinians access legal help during some of the hardest moments of their lives.
“We share our deep gratitude with every member who stood beside us and donated during this matching campaign,” said Campbell. “The past year brought difficult losses and hard decisions, and it also revealed the extraordinary resilience of our staff, supporters and community partners. Our clients face enormous challenges every day with courage and determination, and we are committed to showing that same resilience as we continue expanding access to justice across North Carolina.”
Pictured from left: NCBA/F Executive Director Jason Hensley, NCBA/F President Rob Harrington, Legal Aid Board of Directors Chair Jeff Kelly and Legal Aid Executive Director Ashley Campbell.
A national study commissioned by the Legal Services Corp. found that three out of four low-income households in the South faced more than one civil legal problem in a single year, and most received little or no legal help. Legal Aid’s impact extends beyond the client, though that remains the primary goal. Its presence also relieves pressure on courts tasked with efficiently handling thousands of cases while ensuring due process.
Online donations are still being accepted to support the matching gift campaign. You can also donate by mailing a check payable to Legal Aid of North Carolina (P.O. Box 28741, Raleigh, NC 27611) with “NCBA Match” on the memo line.
A special thank you to the sponsors:
$5,000 — Lead Sponsors
- Smith Anderson
- LeAnn Nease Brown and Charles Gordon Brown
- Mike and Brenda Colombo
- Edwards Kirby, LLP
- Emmett Boney Haywood
- Mark and Joanna Holt
- Jeff Kelly
- George B. Mast
- Caryn Coppedge McNeill
- Betty Quick
- Janet and Mike Wells, Sr.
$2,500 — Partners
- Bryson Harris Suciu DeMay PLLC
- David and Nina Long
- Leslie Packer
- John Silverstein
- Kim Stogner
$1,000 — Advocates
- Catharine Biggs Arrowood
- Charles Becton
- Donald H. Beskind
- Carol and Martin Brinkley
- Kearns Davis
- Alan Duncan
- Edwards Beightol
- Timothy S. Goettel
- Rob Harrington
- Jon Heyl
- Deborah L. Hildebran-Bachofen and Max Bachofen
- James Jolley
- Beth Tyner Jones
- Byron Kirkland
- Beth Langley
- Erin Locklear
- Carlos Mahoney
- Bailey Melvin
- Jon Mize
- Patti W. Ramseur
- Dana Simpson
- Clark Smith
- G. Edward Story
- Richard E. Thigpen, Jr.
- John R. Wester
$500 — Friends
- Russell Babb
- Amy Batten
- Shelby Duffy Benton
- Bryan Brice
- Jean Carter
- James K. Dorsett III
- Jason Hensley
- Lee and Anne Hogewood
- Lucy Inman
- John Jernigan
- Linda Funke Johnson
- M. Keith Kapp
- Isaac Linnartz
- Michael and Sally Lowery
- Clayton Morgan
- Bart Norman
- Gerald Roach
- Kerry Shad
- Julie Song
- John Therien
- Henry “Hank” P. Van Hoy, II
- John Drew Warlick, Jr.
- Kirk Warner
- Sharita Whitaker