Pro Bono Spotlight: VLSP fundraisers – many hands make light work

By Linda Kostin
Posted: 6:18 pm Mon, November 14, 2011

Volunteer Legal Services Project’s offices are abuzz with two fundraisers currently under way, the Campaign for Justice and the Art of Lawyering silent auction. With a staff of 11 — most of whom are employed part-time — such an undertaking would be completely overwhelming without the support of dedicated volunteers.

Eileen Buholtz, a partner at Connors & Corcoran PLLC, has volunteered as a caller for every CFJ phonathon since its inception 26 years ago. Loretta Callahan, a senior paralegal at Monroe County Legal Assistance Center, has volunteered for virtually every campaign.

In addition to VLSP, the CFJ benefits the Legal Aid Society of Rochester and the Monroe County Legal Assistance Center. This year’s campaign goal is $250,000. Donations may be made online at vlsprochester.org

Buholtz enjoys the challenge of securing campaign pledges from those who have not donated in the past. “Attorneys practicing in larger firms are familiar with VLSP, and it’s easier to make a connection with them. Attorneys who are newly out of law school without a connection to a firm — often facing economic challenges of their own — must be acquainted with the purpose of the campaign,” Buholtz said recently.

Working mainly with low-income senior citizens in need of wills, health care proxies and powers of attorney, and clients in need of assistance with public benefits and Medicaid denials, Callahan sees firsthand the urgent need to support civil legal services providers.

“I wanted to support legal services, and volunteering for the campaign was one way to do it. I began volunteering as a campaign runner, collecting pledge cards from callers and bringing them to the central tabulation area. At some point, they asked me to make calls. I’m happy to do any job that needs to be done,” Callahan said.

More callers are needed for this year’s CFJ. Those interested in volunteering may contact me.

Phone calls will be made during the evenings of Nov. 15 and 16 at the offices of Ward Greenberg Heller & Reidy LLP, 300 State St. Dinner, catered by Susan Plunkett’s Fabulous Foods, will be served from 5:15 to 6 p.m. After a brief caller orientation, calls will be made from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m.

Daytime campaign calling will happen on Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to noon at WXXI’s studios at 280 State St. Callers are asked to make a one-hour commitment for the daytime session. A continental breakfast will be served.

“The work that VLSP and the other legal services providers do in terms of giving people access to justice mirrors what WXXI does in terms of giving the community access to services, information and education free of charge. That’s why it’s such an easy thing for WXXI to lend the use of its studio for campaign calling,” said Laura Garrison, WXXI’s assistance vice president for individual giving.

Nov. 16, the last evening of CFJ calling, also will mark the end of bidding for VLSP’s Art of Lawyering silent auction.

The Art of Lawyering gallery is the only one of its kind in Upstate New York. Over 120 pieces of art created by local attorneys, judges and other legal professionals as well as friends and family members of legal professionals are featured, including paintings, pottery, fiber art, quilts, jewelry, photography, wood sculpture and metal sculpture. Current bids on many items are in the $15 to $40 range.

Auction items, along with current prices, may be viewed in person at VLSP’s offices during regular business hours, or on VLSP’s website, vlsprochester.org.

As with the CFJ, Buholtz and Callahan have supported VLSP’s biennial Art of Lawyering silent auction since its beginning in 2006. Both have created art and purchased art.

“I won a vase and a bowl that Eileen [Buholtz] made for previous Art of Lawyering events,” Callahan said recently.

Buholtz’s pottery continues to be a draw for bidders. She has been making pottery for 11 years. “I donate what comes out the best. I take a look at my inventory and pick a piece that I’m proud of,” Buholtz said.

While she’s pleased to support VLSP, Buholtz noted that she also appreciates the publicity she receives by donating art. “A client I represented awhile ago was looking for my assistance on another matter. She contacted me after she Googled me and found my pottery on VLSP’s website.” Buholtz said recently.

Callahan made a fused glass pendant at VLSP’s Art of Lawyering workshop held in August at Studio 34 Creative Arts Center. She also recruited her friend, Paulie Gajewski, an accomplished jewelry maker, to serve as a volunteer instructor for the workshop.

“VLSP has some great artwork this year. I was so impressed and especially loved the quilted wall hangings, and pottery by Eileen, Lou Cristo and Nancy Jurs. Nancy’s piece is over-the-top gorgeous,” Callahan said.

Photographer Larry Merrill, currently exhibiting in San Francisco, joins Jurs on the list of professional artists supporting VLSP’s silent auction fundraiser. An informal group photography workshop with Merrill is also up for bids.

This year’s Art of Lawyering offers unique artisan experiences, including dinners for six prepared and served by Rochester attorneys. Jessica Murray of Hiscock & Barclay and Rob Nassau of Boylan Brown are the chefs for one dinner party. Tom Durkin of Allstate, Scott Carlton of Alexander & Catalano, Penny Dentinger of Nixon Peabody and Laura Myers of Thomas & Solomon are the chefs for the other dinner party.

Other unique items include the following: a bass guitar handmade by Greg Jones, Nora Jones’ husband; a commissioned painting or drawing by up-and-coming artist T.J. Cronmiller, son of Tom Cronmiller of Hiscock & Barclay; a getaway weekend at Mike and Suzanne Schnittman’s vacation home in the Adirondacks; a one-hour New Orleans-style blues piano lesson with Paul Nunes of Underberg & Kessler; and a thread painting class with Karla Wilsey of Abrams & Fensterman.

In addition to support for fundraisers, VLSP appreciates those who support our program by volunteering to assist clients.

Attorneys are welcome to register for a re-entry law CLE co-sponsored by VLSP and LawNY entitled Nuts and Bolts of Certificates of Relief from Disability & Good Conduct on Dec. 16 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at MCBA’s Rubin Center for Education. Attendance is free in exchange for a commitment to accept a VLSP re-entry case. Those wishing to register may contact John Busby, jbusby@lawny.org.

Newly trained attorneys will assist ex-offenders seeking re-entry into society to apply for certificates of rehabilitation. This is often one of the most important steps toward re-entry as attainment of a certificate can assist individuals seeking employment or those who have been denied some sort of licensure based on criminal history.

VLSP thanks Buholtz, Callahan, WXXI, Ward Greenberg Heller & Reidy LLP, those who donated to VLSP’s Art of Lawyering and the members of the legal community who stepped up last month to help low-income clients with a wide range of issues including bankruptcies, wills, tax, name changes, unemployment insurance benefits denials, grandparent/non-parent child custody disputes and divorces.

October 2011 Honor Roll

Judge: Gerard Alonzo (Ret.).

Solo Practitioners: Frank Beretta; Ann Blaise; Vanessa Brown-Hanks; Eftihia Bourtis; Denine Carr; Kelly Duff; Deborah Indivino; Michael Kieffer; Leann Michael; Lisa Morris; Victor Mui; Juan Nevarez; Barbara Orenstein; Raja Sekharan, Harriet Zunno.

Attorneys at firms: Steven Carling (Burns & Schultz); David Coletti (Cristiano Gallant & Coletti); Matthew Fero (Fero & Ingersoll); Sue Tebor (Harris Beach); Julia Green-Sewruk, Sarah Pellerin, Edward Premo (Harter Secrest & Emery); Thomas Farace (Nixon Peabody); Terrance Brown-Steiner (Odorisi Law Firm); Jeffrey Wilkens (Osborn Reed); Hon. Robert Lunn (Trevett Cristo); James Hobbs, Sarah Snyder Merkel, Leah Nacca, James Wolford, Michael Wolford (The Wolford Law Firm); Christen C. Bruu, R.Thompson Gilman, Harry Messina (Woods Oviatt Gilman).

Corporate attorneys: Frank Fields (Global Crossing); Brian O’Connor (Eastman Kodak).

Government attorneys: Katherine Breitenbach, Patrick Chamberlain, Sanjeev Devabhakthuni, Timothy Fox, Colleen Laughran, Maureen Polen, Kim Taylor (Appellate Division, Fourth Department).

Mediator: Robert Hauser (Center for Dispute Settlement).

Law School Graduates: Chika Anyichie, Cory Steckler.

College Graduate Intern: Marla Woodarek (University of Delaware).­Carol Andrews, Paula Dwyer, Jonathan Edwards, Lily Hughson, Jessica Montoya, Elyse Truax (Monroe Community College).

Linda Kostin is the Pro Bono Coordinator at Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County Inc. Contact her at lkostin@wnylc.com or (585) 295-5703.