Stites & Harbison has a rich tradition of pro bono service in the communities where our attorneys work and live. Our firm has been recognized annually by the Nashville Bar Association for its pro bono contributions. In Louisville, we were recently recognized as a Public Service Challenge Pacesetter by the Louisville Pro Bono Consortium, based on the firm's commitment to devote 50 hours per lawyer annually to pro bono publico causes.

Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross

Stites & Harbison is a proud sponsor of the Red Cross Breakfast hosted by the Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross (www.nashvilleredcross.org). Through its financial contributions, Stites & Harbison helps the American Red Cross prepare Middle Tennessee for disasters, respond to emergencies in local communities and provide 60 area hospitals with daily blood supply needs. Since 2000, Stites & Harbison attorney, Bill Penny, has served as the Nashville Area Chapter secretary of the American Red Cross

For 90 years, the Nashville Area Regional Chapter has overseen 36 counties and six Red Cross community chapters in Middle Tennessee. The humanitarian organization led by volunteers provides relief to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Specific services provided by the organization include: the Disaster Action Team (DAT); group emergency response training; cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED), First AID, babysitting and lifeguard classes and services to armed forces and their families.

CASA (Nashville)

Stites & Harbison supports the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program in its mission to find abused and neglected children permanent and safe homes in Nashville (www.casa-nashville.org). As well as Stites & Harbison being an annual sponsor of the Red Shoe Party, attorney, Donna Roberts, serves on CASA's Board of Directors.

In 2007, nearly 2,000 abused, neglected or abandoned Nashville children found themselves in foster care or temporary living situations because they did not have a legal representative in Juvenile Court. Volunteers research the child's documents and interview the child's contacts to gain in-depth knowledge of the case and provide the judge with the information necessary to make good decisions. In 2007, the Davidson County CASA was able to advocate for 530 children in court though the support of its 225 volunteers.

Greenways for Nashville

Stites & Harbison is committed to preserving Nashville's natural resources through its support of Greenways for Nashville (GFN) (www.greenwaysfornashville.org), a non-profit, citizen-based coalition of individuals and groups dedicated to the creation, development, protection and preservation of greenways systems in Nashville.

Since 1994, GFN has supported development of greenways systems as an environmentally responsible economic development tool. Through financial contributions, Stites & Harbison helps Greenways for Nashville enhance safe, accessible routes for walking, running and bicycling, while protecting plant and animal habitats. Greenways systems are valuable to the quality of life for Nashville residents, improving the recreational, environmental and structural qualities that make the city desirable for work and play.

Dismas House of Nashville

Stites & Harbison is proud to sponsor the Dismas House of Nashville by providing financial support for house fundraising events. An attorney with the firm, Sam Zeigler, serves on the Nashville Board of Directors.

Dismas House is a nonprofit organization founded in 1974 to provide transitional housing and support services to men and women who have been recently released from prison or jail. Dismas provides a unique form of crime prevention by working with at risk individuals to integrate them with community volunteers, college students, and staff.

Dismas House recognizes that the cycle of crime can be reduced when men and women who have been incarcerated have assistance readjusting to society. To that end, Dismas House provides room and board, transportation, job referrals, life skills counseling, and drug and alcohol counseling referrals to help former offenders make a successful transition back into the community.

Friends of Radnor Lake

Stites & Harbison, PLLC, proudly supports Friends of Radnor Lake by acting as legal counsel on land acquisitions, tax exemption matters, and other issues that arise and through personal involvement by attorneys Jeff King, a current board member and head of the land acquisition committee, and Bob Goodrich, a past board member and past head of the land acquisition committee.

Friends of Radnor Lake aims to protect, preserve and promote the natural integrity of Radnor Lake through land acquisition, environmental education and park support. Radnor Lake was the first designated "Natural Area" in Tennessee and is one of the largest pockets of wilderness (1,200 acres) in the United States in close proximity to a major city. Approximately 240 species of birds, 26 of these waterfowl, have been identified at Radnor. Its status as a protected ecosystem allows a remarkable diversity and abundance of wildlife and plant life to thrive.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Stites & Harbison is a proud supporter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure (www.komen-nashville.org), providing contributions to Race for the Cure as a Bronze Sponsor and counsel through firm member Melissa Hunter, who serves as an intern on the Komen board.

Launched in 1982, Susan G. Komen for the Cure signaled the beginning of the global breast cancer movement. The international network of breast cancer survivors and activists has invested nearly $1 billion in research and educational programs to fight breast cancer.

In Nashville, Susan G. Komen for the Cure invests in its promise to save lives and end breast cancer by empowering people, ensuring quality of care for all and energizing science to find cures. Seventy-five percent of net proceeds raised through the Nashville Race for the Cure are used to fund outreach programs and initiatives that address the specific unmet breast health needs of Greater Nashville. The remaining 25 percent supports research grant and awards programs.

Matthew 25, Inc.

Stites & Harbison is an ongoing supporter of Matthew 25, Inc., providing an annual contribution and counsel through firm member Stuart Campbell, who serves on the board of directors.

Matthew 25 seeks to move homeless men from the streets into permanent housing by providing them with a safe environment and the skills and resources they need to become self-sufficient.

Currently 60 percent of those who enter Matthew 25 stay at least 60 days, maintain stable employment and move into permanent housing. At least half of those served are U.S. Veterans.

Programs offered through Matthew 25 include: training and job placement; life skills and relapse prevention; transitional housing; and progressive housing, which attempts to move homeless men from group housing to independent housing. Matthew 25 works closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the VA hospitals in Nashville and Murfreesboro to assure that homeless veterans have a place to call home until they are able to move into permanent housing. They also work closely with homeless services providers to ensure our veterans are receiving the best possible care and are attending required meeting and medical appointments while working or seeking full-time employment. For more information, visit http://matthew25help.org/.

Mercy Children's Clinic

Stites & Harbison has been an integral part of the Mercy Children's Clinic since its inception in 1999, providing corporate formation resources and assisting with development and community outreach programs. We continue to support the Clinic with pro bono legal work, financial donations and event sponsorships.

Mercy Children's Clinic is a non-profit, pediatric healthcare ministry. Based in Franklin, Tenn., Mercy Children's Clinic provides primary healthcare to children from all socio-economic backgrounds, especially children without health insurance or those enrolled in TennCare. Thousands of children from 24 Middle Tennessee counties call Mercy Children's Clinic their medical home. To learn more, visit www.mercychildrensclinic.org.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands

The relationship between the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands is a long one, having started when the organization was founded in 1968. Since then, our firm has always been one of the organization's strongest supporters.

Legal Aid Society provides free legal counsel to low-income individuals, frequently people who have nowhere else to turn for help. Legal Aid Society attorneys provide representation free of charge to more than 7,000 people each year. Cases address civil legal problems that are critical to low-income people, whose needs are prioritized and met through the following initiatives: protecting the elderly; protecting victims of domestic violence; representing children from violent homes; representing traumatic brain injury victims; access to healthcare; access to appropriate education for disabled children; medical-legal collaborative; and preventing homelessness and financial crisis. Additionally, through the Nashville Pro Bono Program, more than 800 attorneys in private practice join with Legal Aid Society in helping the financially distressed to receive fair treatment in our justice system.

Click here if you are interested in making a donation to Legal Aid Society.

The Center for Women and Families

Our pro bono work for The Center for Women and Families is consistent with this tradition of service. The Center recently presented the firm with its Mary D. Rudd Volunteer of the Year Award, given in recognition of the large number of lawyers we have participating and the hours we donate. This service benefits the firm as well, as it provides valuable training in courtroom experience for our litigators.

Individual Pro Bono Efforts

Several individual attorneys have also been singled out for recognition. Morgan Ward, for example, has received the Legal Aid Society's Emmet Field Award for meritorious service.

Here's a look at some representative, individual pro bono efforts:

• Clark C. Johnson fought for and received asylum for a Ukrainian woman who had been subjected to anti-Semitic violence.

• Marjorie Farris coordinates the firm's Volunteer Lawyer Program for Louisville's Center for Women and Families. Under Marjorie's leadership, several of our Louisville-based litigators provide pro bono legal counsel for victims of domestic violence at Emergency Protective Order hearings.

• One of our real estate lawyers, Larry Droege, has assisted attorneys with various tax and bankruptcy issues for the Legal Aid Society of Louisville and completed personal tax returns through the Voluntary Income Tax Association.

• Bill Schulman has been active with the Jefferson County Historical Society of Charles Town, W.Va., as both a member and pro bono attorney. He recently assisted the group in successfully stopping a local real estate developer from infringing on the society's copyrighted videotapes.

• Rick Vance developed the property acquisition program for Louisville Habitat for Humanity and has served as pro bono counsel, officer and director for the Kentucky state affiliate for 15 years. He was recently named Volunteer of the Year for the four-state Mid-America Region of Habitat for Humanity International.

In addition, Alex Scutchfield has earned the Fayette County, Ky., Bar Association's Outstanding Young Lawyer Award and Alex MacKay was honored by the Tennessee Bar Association as a co-recipient of the 2004 Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Award.