Celebrating Financial Institution Pro Bono Day
Thursday, May 2, 2019
Financial institutions from across the U.S. are working together to organize a day of volunteering to provide a diverse range of pro bono legal services to vulnerable communities. Organized by Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO), a Pro Bono Institute (PBI) project, Financial Institution Pro Bono Day, on May 2, 2019, will spotlight the severe gap in legal services for underserved individuals in the U.S. and promote in-house pro bono engagement and collaboration.
Financial Institution Pro Bono Day was sparked during conversations among PNC Bank pro bono leaders at PBI’s 2018 Annual Dinner in October 2018, which celebrates pro bono legal services by legal departments and law firms. PNC’s leaders recognized that pro bono presents a unique opportunity for legal staff at companies in the financial sector that might not otherwise work together to join resources to help their individual communities. Financial Institution Pro Bono Day will foster partnerships, expand engagement in pro bono by legal department staff, and—most importantly—provide essential, quality legal assistance to those in need.
“I am so proud of PNC’s contribution to this initiative that will showcase legal departments of financial institutions working together to give back to their communities through pro bono legal services,” said Greg Jordan, General Counsel & Chief Administrative Officer of PNC Bank. “Participating companies have committed to providing legal pro bono to those in need. Through this collaborative effort, we serve to fortify our efforts and increase our access to justice outcomes.”
Hundreds of volunteers will participate in approximately 40 events taking place across the U.S. in key metropolitan locations including Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Plano, Richmond, San Francisco, St. Louis, Tampa, and Washington, D.C/Northern Virginia. Participating companies include American Express, Bank of America, Barclays, BNY Mellon, Capital One, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Discover Financial Services, Freddie Mac, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, PNC Bank, and Wells Fargo.
Financial Institution Pro Bono Day will offer extensive opportunities in legal pro bono to serve survivors of domestic violence, the elderly, the LGBTQ community, immigrants, veterans, victims of identity theft, those wrongfully accused of crimes, nonprofits and small businesses, among others.
“PBI’s mission is to help in-house legal departments and law firms build a strong culture of pro bono,” said Eve Runyon, PBI President and CEO. “The experience, conversations, and best practices shared on Financial Institution Pro Bono Day will serve as a launching pad to encourage in-house collaboration and engagement in pro bono across the financial services industry, increase the visibility of the unmet legal needs of the community, and change lives for the better.”
About Pro Bono Institute
Founded in 1996, Pro Bono Institute (PBI) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization. With an unparalleled depth of knowledge, resources and expertise, PBI is the respected resource for all things pro bono. Through PBI’s work with law firms, in-house legal departments, and public interest organizations, PBI is the global thought leader in exploring, identifying, evaluating, catalyzing, and taking to scale new approaches to and resources for the provision of legal services to the poor, disadvantaged, and other individuals or groups unable to secure legal assistance to address critical problems. For more information, visit www.probonoinst.org.
About Corporate Pro Bono
Founded in 2000, Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO) is a project of Pro Bono Institute. CPBO’s mission is to explore and identify new approaches to and resources for the provision of legal services to the poor, disadvantaged, and other individuals or groups unable to secure legal assistance to address critical problems. CPBO does so by supporting, enhancing, and transforming the pro bono efforts of in-house legal departments in the U.S. and around the world. Since its inception, CPBO has worked with hundreds of legal departments. For more information, visit www.cpbo.org.
About PNC Bank
PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States. With a retail branch network that stretches across 19 states and the District of Columbia; and strategic international offices in Canada, China, Germany and the U.K., PNC is organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking, including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.
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