H C B A P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E G o r d o n H i l l - H i l l W a r d H e n d e r s o n
hillsborough County attorneys honored for their Pro bono service
thank you for showing what lawyers who are committed to pro bono service can accomplish .
On January 25th , the Florida Bar held its annual pro bono awards ceremony at the Supreme Court in Tallahassee . I am pleased to report that Hillsborough County lawyers took home two of the highest awards and were recognized for their superior service .
First , Stephen Todd won the 2018 Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award , the highest statewide pro bono award . Steve ’ s service is nothing short of heroic — contributing well over 2,000 pro bono hours to people in need . Steve has donated his time and efforts through Crossroads for Florida Kids , as a Guardian Ad Litem ( GAL ), through the HCBA ’ s mentoring program , and the Hillsborough County Attorney ’ s office . With Crossroads for Florida Kids , Steve has represented several children in complex “ crossover ” cases featuring foster care children charged with delinquencies and has been a desperately needed steady influence in their lives even through some of their most difficult times . As a GAL , Steve has served approximately 20 to 30 children over the last ten years and has been recognized as a “ Master GAL ” where he mentors and guides new guardians in the GAL program . Steve was also instrumental in organizing the Hillsborough County
Florida Bar Pro Bono Award Recipients Jo Ann Palchak , Stephen Todd , and Theresa Jean-Pierre Coy , president of the George Edgecomb Bar Association , with Florida Bar Board of Governors member and former HCBA president Tom Bopp .
Attorney ’ s Office to staff an annual intake night at Bay Area Legal Services . In nominating Steve , Rosemary Armstrong ( 2012 Tobias Simon Award Winner ) noted that ,
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