Advocating with Passion and Purpose
MARCH 2021
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March Success Story
Late last year a horrific car accident occurred involving a mother, father, their seven-year-old son, and 15-year-old daughter. The mother died and her son is now paralyzed from the waist down. The daughter, luckily, sustained minor injuries while her father was injured and unable to care for his children.
From this tragedy, an amazing woman stepped up to care for the children. “Denise” is the sister of the father’s children. In her early thirties, Denise is a single mother of four who struggles financially. However, Denise knew she very much wanted to care for her niece and nephew who needed a stable home.
Denise contacted Indy Legal Aid in December 2020 and spoke with attorney Madonna McGrath about guardianship of the children. All meetings were conducted over the phone due to COVID, but that did not prevent a speedy decision.
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Meet Indy Legal Aid's New
Board Members & Officer
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Indy Legal Aid's board of directors recently elected three new board members and one new officer at its annual meeting on March 12, 2021.
“We are very pleased with our new members and officer,” said John Floreancig, Indy Legal Aid General Counsel and CEO. “We greatly appreciate their dedication and enthusiasm in fulfilling Indy Legal Aid’s mission.”
They are as follows:
Lee Christie, Partner, Christie Farrell Lee & Bell will serve as our new Secretary along with current officers John Trimble, President (Lewis Wagner); N. Kent Smith, 1st Vice President (Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman); Parwana Noorzad, 2nd Vice President (Quarles & Brady); and Elizabeth Russell-Hartman, Treasurer (Retired, Krieg Devault). Lee recently served as the Chairman of the record-setting 2020 Attorney Holiday Campaign fundraiser.
New members include:
Molly Lee, Associate, Lewis Wagner
Derek Molter, Partner, Ice Miller
Dylan Pittman, Associate, Barnes & Thornburg
Welcome to all of you!
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Indy Legal Aid Receives
COVID Relief Grant from
Lilly Endowment Inc.
Indy Legal Aid recently received a $250,000 COVID-19 relief grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to provide legal assistance to low-income individuals who have been acutely affected by the pandemic.
Funding from Lilly Endowment will enable Indy Legal Aid to hire an additional attorney while increasing paralegal support for staff attorneys, maintaining wrap-around services for clients through a staff social worker, and retaining current office space in the English Foundation Building.
We have found that COVID-19 has increased demand for legal aid in specific areas, such as efforts to help clients with driver’s license reinstatement, guardianship cases, and potential eviction issues.
“The biggest challenges we have faced during COVID-19 are lack of funding and modifying service delivery methods,” said John Floreancig, Indy Legal Aid's General Counsel and CEO. “We are extremely grateful for the funding from Lilly Endowment as it will allow us to address these client issues with full staffing levels in 2021 and 2022.”
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Indy Legal Aid has a number of volunteer opportunities for attorneys, students, and the general public. For attorneys, we have pro bono cases, internships for students, and our spring and fall events, along with
light office work.
For more information, click here.
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We have several ways for you to make a difference in the lives of our most vulnerable Hoosiers in Central Indiana. Approximately $.87 of every dollar donated to Indianapolis Legal Aid Society is directly used to provide programs and services. For more information, click here.
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615 N Alabama St, Suite 122
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 635 - 9538
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Monday - Friday
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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"The Indianapolis Legal Aid Society is dedicated to ensuring that qualified low-income persons living in the Central Indiana community have access to quality legal assistance for civil disputes." |
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