HCBa pro Bono rIvEr run – a DECaDE oF sErvICE
5K Run Committee
Chairs: Hon. John Conrad & Miriam Valkenburg – Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court
L
ast year, we celebrated
the tenth year of the
HCBA Pro Bono River
Run. The goal of this
Run is to raise awareness of the
need for free legal services for the
many people in our community
who do not have the funds required
to obtain counsel. By pledging
their own pro bono hours and
encouraging others to pledge hours
to support their run, participants
in the Run fill an important void
by allowing access to our legal
system to everyone regardless of
their economic stature. By virtue
of their involvement, these runners
immediately become pro bono
advocates. Over the past 10 years,
the Run has generated more than
17,000 hours of pro bono service.
5K for 5K Challenge
As we turn the page into the
next ten years, it is essential that
we continue to center the focus of
our River Run on awareness and
commitment from HCBA members
to the calling of pro bono service.
To this end, we are creating the
Pro Bono 5,000 Hour Service
Challenge for this year’s Run (#5K
for 5K). The goal is simple — we
hope that participants in this year’s
Run will generate pledges of at
least 5,000 hours of pro bono
service. In order to achieve this
goal, we will be offering a reduced
registration fee of $25 for every
20
For this year’s run, we are creating the pro Bono
5,000 Hour service Challenge (#5k for 5k).
runner who pledges at least 25
hours of pro bono service. Given
that we have a capacity of 350
runners every year, the goal
of 5,000 hours is achievable.
How To Find Pro Bono
Opportunities
One of the common questions
from new participants is where
and how can I perform pro bono
service. An amazing list of pro
bono opportunities is available
on the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
website at: www.fljud13.org/
Portals/0/Forms/pdfs/Pro_Bono_
Opportunities_HillsCty.pdf.
These opportunities include Ask
A Lawyer, Project H.E.L.P.,
Crossroads for Florida Kids, Inc.,
Are You Safe, and the Family
Forms Clinic. There truly is
something for everyone on this list.
So all we need is your willingness
to commit. The best part of your
participation is receiving the
reward that comes from helping
others who need your time, talent,
and ability in resolving legal
matters that dramatically affect
their daily lives.
Updated Race Route and Times
This year’s Run will be held
on Saturday, April 13, 2019,
beginning at 10:30 a.m. Because
of the significant development
that has occurred along the prior
race route, we will not be able
to use the route going across the
bridge. This year’s route will be
located entirely along the Tampa
Riverwalk, beginning and ending
at Water Works Park (out and
back). The race will be chip-timed
for the competitive at heart. After
Continued on page 21
JAN - FEB 2019
|
HCBA LAWYER