Pro Bono Week is a global campaign that celebrates and activates pro bono service across all professions that use their talents to make a difference. This celebration is inspired by the American Bar Association’s National Celebration of Pro Bono. For all this, we should thank Esther Lardent, otherwise known as the “Queen of Pro Bono.” She founded the Pro Bono Institute in 1996 and served as its president until 2015.
I met Esther in 2007 when she joined the Taproot Foundation board. In that role, Esther helped the organization do for all professions what she had done for the legal profession – make pro bono service an expectation. Serving alongside Esther was an honor and one of the best learning experiences of my life. Her passion was contagious!
The daughter of Holocaust survivors who emigrated to the U.S., Esther was driven by their experiences in this country to try to repay the help they received by helping others. She led by example and it’s her example I follow in celebrating Pro Bono Week. My company, CSR Communications, commits to complete one pro bono project (average of 30 hours) via Taproot+ in honor of Esther.
Pro Bono Week recognizes the commitment of both the skilled volunteers providing the pro bono service as well as the strategic social change organizations harnessing that talent to move their missions forward.
Want to join me in celebrating pro bono and honoring Esther?
Here are three things you can do today.
- Encourage three social change organizations you care about (maybe your own!) to check out Taproot+, where these organizations can connect with skilled volunteers today.
- Consider donating your business skills for good. Learn more here.
- Thank your organization’s skilled volunteers by posting a referral on their LinkedIn page or writing a short blog about an outstanding contributor.
