Firm partners with NC Bar Foundation to bring Wills for Heroes clinic to Durham in celebration of the Durham 150th
Over the weekend, Manning, Fulton & Skinner P.A hosted a “Wills for Heroes” clinic donating 150 legacy-planning documents to Durham’s first responders.
In the wake of the Durham explosion earlier this year, the community of Durham rallied together to serve those affected by the incident and celebrate the heroism of those who risked their lives to contain the danger. Thus, the firm could think of no better way to mark Durham’s 150th anniversary than to serve those who serve our community daily.
Twenty of the firm’s attorneys and nine staff members worked alongside Durham’s first responders and their families to develop wills, health care powers of attorney, and powers of attorney documents during the clinic on Saturday.
The event was hosted in partnership with the North Carolina Bar Foundation—an entity within the North Carolina Bar Association that exists to unite legal talent to be a power of greater good for the people of North Carolina.
“This is a big year for Durham,” said Barry Mann, the firm’s managing partner. “In the past 150 years, the community has forged a reputation for innovation, a thriving place for business, and a community that cares about each other. To celebrate the momentous occasion, our attorneys wanted to do something meaningful. This was a way for us to use our profession to give peace of mind and security to those who spend their lives protecting our community.”
The Wills for Heroes Foundation is a national program that got its start in 2007 after research showed a high number of first responders without a simple will. The foundation allows the legal community an opportunity to give back to the community by “protecting those who protect us”. The Young Lawyers Division of the North Carolina Bar Association brought the program to North Carolina soon after the Foundation got its start.
“Durham’s community has seen a lot of change over the decades,” said Reich Welborn, a partner at the firm with 40 years of experience in the Durham area. “What hasn’t changed is the quality of its people. We are honored to play a part in securing the future of those who risk their lives to protect us.”
The North Carolina Bar Foundation will facilitate several more Wills for Heroes clinics across the Triangle in 2019. Find out more here.
Partners Barry Mann and Reich Welborn work with a first responder and his wife to prepare legacy-planning documents.
Attorneys gathered early to prepare for the clinic. Staff from the NC Bar Foundation helped train attorneys to use the Wills for Heroes document planning software and helped to execute the event. Additional clinics are planned for the Triangle later this year.