Pro bono fundraiser raises over $5,000 for Pro Bono Center
By Erin Rhodes
For The Lawyers Journal
Dec. 21, 2007—The Allegheny County Bar Foundation’s Pro Bono Center held its first annual fundraiser at the Hard Rock Café on Nov. 17. The event packed the Hard Rock Café with over 230 guests and featured live music from local Beatles tribute band “Get Back.” The evening’s activities included three sets of Beatles music, an eclectic silent auction, and plenty of dancing. One lucky ACBA member even got the chance to sing with the band: Kenny Steinberg of Steidl & Steinberg belted out “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” while the crowd sang along.
The theme of the evening was the 40th anniversary of the release of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” The fundraiser was born of an idea Foundation Director Lorrie Albert had in the spring of 2007.
“We decided to try something different, a fundraising event where people could just come in causal attire and have fun,” Albert said. “It was a big hit, with well over 200 people showing up to listen (and dance) to Beatles music and support our pro bono program.”
The fundraiser raised over $5,000 for the Pro Bono Center. Launched in 2005, the Center’s mission is to provide well-trained attorney volunteers to help meet the legal needs of low-income residents in Allegheny County. The Pro Bono Center works to connect the members of the bar association with the center’s 24 ACBA/ACBF projects and member organizations.
The evening’s featured band, “Get Back,” played for over three hours while many guests, some of whom were clad in 60s attire, danced and sang along. “Get Back” has been performing locally for several years. The band plays frequently at Cefalo’s Night Club and Restaurant in Carnegie, and the band’s ability to duplicate the Beatles’ sound has made them a favorite among Beatles aficionados.
In addition to the sounds of “Get Back,” the fundraiser featured a silent auction assembled with the help of volunteers from the Pittsburgh Paralegal Association. With items ranging from sporting event tickets to professional photography sessions, the silent auction played a large role in the evening’s success. The majority of silent auction items were donated by local businesses, but some bar members donated to the auction as well.
For more information on the Pro Bono Center, contact Pro Bono Coordinator Barbara Griffin at 412-402-6677 or bgriffin@acba.org. You can also visit the foundation website at www.acbf.org.