44 The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening relationships between patients and caregivers with the goal of promoting compassionate care.The center was established through the vision of Ken Schwartz, a former Mintz Levin attorney who, while battling cancer, recognized how the human kindness he received from his caregivers made his plight a little more bearable. Since helping to start the organization many years ago, Mintz Levin has played a major role in the success of the Schwartz Center. Mintz Levin attorney Steve Weiner serves as the organization’s general counsel, and attorneys Peter Biagetti and Tony Starr serve on the board. In addition, over the past two years, attorneys Stefanie Abhar, Roy Albert, Dianne Bourque, Sue Finegan, Elissa Flynn-Poppey, Kim Gold, Bethany Hickey, Sarah Hogan, Rachel Irving, Samantha Kingsbury, Christine Wahr, and Susan Neuberger Weller as well as former Mintz Levin attorney Quincy Ewell and legal specialist Jacobo Dib have lent additional pro bono support. The Mintz Levin team has helped the organization write and update its bylaws, address governance concerns, draft and review contracts, and handle intellectual property, trademark, and government relations issues. Veterans Association of North County Veterans Association of North County, located in Oceanside, California, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created by a group of dedicated veterans to provide support and resources to empower other veterans, members of the military, and their families. The association is an umbrella organization that represents more than 30 veteran organizations spanning all branches of military service and encompassing all generations, from active duty through retirees. The mission is toserveasaone-stopresourcecenterforallveteransandmilitary, centralizing the services of diverse agencies to assist with jobs, education, finances, health and wellness, and family issues. Mintz Levin assisted theVeterans Association of North County and another nonprofit, Interfaith Community Services, to structure a contribution and license agreement permitting Interfaith Community Services to provide faith-based family counseling at the Veterans Association of North County’s Oceanside facility. This faith-based family counseling would complement the association’s social service programs, including employment assistance, continuing educational support, financial counseling and services, and health and wellness counseling. However, the association’s lease with the city of Oceanside would not allow a sublease, so Mintz Levin attorney Scott Biel helped the association structure a relationship with Interfaith Community Services that allowed it to occupy space and provide a contribution to the association, thereby avoiding the premium on the rent that the association would have paid for the space to provide the counseling. As a result of the transaction, the Veterans Association of North County received funds to increase the scope of its services. Volunteer Lawyers Project: Chapter 7 Initiative The Volunteer Lawyers Project was established to provide legal representation in civil matters to the indigent of Boston, primarily through the pro bono services of private attorneys and paralegals. It is among the oldest organized pro bono efforts in the country. Mintz Levin works with the Volunteer Lawyers Project to provide pro bono representation to clients seeking consumer debt relief through Chapter 7 bankruptcy. A large team of Mintz Levin attorneys, summer associates, and legal specialists, led by attorney Adrienne Walker, with the help of attorneys Eric Blythe and Kevin Walsh, have helped lead numerous low-income clients toward financial independence.