The Illinois State Bar Association was recognized for its Lawyers Feeding Illinois program at the Assembly meeting on Dec. 14. ISBA President Paula H. Holderman received an commemorative plate from Jim Hires, board chair of Feeding Illinois and executive director of the Eastern Illinois Food Bank. ISBA Immediate Past President John Thies and his wife Terry were also on hand to receive the plate. Lawyers Feeding Illinois was an initiative during Mr. Thies’ presidency of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) in 2012-13 and Terry Thies served as the ISBA Chair of the statewide effort

During the campaign, the ISBA exceeded its goal of raising 1 million meals:  lawyer teams and more than 2,000 donors  raised more than 4.6 million meals. Attorney General Lisa Madigan supported the campaign, along with Illinois judges, who placed collection containers for non-perishable food items in courthouses in all parts of the state. Additional financial support for the project came from Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund and ISBA Mutual Insurance Company. Numerous local, ethnic and specialty bar associations also participated.