November 13 marked the fourth annual EmPOWERING Pro Bono Day, and several members of EEI’s legal team participated by joining the AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly to provide free assistance to community members. These attorneys helped clients sign up for utility and bill assistance services and ensured the clients understood the required paperwork.

“It was great to be able to help and connect with our neighbors. Assisting the community in completing Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and utility assistance applications and public benefits checkups is an important service. We were able to help the participants understand the forms and get them the assistance they needed,” said EEI Attorney for Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Shantel Francis.

During the industry-wide day of service, volunteer attorneys and legal staff from other electric and gas companies also assisted clients in their communities. The program is organized by the Pro Bono Institute (PBI)'s Corporate Pro Bono project and legal teams at Entergy and EEI.

Several EEI member companies participated in providing services, including developing life planning documents for seniors, signing veterans up for wellness services, assisting with applications for public benefits, and more. According to the PBI, this year there were:

• 25 pro bono events serving underserved clients across 15 states
• 271 in-house volunteers from 13 in-house legal departments
• 235 law firm volunteers
• Almost 400 clients served

During the workshop at AARP, attorneys from EEI and AARP served 13 clients and assisted with more than 25 applications.

“EEI's commitment to guiding clients through complex benefit applications was inspiring. They helped transform what could have been a stressful process into a hopeful one. We are grateful for the EEI attorneys’ expertise and compassion. Because of your work, families will enter the winter months with greater security and peace of mind,” said AARP Senior Attorney Robyn R. Griffin.

To learn more about EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day, visit PBI’s website.