About the 2026 Event
The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will host this event to commemorate Pro Bono Week, recognize the commitment of local pro bono volunteers and celebrate the Pro Bono Service Award recipient. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary K. O’Brien will be our special guest speaker.
Advanced registration is required to attend this event. Please sign up through the DuPage County Bar Association.
View all of PILI’s Pro Bono Week 2026 Events »
About the 2026 Award Recipients
Pro Bono Service Award
John Kelly
John Kelly, an attorney with the Law Office of John P. Kelly, is a dedicated volunteer at the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit’s Guardianship Help Desk. He serves nearly every week, offering guidance to families as they navigate the legal process of caring for a loved one. Over the past year, John has contributed an estimated 100 hours of pro bono service and helped approximately 100 families through the Help Desk.
John also serves as a pro bono guardian ad litem. His experience in civil litigation and matters involving families and guardianship informs the care he brings to this work. Through his consistent service, John has become a trusted resource for people facing important and often difficult decisions.
Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella
Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella has made pro bono service a sustained part of its work in DuPage County. The firm has accepted numerous family law matters through DuPage Legal Aid, providing representation to people who might otherwise face consequential legal issues without an attorney. These matters often require significant time and ongoing support, and the firm’s willingness to take them on has made a meaningful difference for clients.
Since the annual DuPage County Expungement Clinic began, the firm has also contributed both attorney and staff time to support people seeking to clear eligible criminal records. Its continued participation helps make the clinic an important resource for community members working to remove barriers to employment, housing and other opportunities. By making room for its attorneys and staff to serve, the firm has strengthened local pro bono programs and demonstrated a lasting commitment to access to justice.
Cornerstone Award
Melissa Piwowar was the founding chair of PILI’s Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee. She received her BA from Loyola University Chicago and her JD from Northern Illinois University College of Law. A three-time recipient of DCBA’s Directors Award, Melissa served as a frequent volunteer for Ask a Lawyer, she worked with law students for PILI’s Illinois Legal Answers program, and was an early champion of DuPage County’s annual expungement summit. She also served as DCBA’s Law Day Chair, as a member of its Editorial Board, as Editor of the DCBA Grief, and as Chair of DCBA’s Public Interest and Education Commission. She worked with Donner & Company Law Offices for over 20 years and now serves as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois, working in that office’s consumer fraud bureau.
Prior Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Service Award Recipients:
- David Clark (2025)
- Jim Ryan (2024)
- Stacey McCullough (2023)
- Mia McPherson (2022)
- Ted Donner (2021)
- Elsa Miller (2020)
- Ninnette Gregory (2019)
If you have any questions, please reach out to Jessica Schneider by email or at 312-832-5125.