2024 Distinguished Pro Bono Advocate: Ray Odom
Although all of our volunteers make a valuable impact on our clients’ lives, every year we recognize one volunteer who has truly gone above and beyond to make a difference for PSLS clients throughout PSLS’ service area. This year we are proud to honor Ray Odom.
Ray started volunteering with PSLS in the middle of 2023, but in just over a year, Ray has taken on seven cases and has already spent more than 60 hours of his time serving those clients. He started as a volunteer with our Advanced Directives for Seniors Project (ADSP). ADSP pairs volunteer attorneys with clients who are older than 60 or disabled and in need of powers of attorney, wills and transfer on death instruments. The attorneys for the project speak with the client over the phone, gather all the information needed to prepare the documents, draft the documents and review them with the client before PSLS arranges for a time and location for the client to execute the documents. The volunteer opportunity is designed to be remote for the attorneys involved, but during the first clinic he participated in, Ray volunteered to travel from the Chicago area to Rockford to meet with several clients in person. He even made a return trip to meet with a client who was not prepared to move forward after the first consultation.
Ray shared that he started doing pro bono work to help people who need someone on their side. So, when a senior in the Peoria area needed someone by her side as she navigated a complicated situation with her adult son who was experiencing a mental health crisis, PSLS asked Ray if he might branch out from ADSP and assist this client. Ray took on the challenge, consulting with the client, contacting the mental health facility, and putting forward a case plan that would provide the client the legal authority she needed to help her son. Six months later, the son’s condition improved and his mother was able to support him to rehabilitate his home and prevent him from losing his housing. He is making his way back to the life he had before things began to unravel a few years ago. When the client spoke about her son once again being able to live in his own home independently, she said the only word she has for it is a “miracle.”
Most recently, Ray accepted the case of a client whose child was the victim of gun violence. Ray is working with the client to determine the family’s eligibility for compensation through the Illinois Crime Victim Compensation Program. Ray was not familiar with all the ins and outs of this process when he agreed to take the case, but he has been willing to learn so that he can serve this client, and hopefully others in the future.
When Ray learned that he received the award, he responded, "Funny thing is – I absolutely did not think my efforts were anything to celebrate, because I learned more from our clients about life than our clients learned about applicable law from me."
Thank you, Ray, for your dedication and advocating for individuals in need!