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LONDON,
ON, June 24, 2009 - Local
non-profits reeling from this recession
can come back fighting thanks to a
one-two punch provided by law and
business students at The University of
Western Ontario.
Through the
PINSS Project (Pro Bono/Ivey NPO Support
Services) launched today, students are
offering free consulting that packs a
double whammy of both legal and
strategic elements.
Initiated
by Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) at
Western Law and Ivey Connects, a
student-run group at The Richard Ivey
School of Business, the project will
tackle problems with both legal and
business components.
"Many
issues faced by non-profit organizations
are complex and involve business and
legal aspects," says Avneet Grewal,
Coordinator of Pro Bono Students Canada
at Western Law. "By combining our
expertise, we are able to offer a unique
service to non-profit organizations that
assists them with both their business
and legal needs."
Organizations often grapple with
problems the PINSS Project can tackle,
such as the issue of renting versus
owning a new building. This issue
involves legal elements, such as
renters' rights and the analysis of
provincial/municipal property law, and
business analysis weighing the costs and
benefits of options.
Additionally, when dealing with new
legislation, non-profit organizations
often require legal analysis of what the
legislation means and how it differs
from previous law, as well as how that
could change their business strategies
in the future.
Kate
Woodford, an undergraduate business
student and Executive Director of HBA
Ivey Connects, says the project's timing
couldn't be better as non-profits are
undoubtedly feeling pinched during this
economic downturn.
"This
project allows us to give back more than
ever when it's needed most. We're
excited about the opportunity to promote
values such as voluntarism and
philanthropy with our students, to make
a lasting impact in our community and to
see the practical application of our
combined knowledge," she says.
Students
will be supervised by a lawyer-mentor
from PBSC and a faculty member from Ivey
Business School for the project.
Applications for the program are now
available and are being accepted until
July 13 at
pbsc@uwo.ca
For more
information, please contact Kate
Woodford, Executive Director, Ivey
Connects, 519-661-3494 or
iveyconnects@ivey.ca or Avneet
Grewal and Caitlin Reid, Coordinators,
Pro Bono Students Canada, 519-661-2111,
ext. 81195,
pbsc@uwo.ca
More
details can be found at
www.ivey.ca/iveyconnects
About
Pro Bono Students Canada
Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) is a
national network of law schools,
community organizations and lawyers that
matches law students with non-profit
organizations. Students involved in the
program work with the organizations on a
volunteer basis, and each group of
students is supervised by a lawyer
mentor from the London community. A PBSC
volunteer law student can assist your
organization by doing legal research and
writing, producing educational
materials, drafting policy memoranda, as
well as completing other tasks.
About
Ivey Connects
Ivey Connects is a student-run
philanthropic organization operating at
the Richard Ivey School of Business
across many of its degree programs. Ivey
Connects works to inspire business
students to incorporate philanthropic
giving in their day-to-day lives, and
contribute to the societies in which
they operate. Through a variety of
initiatives, students learn first-hand
the value of sharing their time,
treasure, and managerial talent with
those in need in our global community.
About the Richard Ivey School of
Business, The University of Western
Ontario
The Richard Ivey School of Business at
The University of Western Ontario (www.ivey.ca)
offers undergraduate (HBA)
and graduate degree programs (MBA,
Executive MBA and
PhD) in addition to non-degree
Executive Development programs. Ivey has
campuses in London (Ontario),
Toronto, and Hong Kong. Ivey
recently redesigned its curriculum to
focus on
Cross-Enterprise Leadership â€" a
holistic issues-based approach to
management education that meets the
demands of today's complex global
business world.
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For more
information, please contact:
Susanna Eayrs, Communications Officer,
Western Law, 519-661-2126,
seayrs@uwo.ca or Dawn Milne,
Communications Specialist, Richard Ivey
School of Business, 519-850-2536,
dmilne@ivey.ca |
