When the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation tabulated the results of the annual 2022 Pro Bono Survey, in partnership with the Supreme Court of Ohio, two Cincinnati attorneys stood out. Thomas Cuni, of counsel at Thomas Downing Law Firm and a volunteer with ProKids, and Gerry Greene, a volunteer with the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, each recorded 700 hours of pro bono service in 2022, a remarkable gift of their time and talent.
“Of the thousands of Ohio attorneys who completed the survey, Tom and Gerry were among the top contributors of pro bono service,” said the Foundation’s Pro Bono Director Sophia Chang. “But not only that, both Tom and Gerry have been extraordinarily committed volunteers for years, helping hundreds of families and children achieve justice.”
Thomas Cuni, ProKids
Tom Cuni, a former board president of ProKids turned volunteer attorney, has served countless Ohioans in his many years of pro bono service. As a volunteer attorney practicing on behalf of ProKids in the Juvenile Court, Cuni works closely with the ProKids CASA Manager and CASA volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children.
“Every week, the generosity of Mr. Cuni impresses me, his insight broadens our thinking, encourages me, and his belief in our work fuels us,” said ProKid’s Executive Director Tracy Cook, in a story on ProKid’s website. “Reassuring and confident, authentic and wise, he has brought his gifts to us as a true servant leader.”
At the University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cuni lends his expertise representing small businesses to law students, where he volunteers at the Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic.
In 2019, ProKids named Cuni the Merilee Turner Volunteer of the Year, and Foundation grantee Pro Seniors named him a recipient of the Seniors Who Rock Award. A devoted husband to his wife Sally Cuni and father to sons Seth and Zach, Cuni’s Facebook page is filled with remarkable storytelling about his time in the service and other musings on life.
Gerry Greene, Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati
Gerry Greene, a volunteer attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, came to the law later in life. After a 33-year career in engineering management with Procter & Gamble, Gerry decided not only to attend law school at age 60 but to use his second career to serve others in need.
For 21 years, Greene has volunteered as a staff attorney with legal aid. He takes on divorce cases often involving clients and children who have experienced significant physical and emotional abuse. Greene handles these complex cases with empathy and compassion.
“Gerry’s dedication has truly expanded high-quality access to justice for some of the most vulnerable in our community,” said Kelly Malone, managing attorney, Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati.
In 2020, the Foundation awarded Greene the Presidential Award for his pro bono service, the Foundation’s highest honor, and WCPO’s Positively Cincinnati told Gerry’s remarkable story in this inspiring segment.
The Foundation and the Supreme Court of Ohio will release the full 2022 Pro Bono Survey results in August.