Alexandra “Ali” Silva Fannon has been awarded the 2020 George H. Hettrick Leadership Award, given by the Greater Richmond Bar Foundation (“GRBF”) to recognize outstanding efforts, innovative thinking, and the development of pro bono programs designed to reach unmet legal needs.
Ali was nominated for her outstanding service to the pro bono community in Greater Richmond, including her 10 years of service as the first Executive Director of GRBF. During her tenure at GRBF, Ali helped grow the Pro Bono Clearinghouse service to nonprofit organizations and started a General Counsel Program that connects volunteer lawyers with nonprofit organizations.
Ali spearheaded the creation of JusticeServer™ and the improvement of the system with JusticeServer 2.0. She oversaw (and drove) the creation of the Triage Project to engage the private bar to support the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society. Last, but certainly not least, Ali jumped in 100% on Eviction Diversion and helped create, refine, and staff (daily) the program. And, through it all, Ali tirelessly advocated to lawyers about the importance of pro bono work and trained countless lawyers on various programs to prepare them to take on pro bono work in an effort to narrow the Justice gap in the Greater Richmond area.
Fannon is the Director of Externships and an Assistant Professor of Law Practice at the University of Richmond School of Law. Prior to GRBF, she served as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Richmond. She is actively involved in the Richmond legal community, including roles as Vice-Chair of the Virginia State Bar’s Access to Legal Services Committee, a member of the Virginia Bar Association’s Pro Bono Council, and a member of the Metro Richmond Women’s Bar Association’s Judicial Candidate Endorsement Committee. She earned her B.A. at Georgetown University and her J.D. at the William & Mary Marshall-Wythe School of Law.
About the George H. Hettrick Award
*George H. Hettrick is a founding member of the expanded Greater Richmond Bar Foundation, and Past President. Mr. Hettrick served as Chair of Hunton & Williams’ Pro Bono Leadership Committee and established pro bono offices of Hunton in the Church Hill Community of Richmond, as well as in Charlottesville and in Atlanta. Under his leadership, Hunton has an exemplary pro bono culture and years of 100% pro bono participation. He is the founder of Firms In Service, a pro bono collaboration among Richmond’s big law firms. He currently serves as a member of the Virginia Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission. His pro bono leadership is recognized locally, statewide, and nationally.
Past Recipients
2019: Martin “Marty” D. Wegbreit
2018: Lonnie “Chip” D. Nunley, III
2017: Brian R. Marron
2016: Stephen “Steve” A. Northup
2015: Bob Barrett, Matt Kapinos, & Heather Lockerman (Veterans Initiative)
*The George Hettrick Leadership Award was established in 2015