Thomas A. Zehnder, the recipient of the Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service, says serving as a Guardian ad Litem makes him remember that there are people facing real trials and tribulations every day that he couldn’t imagine enduring. “And in dependency cases, it’s children who face those circumstances through no fault of their own,” Zehnder said. “In the end, my GAL service wakes me up. It reminds me that I should stop feeling sorry for myself. And it reminds me that I should be humble and grateful, and those are traits that I certainly need to exhibit more often. I don’t know about you, but I need that reminder, and I need that reset every once in a while.”

“It heals us, it restores us, and gives us hope again,” said Thomas A. Zehnder, reflecting on the profound impact of pro bono work during his acceptance of the Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award at the Florida Supreme Court on January 16 in Tallahassee.

Zehnder, a pro bono volunteer with the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association since 1996, has devoted over 1,100 hours to service. He shared how his service not only helps those in need but also revitalizes attorneys who may struggle with the disheartening aspects of the profession. His words resonated with those gathered at the annual pro bono awards ceremony, where the Florida legal community came together to celebrate outstanding contributions to pro bono service.