Pro Bono Partnership Strengthens Board

White Plains-based Pro Bono Partnership (the Partnership), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free business and transactional legal help to other nonprofits in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, is pleased to announce the appointment of five distinguished new members to its Board of Directors. This strategic expansion underscores the Partnership’s commitment to empowering nonprofits with top-tier legal expertise to empower nonprofits and strengthen communities.

Ron Abad
CEO, Community Housing Innovations (CHI)
With over 30 years of executive leadership in government and nonprofit organizations, Ron has extensive experience in the fields of homeless shelters, supportive housing, and community-based health care. Prior to CHI, Ron served as Senior Vice President for Acacia Network Housing, Chief Operating Officer of Urban Pathways, and Assistant Commissioner in the NYC Department of Homeless Services. Ron was recently listed in City & State’s 2024 Above and Beyond 50 Social Services Leaders in New York State. Ron’s perspective will be invaluable for ensuring programming meets the needs of the Partnership’s nonprofit clients.

Monica M. Curtis
Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, MetLife
Monice Curtis oversees global legal operations for MetLife, a global insurance and financial services company. Monica joined MetLife in 2022 after 14 years at The Hartford Financial Services Group, where she was Senior Vice President and Global Head of Litigation, Employment, and Employee Benefits Law. Monica’s extensive legal expertise and leadership skills will be invaluable to Pro Bono Partnership.

Joe Halprin
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary, MoCaFi
At MoCaFi, Joe Halprin champions financial inclusion for underserved communities and is dedicated to improving the economic circumstances of the 110 million Americans facing economic hardship. MoCaFi aims to create wealth for excluded communities through enhanced access to public, private, and social capital. Under Joe's leadership, MoCaFi has received significant accolades, including recently being listed in The Plug’s 100 Promising Black-led, High-Growth Tech Companies focusing on Social Impact. Joe's commitment to social impact and his technology and finance acumen will help expand the Partnership’s reach.

Melissa R. Kelly
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer at GE Aerospace
Melissa Kelly’s extensive legal background at GE Aerospace, combined with her prior experience at JP Morgan Chase, equips her with the insights and expertise to navigate both corporate compliance and nonprofit governance. Melissa’s previous roles at GE Aerospace include Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer and Global Head of Labor and Employment. Her addition to the board enhances the Partnership’s capacity to provide comprehensive legal support to nonprofits operating in highly regulated sectors.

J. Scott Sanpietro
General Counsel (North America), Chubb
For 20 years, Scott Sanpietro has contributed significantly to legal and business strategies at Chubb, a world leader in insurance, operating in 54 countries and territories. Before joining Chubb, Scott was an Associate at Strook & Strook & Lavan. His leadership skills, deep understanding of the legal landscape, and extensive experience in insurance regulation adds tremendous value to the Partnership’s mission, particularly in risk management and insurance.

"We are delighted to welcome Ron, Monica, Joe, Melissa, and Scott to our Board of Directors," said Nancy Eberhardt, Executive Director of Pro Bono Partnership. "Their remarkable professional achievements and dedication to community service align perfectly with our mission, and their collective talents will strengthen our ability to effectively serve the nonprofit community. The Partnership’s work would not be possible without the expertise of volunteer attorneys from corporations and law firms. We look forward to their contributions in advancing our efforts to provide crucial legal support to nonprofits in our community."

For 27 years, Pro Bono Partnership has provided free legal help to nonprofits in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Since its founding in 1997, the Partnership has assisted more than 4,000 nonprofits on over 23,000 legal matters, enabling these organizations to more effectively operate and feed those who are hungry, house people experiencing homelessness, promote the arts, and provide essential programs to children, immigrants, people who are elderly, are differently abled, or are experiencing unemployment.