2021 Justice Conversations
Accountability Courts—A Conversation with Federal and State Court Judges on
Furthering Justice in Georgia
Join us for Georgia Appleseed’s Third Annual Justice Conversations, featuring U.S. District Court Judges Amy Totenberg and Steven D. Grimberg and Dekalb County Superior Court Chief Judge Asha Jackson, to discuss accountability courts and their role in furthering justice. As our nation broadens the role of the justice system to incorporate equity and social justice, this stellar panel of jurists will discuss the emerging role of accountability courts within the Georgia judicial system.
Monday, December 13
6:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. ET
For questions, contact Kate Swett. This program has limited in-person attendance at King & Spalding. For those who are attending virtually, a link to view the event will be circulated at a later date.
CO-SPONSORS: King & Spalding and Taylor English
2020 Spellbound for Justice! Trivia Night: All Things Georgia
This year, the Georgia Appleseed Young Professionals Council is taking Spellbound online with Trivia Night: All Things Georgia!
Things to know:
- Teams of four $100 per team (4 players; we need individual emails to send Zoom information); Register individual teams at http://bit.ly/Spellbound2020
- $200 per corporate sponsor with recognition (includes one four-person team); Register sponsor teams at http://bit.ly/Spellbound2020Sponsor
- Proceeds support the work of Georgia Appleseed
- Questions? Contact Eloise Holland at eholland@gaappleseed.org
2019 Annual Spellbound for Justice
Georgia Appleseed’s Young Professionals Council (YPC) 2019 Spellbound for Justice SCRABBLE® tournament was held on June 25, 2019, at Hudson Grille Midtown.
Good Apple Event - April 24, 2019
Georgia Appleseed's annual Good Apple Event returned to The Stave Room on April 24, 2019, to honor those who are creating a more resilient Georgia. Honorees included Dr. Garry McGiboney and the PBIS Team of Georgia, the Child Protection and Advocacy Section of the State Bar of Georgia, and EY.
Good Apple Event - April 18, 2018
Georgia Appleseed's annual Good Apple Event returned to The Stave Room on April 18, 2018, for a night of recognition and celebration. Georgia Appleseed's Founding Executive Director, Judge Sharon N. Hill received the 2018 Good Apple Award for her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to achieving justice in Georgia.
2018 Spellbound for Justice
Click here for Spellbound 2018 details & registration!

2017 Good Apple Awards
Georgia Appleseed's 2017 Good Apple Awards were held on April 19th at The Stave Room. It was a fabulous night of celebrating pro bono in Georgia and the continued work of Georgia Appleseed.
We express our deepest gratitude to all our supporters, sponsors, honorees, and attendees who made this event memorable.
Click here to view more pictures from the event.
Our Honorees
Patrise Perkins-Hooker
Georgia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice honored Patrise Perkins Hooker as the 2017 Good Apple Award Recipient in the Individual Category for her focus on the importance of Pro Bono while serving as the 52nd President of the State Bar of Georgia. The “Power of Pro Bono” is a core value for Georgia Appleseed, a value that Patrise has personified throughout her life and work. Patrise is a founding Director of the Georgia Heirs Property Law Center, formerly a project of Georgia Appleseed and now an independent law center dedicated to serving the legal needs of low and moderate income owners of heirs’ property in Georgia. Patrise currently serves as the County Attorney for Fulton County, Georgia.
Left to right: 2017 Board Chair John Fleming; Honoree Patrise Perkins-Hooker; GA Appleseed Executive Director Sharon Hill.
Scott Bryant, Stacy Funderburke, and Pearson Beardsley
Georgia Appleseed chose to honor three recipients of the 2017 Good Apple Award Recipients in the YPC Category: Stacy Funderburke, Pearson Beardsley and Scott Bryant. Stacy, Pearson and Scott are being honored for their many years of leadership through Georgia Appleseed’s Young Professionals Council (YPC) and their decision to commit to service on the founding Board of Directors of the Georgia Heirs Property Law Center, the direct outgrowth of Georgia Appleseed’s Heirs Property Project, a signature project of the YPC. The Georgia Appleseed/YPC Heirs Property Project provided the foundation for the creation, incubation and launch on January 1, 2017 of Georgia’s first independent law center whose mission is to “increase generational wealth, social justice, and community stability by securing and preserving property rights of low and moderate income Georgians.”
Left to right: GA Heirs Property Law Center Executive Director Skipper StipeMaas; YPC Honorees Pearson Beardsley, Scott Bryant, and Stacy Funderburke; GA Appleseed Executive Director Sharon Hill.
Our Generous Supporters
Pillars of Justice
Barnes Law Group LLC
Eversheds Southerland LLP
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
King & Spalding LLP
Core Supporters
Alston & Bird LLP
Problem Solvers
Southern Company
Beth Tanis & John Chandler
Troutman Sanders LLP
UPS
See a full list of our 2017 sponsors here.
View all of our past honorees.
2016 Good Apple Awards
Georgia Appleseed's 2016 Good Apple Awards occurred on April 20, 2016 and honored the pro bono efforts and support of those who make our successes possible.
Thank you to all of our Supporters, Honorees, Presenters, Attendees, and Donors that made this evening exceptional.
Click here to view more pictures from the event.
Our Honorees
Georgia Appleseed Young Professionals Council Honoree: Student Tribunal Hearing Pro Bono Attorney Training Team. L-R: David Sneed (Georgia Appleseed Board Chair), Eric Fisher (Taylor English, honoree), Rachel Platt (The Platt Law Firm, honoree), Clara Black DeLay, Esq. (Project Volunteer, presenter), Craig Friedman (Jones Day, honoree), Alison Ballard (Taylor English, honoree), Sharon Hill (Georgia Appleseed Executive Director)
Law Firm Honoree: Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Accepted by Anita Wallace Thomas, Maria Branch Turner, and Suhail Seth
L-R: Paul Howard (Fulton County District Attorney, presenter), Anita Wallace Thomas, Maria Branch Turner, Suhail Seth, Sharon Hill (Georgia Appleseed Executive Director), David Sneed (Georgia Appleseed Board Chair)
Individual Honoree: Elizabeth (Beth) Vranicar Tanis, Partner, King & Spalding
L-R: Bobby Cagle (Director, Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, presenter), Beth Tanis, Sharon Hill (Georgia Appleseed Executive Director), David Sneed (Georgia Appleseed Board Chair)
View a list of all of our 2016 supporters.
View all of our past honorees.
2015 Good Apple Awards
A record crowd celebrated Georgia Appleseed's 10th anniversary at the 2015 Good Apple Awards held on April 21, 2015 at Summerour Studio in Atlanta.
Good Apple Awards were presented to Southern Company (Corporation), Troutman Sanders LLP (Law Firm) and to Jessica McKinney (GE Energy Management) (Individual).
A first-time live auction and 5-minute ‘Fund the Mission Paddles Up!’ raised over $37,000 in additional unrestricted funding to support Georgia Appleseed's work.
A highlight of the event was the film debut of Uncommon Wisdom, featuring volunteer, staff and supporter reflections on Georgia Appleseed's roots, growth and future. See the film here. Great photos illustrate the special evening. View the photo gallery here. All photos by Holly VonLanken Photography.
Applause for our Sponsors:
Pillars:
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
King & Spalding LLP
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
Leaders:
Georgia Power Foundation
Troutman Sanders LLP
Platinum:
A. Stephens Clay
Joe Loveland
We extend sincerest thanks to all our 2015 Good Apple Awards Sponsors, our largest source of unrestricted funding. From 10-year supporters to first time donors, it is our Sponsors’ generosity that enables us to increase justice for Georgians who don't have a voice in the halls of justice. See the full list of our sponsors here. |
2014 Good Apple Awards
200 guests gathered on April 24th for the 2014 Good Apple Awards to celebrate the work of Georgia Appleseed and congratulate the worthy honorees.
Board Vice Chair Bob Gallagher (PwC) presenting the Good Apple Award to Mike McGlamry & Trip Tomlinson of Honoree Firm Pope McGlamry Kilpatrick Morrison & Norwood PC |
Josh Williams (Booz Allen Hamilton) and Viral Dave (The Goddard School) with presenter Dustin Heslep (Ernst & Young) |
Ira Foster (GA Legal Services) and Ellis Albright accept the award for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. from Teddy Reese (GA Appleseed) |
The program featured the video debut of “Changing Direction: Dismantling the School to Prison Pipeline,” followed by a compelling presentation by Judge Steven A. Teske, Chief Judge , Juvenile Court of Clayton County.
Watch the video: Changing Direction: Dismantling the School to Prison Pipeline >>
Support our work with your contribution >>
Photos >>
Georgia Appleseed gratefully acknowledges our generous sponsors:
Pillar:
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP · King & Spalding LLP
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
Sustainer:
Alston & Bird LLP · Southern Company · Troutman Sanders LLP
Elizabeth V. Tanis · UPS Foundation
2013 Good Apple Awards
(R-L) Crystal Baker and Sharon Hill congratulate honorees Shunta McBride and Brian Gordon of DLA Piper.
This year's Good Apple Awards on April 10th celebrated the work of DLA Piper and Shunta Vincent McBride, Esq. on behalf of our Heir Property Project. Special guest speakers included national Appleseed Founding Board Member Professor Arthur Miller (New York, NY) and Mayor Teresa Tomlinson of Columbus, site of our first satellite Georgia Appleseed office.
Another highlight of this year's Good Apple Awards was the video debut of "Unlocking Heir Property." We extend our sincerest appreciation to David Hughes Dukes, John Dukes and their company, Living Stories, for this moving production.
Watch "Unlocking Heir Property" here.
Georgia Appleseed gratefully acknowledges our generous sponsors: | |
Founding Level Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP King & Spalding LLP Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP |
Sustaining Level DLA Piper Beth Tanis and John Chandler Southern Company Troutman Sanders LLP UPS |
2012 Good Apple Awards
On April 17th, the Georgia Appleseed Good Apple Awards were held at the Biltmore Ballrooms in Atlanta, Georgia. Over 225 guests gathered at the event to honor Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and Dustin Heslep of Ernst & Young for their volunteer efforts on behalf of the Georgia Appleseed Effective Student Discipline: Keeping Kids in Class project. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder served as the keynote speaker for the event.
See photos from the evening here.
Georgia Appleseed gratefully acknowledges our generous sponsors: | ||
Founding Level Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP King & Spalding LLP Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, LLP |
Leading Level Cathy Henson & Chris Carpenter Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Southern Company Beth Tanis and John Chandler |
Sustaining Level The Coca-Cola Company Ralph and Marjorie Knowles Troutman Sanders LLP UPS |
Good Apple Award Dinner 2011
On April 28th, more than 200 celebrants gathered at Mason Murer Fine Arts to mark Georgia Appleseed's 5th anniversary and to honor the law center's founding supporters. Board Chair Joe Loveland presented the 2011 A. Stephens Clay Good Apple Awards to Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, King & Spalding, LLP, Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan, LLP and the Southern Company. Betsy Cavendish, Executive Director of national Appleseed in Washington, D.C., was a special guest.
Georgia Appleseed gratefully acknowledges our generous sponsors: | ||
Founder Level Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP King & Spalding LLP Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP |
Presenting Level Southern Company |
Platinum Level The Coca-Cola Company Beth Tanis and John Chandler Troutman Sanders LLP UPS |
View the Good Apple Dinner photo album >>
View the Good Apple Award Honorees Spotlight video >>
Good Apple Award Dinner 2010
Georgia Appleseed honored John Rice at the 2010 Good Apple Award Dinner held on April 20 at The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead. A special component of the evening was the naming of the Good Apple Award for Georgia Appleseed Founding Chair, A. Stephens Clay. Steve Gates, Co-Chair of national Appleseed, was a special guest. View photos here.
Generously sponsored by:
Kilpatrick Stockton LLP King & Spalding LLP Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
The Coca-Cola Company GE Southern Company
Troutman Sanders LLP UPS
![]() Gary Price (L), Managing Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers, presents the 2010 Good Apple Award to John Rice. |
![]() National Appleseed Board Co-Chair Steve Gates (L) congratulates Steve Clay, Founding Board Chair of Georgia Appleseed. |
Art of Justice 2009
A mime, a caricaturist and a human statue walk into a law firm… all featured as performance artists at the third Art of Justice on November 17, 2009, hosted by Sutherland Asbill & Brennan. Judy O'Brien, Pro Bono Partner, Mark Wasserman, Managing Partner, and the Sutherland staff created a memorable evening showcasing the firm's wonderful fine art collection and other more whimsical expressions of art. This tribute to Georgia Appleseed volunteers included special recognition of Founding Board Chair, Steve Clay.
Good Apple Award Dinner 2009
The Good Apple Award Dinner took place April 16 at the Park Tavern Garden Tent at Piedmont Park. Teri P. McClure, UPS Senior Vice President and General Counsel, and Frank S. Alexander, Professor of Law at Emory University School of Law, were honored.
The Good Apple Award recognizes distinguished pro bono leadership that exemplifies the values and goals expressed in Georgia Appleseed's mission, seeks to effect change by addressing difficult social justice problems with systemic solutions, and levels the playing field for children, the poor and the marginalized.
Art of Justice 2008
Troutman Sanders LLP hosted Georgia Appleseed’s highly successful 2nd Art of Justice event on Tuesday, May 20, 2008. Attorneys, judges, educators and other guests were warmly welcomed by Troutman Sanders’ Bob Webb and Governor Carl Sanders and invited to view the firm’s outstanding art collection. Other highlights included GA Appleseed Executive Director Sharon Hill’s update on our Juvenile Justice pro bono project, and Board Chair Steve Clay’s introduction of Georgia Appleseed’s new video. Check out additional pictures.
Troutman Sanders' Bob Webb and Governor Carl Sanders prepare to greet guests to the Art of Justice
Governor Sanders and GA Appleseed Board Member Chuck Clay welcome Emmet Bondurant
GA Appleseed Board Members Jason Carter, Beth Tanis and Dr. Portia Shields enjoy the evening with Bill Shields and Maya Simmons
Art of Justice 2007
The first in a series of fine art exhibitions supporting and highlighting the innovative work of Georgia Appleseed was held on January 24, 2007.
Read more about the event...
Celebrating Our First Year of Advocacy...
Welcome to Georgia Appleseed!
Georgia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice is an affiliate of the national Appleseed network of nonpartisan, nonprofit, public interest law centers. Georgia Appleseed leverages the pro bono work of lawyers and other professionals to produce systemic solutions to difficult social justice problems.