DWT partner Chris Helm was recognized this spring for his remarkable dedication to serving immigrants with a 2014 Governor’s Volunteer Service award. He was honored at an event in April at the Executive Mansion of Washington state governor Jay Inslee.
The Washington Commission for National and Community Service (now known as Serve Washington) conducted a statewide search for volunteers within national service, volunteer centers, and Citizen Corps programs who “represent the best qualities of the many individuals who serve their communities,” according to the commission. (Citizen Corps is a national volunteer coordination program overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.)
Helm’s name was submitted as a finalist by representatives of OneAmerica, a respected Seattle-based immigrant rights and reform group.
In the program for the awards event, the following was written about him:
“Chris Helm has been one of the most dedicated attorney volunteers for the Washington New Americans program, helping provide free legal assistance to people applying for U.S. citizenship. He has personally volunteered at 12 citizenship clinics since 2008, giving nearly $20,000 worth of in-kind pro bono legal services. He has also served on the Citizenship Day committee of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Washington Chapter, helping get the word out, recruiting and mentoring other attorney volunteers. Chris also helped expand the program through roving attorney clinics, mini citizenship days traveling across the state to rural and underserved areas to provide on-site help with applications. This year, Chris worked with AmeriCorps members to plan the first-ever clinic in the Walla Walla area. In addition, Chris has devoted much of his time to pro bono service, lending his skill and heart to many tough cases.”