In November, we’re reminded to pause and consider what we’re thankful for. At Voorn, Preston, & Carlasare, that gratitude is closely connected to community.
For the attorneys and staff at VPC, serving others isn’t simply something they do outside of work. It’s an extension of why they practice law in the first place. Their work takes them into some of the most personal and challenging moments in people’s lives, helping families navigate elder law, special needs planning, estate planning, employment matters, and family-owned businesses.
“When you spend your days advocating for people, it’s a short step to want to do that in the community, too,” Nick Roe, Chief Marketing Officer, says.
That spirit of service has led members of VPC to become deeply involved in causes throughout Will County and beyond. Heather Voorn, one of only eleven Certified Elder Law Attorneys in Illinois, serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, President of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of River Valley, and a board member of the Silver Cross Foundation.
Meghan Preston serves on the boards of United Cerebral Palsy– Center for Disability Services in Joliet and FranCenter in Darien, while Mario Carlasare serves on the board of the Will County Center for Community Concerns, supporting programs such as Head Start, energy assistance and housing services. Members of the firm are also active with local chambers of commerce, strengthening their connections with the businesses and entrepreneurs they serve.
There isn’t a single cause that VPC asks everyone to support. Instead, employees are encouraged to follow their own passions. That has created a diverse network of service - one that reflects both the firm’s areas of practice and the individual people who make up its team.
And perhaps that is something worth being thankful for: the opportunity to use what you know to help someone else.
Some of the experiences that have stayed with the firm most are those where the impact is unmistakable. Through CASA, that might mean seeing a child in the foster system gain a consistent advocate: someone who continues showing up when that child needs someone in their corner. Through healthcare and disability organizations, it might mean seeing families access high-quality care and services closer to home.
Those moments are reminders that community service isn’t abstract. It is a child being heard. A senior receiving support. A family finding resources. A local organization having the tools to continue its work.
Service also brings the VPC team closer together. Volunteering at a fundraiser or serving together on a nonprofit board offers a chance to step outside the rhythm of deadlines and depositions and reconnect with the people and purpose behind the work.
For other local businesses looking to give back, VPC’s advice is simple: start with the people you already have.
“We didn’t set out with a plan to have partners on nonprofit boards across elder care, children’s advocacy, healthcare, and social services,” Nick says. “It happened because we hired people who were already civic-minded.”
In a season centered on gratitude, VPC’s approach offers a meaningful reminder: sometimes the best way to give thanks for being part of a community is to show up for it: with your time, your talents, and a willingness to help.
“Sometimes the best way to give thanks for being part of a community is to show up for it — with your time, your talents and a willingness to help.”