Don Hammond joined Fair Chance Project 10 years ago soon after the organization was founded. He attended large membership meetings letting the group know that he was an attorney and was there to help. He made good on his promise. Not only was he there to answer questions for families of the incarcerated who desperately needed advice, he ran our legal clinic one Saturday of the month and would talk to people individually in person or over the phone giving free counsel. Beyond all that, he literally participated in all our other programs: food distribution, planting organic gardens, working in the South Central LA community helping older or infirm folks do repairs on their homes. He helped us design legal papers we needed for our various programs and joined our Fair Chance Project Board. We always marveled t his commitment.

Don is very good at what he does, defending the people and is a great volunteer for the community through Kiwanis.

I am the past president of the Hon. Benjamin Aranda Inn of Court which is a chapter of the American Inns of Court. I had the pleasure to work with Don last year on the American Inns of Court-Teen Court Scholarships. Don has done an incredible job working with the high school students at Narbonne High School Teen Court. Don is a member of the Torrance Kiwanis where we focus on service leadership programs for our youth. Don was recently voted in as a director to our Foundation Board. I look forward to working with Don at both Inns of Court and Kiwanis youth leadership service programs.

As a member of the Civil Air Patrol Don has demonstrated initiative, enthusiasm, professional ability and foresight in performing his duties as legal officer. In addition, as a mentor to CAP cadets he sets a good example of leadership and organizational abilities.

Don Hammond has been a wonderful supporter of Public Service Academy at Narbonne High School. He has spent countless hours working with our at-risk students on mock trials and career guidance, and he has stepped up to be a member of our advisory council and a regular volunteer with our Teen Court program, including completing proctor training and working with the LA Superior Court to provide scholarships to our students. His kindness, enthusiasm, and endless support as a volunteer for our program have made a world of difference for countless students, the world would truly be a better place if we had more volunteers like him!