In The Community

Pender & Coward professionals have deep roots in our communities volunteering and working with non-profit organizations, giving time and resources, serving on boards and providing needed assistance to these vital organizations. The firm also generates and leads community service efforts such as Pender & Coward's Restore the Shore 2016, Pender & Coward's 130th Anniversary Tree Canopy Community Service Project and Food for Frontline Healthcare Heroes at Sentara's Obici Hospital and Virginia Beach General Hospital and Restore the Shore 2022.  We have received Volunteer of the Year 2022 and River Star Business awards in 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 from the Elizabeth River Project and the Pearl Business Volunteer of the Year award from Lynnhaven River NOW for the firm's work and volunteer efforts to better our environment and waterways.  For the past 6 years, the firm has provided volunteer and sponsorship support for MLK Community Unity Day on Virginia's Eastern Shore. We salute our professionals who give their time and talents to the community and continue to honor the firm’s motto of “Service. Integrity. Results."  Read below about some of these volunteer community service efforts.

MLK Community Unity Day

Since 2019, Pender & Coward has provided volunteer and sponsorship support for MLK Community Unity Day on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Attorney volunteers have partnered with Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore and the Northhampton County chapter of the NAACP to serve a community breakfast at Northhampton High School, to deliver food during COVID-19 and to prepare food packages for delivery to senior citizens. In 2023 and 2024, firm volunteers prepared soup packages for delivery to senior citizens in need at the oldest African-American owned and operated business in Northampton County, Giddens' Do Drop Inn.

The firm enjoyed participating in the MLK Community Unity Day of Celebration and Service at Gidden's Do Drop Inn on the Eastern Shore on January 15, 2024. Pictured above are Donna Bozza of Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore, P&C attorney Bryan Peeples, Jane Cabarrus of Gidden's Do Drop Inn and the Northampton County Branch of the NAACP, and P&C team members Mancha Stanton and Cozette Holland.

Pictured above are volunteers from the firm's Waterfront Law Team and owner Jane Cabarrus at Giddens' Do Drop Inn in Franktown, VA on January 16, 2023.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR award FROM ELIZABETH RIVER PROJECT

Pender & Coward received the River Star Business Volunteer of the Year award on November 12, 2022 from the Elizabeth River Project for consistent work to reduce pollution and improve the health of the Elizabeth River waterways through waterway and wetlands cleanups, especially the 2022 Restore the Shore event after which the City of Norfolk received a grant to build a living shoreline at the site in 2023.  The firm continues to support the Elizabeth River Project's efforts to "do right by the river" and enhance our waterways and environment.

Pictured above is Elizabeth River Project's Princess Elizabeth and volunteer coordinator Kayla Gradwell presenting the award to the firm's director of marketing Mancha Stanton.

river star business awards for ongoing Pollution Prevention and improvement of environment & waterways

Pender & Coward received River Star Business awards in 2022, 2021 and 2020 for work to reduce pollution and improve the health of the Elizabeth River waterways and the environment and offering free educational webinars on waterway and environmental topics.  Through the firm's corporate environmental stewardship, Pender & Coward continues to support the Elizabeth River Project's efforts to "do right by the river" and enhance our waterways and environment.  Since 1997 The Elizabeth River Project's River Star Business program has led to the creation or conservation of over 1,882 acres of wildlife habitat, over 356 million pounds of reduced pollution, and over a billion pounds of reduced and/or recycled materials.

Pictured above is Elizabeth River Project's Pam Boatwright delivering the firm's 2022 Sustained Distinguished Performance River Star Business Award to attorneys Tom Berkley and Jeff Wilson. The January River Stars Luncheon was held virtually due to COVID-19. The Sustained Distinguished Performance award requires completion of a significant new initiaive.  Pender & Coward launched free environmental webinars while continuing its culture of community service.

Pictured above is Elizabeth River Project's Princess Elizabeth delivering the 2021 Achievement Level River Star Business Award outside Pender & Coward's Chesapeake office to attorneys Kevin Hubbard and Jim Lang. The January River Stars Luncheon was held virtually due to COVID-19. The Achievement Level award requires significant results in both pollution prevention and wildlife habitat enhancement and efforts clearly quantified and achieved with meaningful employee involvement.

The 2020 Commitment Level River Star Business Award was presented at Elizabeth River Project's River Stars Luncheon and was accepted on behalf of the firm by attorneys Jim Lang, Tom Berkley and Jeff Wilson.

Food for Frontline Healthcare Heroes

Pender & Coward is providing food for frontline healthcare heroes to show appreciation and support during the coronavirus pandemic.  The firm is supporting local restaurants by purchasing food to deliver lunch to healthcare workers at Sentara’s Obici Hospital and Virginia Beach General Hospital.  50 pizzas from Amici’s izza Café in Suffolk were delivered to Obici Hospital on April 29, 2020.  150 meals from 501 Grill North Kitchen + Bar in Virginia Beach were delivered to Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital on May 6, 2020.  Pender & Coward also provided 500 Hershey bars for nurses at both hospitals to celebrate Nurses Week.

Pictured above at Sentara Obici Hospital are Breanna Taylor of Amici's Pizza Café, hospital representative Debbie Williams, Boo McGhee of Amici's Pizza Café and Pender and Coward attorney and CEO Dave Arnold.

Pictured above at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital are Stefanie Talley of 501 North Kitchen + Bar, hospital representatives Dolores Reed, Margaret Chenault and Peggy Braun and Pender & Coward attorney and CFO Mark Baumgartner.

Diane Reid - EMT For Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad

Pender & Coward paralegal Diane Reid has served as an EMT with the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad since 2006.  We appreciate Diane and all first responders, medical workers and others on the front lines helping people in our communities during the COVID-19 crisis.  In the words of Mr. Rogers, in times of crisis “look for the helpers, you will always find people who are helping.”  Diane also handles a very busy career as a paralegal at Pender & Coward continuing to serve clients while practicing safe social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.  Diane will celebrate her 25th anniversary with Pender & Coward in May of 2020, and we’re proud to count her as one of our P&C Heroes.

pearl business volunteer of the year award for improving the enivironment and health of the lynnhaven river

Pender & Coward received Lynnhaven River NOW's Pearl Business Volunteer of the Year Award for the firm's consistent volunteer cleanup efforts to reduce pollution and improve the health of the Lynnhaven River and materials provided for educational programs in 2020. The firm's award was accepted at a February 2021 volunteer waterway cleanup by Jeff Wilson, Bryan Peeples and Mancha Stanton. At that particular cleanup, the group removed almost 500 pounds of trash and debris from the river. Through the firm's corporate environmental stewardship, Pender & Coward continues to support Lynnhaven River NOW's mission to clean and protect Virginia Beach waterways. 

130th Anniversary Tree Canopy Community Service Project

In appreciation of our clients, communities and friends that have nurtured and sustained us for 130 years, the firm donated and planted 130 trees in Southside Hampton Roads through a firm-wide service project.

Restore the Shore 2016 and 2022

Pender & Coward's Restore the Shore project in 2016 unleashed the power of over 50 volunteers to clean up a battered shoreline and replant native plants so the shoreline will thrive again.  The firm also rallied volunteers for Restore the Shore 2022 to return to our adopted shoreline along the Elizabeth River.  The 2022 volunteer group removed 1,200 pounds of trash and debris that had accumulated since the firm's original Restore the Shore 2016 waterway cleanup and restoration.  

Navy Seal Memorial

The firm donated funds and provided pro bono legal services to the Navy SEAL Foundation for the construction of the Navy SEAL Monument on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk.