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To Recognize and Celebrate Vivian Opelt as the 2025 Recipient of the Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio’s Outstanding Service by an Individual Award
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WHEREAS, Vivian Opelt is the 2025 recipient of the Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio’s Outstanding Service by an Individual Award; and
WHEREAS, Vivian Opelt's journey to becoming a dedicated pro bono legal advocate is rooted in a lifelong commitment to public service, compassion and justice; and
WHEREAS, Having earned a degree in economics and finance from Ohio State, and working for six years in commercial finance, Vivian followed a long-held dream and enrolled in law school at Ohio State; and
WHEREAS, After law school, Vivian worked for 31 years at Wendy's International, specializing in franchise transactions and litigation. During that time, her volunteer efforts were directed in animal rescue, where she helped to rescue, foster and find homes for around 100 cats and kittens; and
WHEREAS, Vivian began volunteering with LASCO in 2018. She praises LASCO's supportive environment. Her work has included estate planning for senior clients, immigration clinics, driver's license reinstatements and record sealing and expungement; and
WHEREAS, Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio, in conjunction with the Ohio Poverty Law Center, is committed to searching out the patterns, causes of, and solutions to the repetitive and fundamental legal problems facing low-income Ohioans and pursuing the legal recourse needed to address those problems; and
WHEREAS, Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio is comprised of advocates who are passionate about providing legal services to low-income individuals, and it is an honor and a privilege to work with an organization that is committed to making the daily lives of Columbus residents better - a fact exemplified by the service of people such as Vivian Opelt; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council recognizes and celebrates Vivian Opelt as the 2025 Recipient of the Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio’s Outstanding Service by an Individual Award.