Justin O’Dell and Leslie Dean O’Neal both hold a strong belief of giving back and investing in the community in which they have the privilege to work. The law firm of O’Dell & O’Neal was founded to reflect that commitment and spirit.
Justin and Leslie have a history of supporting many of the fine charitable organizations within Cobb County through donations of time, talent and funds. These organizations include Must Ministries, the YWCA of Northwest Georgia, The Center for Family Resources, SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, the Humane Society of Cobb County, the American Cancer Society Swordsman’s Ball and the March of Dimes. Justin and Leslie are also supporters of the Cobb Justice Foundation which provides pro bono legal services to the citizens of Cobb County.
Leslie is currently active as an Advisory Board Member of the United Way of Northwest Georgia. Justin has served on the Board of Directors for the Cobb Community Collaborative and founded its Business Advisory Council. Justin also served for four years on the Board of Directors of Cobb Housing, Inc. with leadership roles in marketing and finance. Justin was one of the founding members of Cobb County Diaper Day which annual raises donations of more than 50,000 diapers per year for multiple Cobb County Charities. Justin was honored to read a proclamation from Governor Sonny Perdue at the first ever Diaper Day Celebration.
Justin is one of the Founding members of Reconnecting Families, Inc. a non-profit which is dedicated to supporting the Cobb County Family Dependency Treatment Court and Juvenile Drug Treatment Court. Justin served as Board Chairman from 2010 – 2012. Every year, Justin’s Church, the First Baptist Church of Marietta, provides an Easter Egg Hunt and a Breakfast With Santa event for the participants of the program.
Justin has annually arranged a Courthouse tour for 5th grade students of the Marietta School District. As part of the tour, Justin uses a mock trial team from a local high school to reenact the Dredd Scott trial, which is part of the 5th Grade Curriculum.
Justin and Leslie are both very active with the Kiwanis Club of Marietta. Justin has served on the Spiritual Aims Committee, Programs Committee, Scholarship Committee and chaired the Sports and Social Committee and Membership Committee . Justin has served as a Flag Captain for the club’s Flag Project which displays over 1700 flags around Marietta five times per year and currently serves as a Flag Project Chairman. In addition, Justin was a volunteer and supporter of the 9/11 Commemorative Field of Flags for which the Kiwanis Club received national recognition.
In 2010-2011, Justin was honored to be chosen to chair the Young Children Priority One Committee where he spearheaded the one of the club’s major projects for the year – renovation of a children’s daycare facility and counseling area. The facilities are used by mothers who are seeking treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.
Leslie has also dedicated herself to civic service in the Kiwanis Club. In just 3 years of membership, she has volunteered her time for Kiwanis Read A Book, the Flag Project, Young Children Priority One Projects and Major Emphasis Porjects. In 2010-2011, she chaired the Children and Youth Services Committee which coordinates the GEM Awards for the Marietta School District, the Read A Book Project and Just Desserts, which provides a treat of appreciation for teachers in the Marietta District.