From the Grants and Pro Bono Committee
Norman L . Pernick , Cole Schotz , P . C . Chair , Grants Committee
I am very proud and excited to acknowledge the tremendous work of the 40 + members of the Grants and Pro Bono Committee ( the “ Committee ”) over the past year . Support for access to justice is an important part of the mission of the Foundation and the College , and that mission is executed by the Committee . On behalf of the Committee and our grantees , I thank the College , the Foundation , the DEI Committee , and the Fellows , whose support and generosity make the grants possible . You have made the College and the Foundation the largest private funder of pro bono programs in the country , and you have enabled us to provide a lifeline of assistance to the most vulnerable and diverse populations our grantees serve . Pro Bono Grants Because of everyone ’ s generosity , in 2022 the College and Foundation awarded $ 456,587 to 47 organizations , funding programs in 25 states plus the District of Columbia . With pro bono grant applications for 2023 funding due by June 1 , the Committee will begin its work to review and recommend pro bono grants to be funded this year . Our grantees come from across the country , in every circuit , in cities large and small , as well as in rural areas . We fund programs designed to maximize the reach of our grantees by increasing volunteers and expanding and leveraging resources . Applications include requests to fund ( 1 )
pro bono clinics and volunteer attorney trainings to recruit additional volunteers , or expand the reach of volunteer attorneys , ( 2 ) self help desks and pro se clinics to assist those individuals who must navigate the process on their own , ( 3 ) development of training or informational videos to reach pro bono attorneys or potential clients , ( 4 ) software and hardware upgrades to enable remote connections to clients , and ( 5 ) community education and outreach , to provide individuals with needed information on debt and bankruptcy relief .
I would like to continue the tradition of sharing with you a few stories of clients you helped last year ( client names have been changed to protect their privacy ):
• From The Pro Bono Project ( New Orleans ): “ Lisa requested legal help from The Pro Bono Project with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case . She was self-employed , a student , had recently lost her transportation due to a car accident , and had about $ 45,000 in debt . She gave us a list of her creditors and debts and met with a volunteer attorney to discuss her legal options . After he determined that L . T . was a candidate for Chapter 7 , another volunteer accepted the case . The volunteer attorney met with the client , made sure that she met all of the legal requirements to move forward with bankruptcy , represented her at a hearing , and ultimately secured a discharge order forgiving her debts . The client is now able to move on with her life and pursue her goals .”
• From Put Something Back Pro Bono Project ( Miami ): “ Jeremy , an elderly African American individual , sought our continued on page 30
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