Pro Bono from page 21 a much-needed fresh start and the ability of the client to secure credit in the future.
• South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program( Montgomery, Alabama). Barry was terminally ill and lived alone, having tragically lost his adult child. With no close family to rely on, he struggled to navigate his illness on his own. His condition made it impossible for him to work, and he had to survive solely on Social Security benefits. As his medical bills continued to pile up, Barry found himself falling further behind on his payments. The debt became overwhelming. The stress of his financial situation weighed heavily on him, adding to the burden of his declining health. With no other realistic options, Chapter 7 bankruptcy began to look like his only way forward. Barry wanted to keep his vehicle so he could continue making it to his doctor’ s appointments. More than anything, he wanted to stay in his home, not only to have a stable place to live but also to ensure that when his time came, he could pass away in the comfort of his own house rather than in a hospital or care facility. Through our assistance, Barry was able to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and eliminate the crushing weight of his debt. We worked to reaffirm his home and his car, ensuring that he could keep both despite his financial struggles. By providing Barry with a path forward, we were able to help him regain a sense of security, allowing him to focus on his health without the constant fear of losing everything. His story is one of resilience and serves as a powerful testament to the importance of accessible legal assistance for those in need.
Michael L. Cook Grant Award. The Foundation established the Michael L. Cook Extraordinary Grant for a program that is“ such an innovative and exemplary approach to a previously under-served area
of need as to justify an extraordinary grant in excess of the grant limits customarily applied by the Foundation.” The budget for the Cook Grant is $ 20,000. This year, based on the recommendation of its Working Group( Judge Laurel Isicoff and James Baillie), the Committee selected a new grantee, The Northern District of Florida Bar Association, Inc., a newly formed 501( c)( 3) organization, initiated by the bankruptcy bar of that district. This is a new program for that district. It is based on a model already in place in the Middle District of Florida and the Southern District of Florida. Because it is following a successful model in operation in other districts in the state, has bankruptcy bar and bankruptcy court support, and with our grant will have adequate financial support, its success seems assured. This model( in all three districts) may be replicable elsewhere in the country.
2024 DEI Grants
In 2022 the Foundation and the Committee took on a more active role in implementing the College’ s DEI initiatives. The Committee has been working closely with the leadership of the DEI Committee and the Foundation to expand the Foundation’ s grant function to include programs designed to implement those goals. The Committee expanded its role in 2024 and reviewed and recommended approval of 6 grant requests totaling $ 56,000 for DEI initiatives. These recommendations were approved by the DEI Committee and the Foundation Board. The grantees are located in Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, and New York.
Here are 2 of the programs funded in 2024 from DEI grants:
• The Federal Bar Association for the Eastern District of Michigan Bankruptcy Court Internship Program( Northville, Michigan). The internship program was very successful.
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