by Lila Shapero , Esq .
Thank You for Supporting Pro Bono Services
For the past 35 years , the Vermont Bar Foundation has managed IOLTA funds and has solicited your support to fund the varied nonprofit organizations that provide needed civil legal services and education for low-income Vermonters throughout the state .
Your continued support has become increasingly important , as the interest rates determining the amount of IOLTA funds remain low . The Foundation studies reports from grantees and considers applications for funding each spring . Your support is crucial in funding the programs the Foundation supports .
The Foundation thanks lawyers , Prime Partner institutions , and the corporations who have contributed financially . We also thank those who gave their valuable time by providing pro bono or low bono services .
In 2016 , the Foundation awarded $ 972,650 and supported 20 grant programs . A full list of current grantees can be found at www . vtbarfoundation . org .
Programs funded by the Foundation include , among others , Children First ! Legal Assistance Project and Vermont Immigrant Assistance Project at the South Royalton Legal Clinic , VBA Legal Assistance Projects , Vermont Legal Aid , Have Justice Will Travel and Youth Services at Windham County .
The Foundation will highlight the work each grantee is doing through spotlight articles in the Vermont Bar Journal to give you information on how your dollars are supporting the varied work of our grantees . See , Kane , Ryan , Vermont Bar Foundation Grantee Spotlight : South Royalton Legal Clinic , Vermont Bar Journal , Vol . 43 , No . 3 , Winter 2016-17 , pp 39-40 . In the upcoming edition , see another spotlight article , this time highlighting the Association of Africans Living in Vermont among others .
We continue the Foundation ’ s work to address the legal needs of low-income and disadvantaged Vermonters . Please join us in our mission and look at the range of ways that you can add to your contri- butions . Opt-in when you renew your license . Place an order through Amazon , go through Smile . Amazon . com , and list the Vermont Bar Foundation as your charity of choice . Bank at a Prime Partner banking institution . State employees can designate the Foundation for a donation through Vt- SHARES ( the state ’ s United Way program ). Contact Deborah Bailey at dbailey @ vtbarfoundation . org or at 802-223-1400 for information how to maximize IOLTA account interest rates or to donate . ____________________ Lila Shapero serves on the Vermont Bar Foundation board and is a recipient of the 2017 VBA Pro Bono service award for her career-long work with Women Helping Battered Women , Chittenden Domestic Violence Task Force , the Vermont Bar Foundation and more recently , the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program and VBA ’ s Pro Bono Conference .
Anonymous Contributions ( 5 ) Mary C . Ashcroft Deborah Bailey Kurt Bailey Tami Baldwin Amber Barber Bendett & McHugh , P . C . Danforth Cardozo , III , Atty at Law Lillian M . Kortlandt Colasurdo Sidney Collier , Law Ofce of , PLC Therese M . Corsones Beth A . Danon Amy E . Davis Emily Davis Anne Day Jan Dembinski Judith Dickson Elizabeth Drake Jennifer Emens-Butler David Fenster Robert Finley Susan Fowler Joseph Frank Erin Gallivan Matthew Garcia Elijah Gleason Mary Ellen Griffin Gwendolyn Harris George Harwood Mariel Hess Sarah Hofmann Laurie Takiko Izutsu Erin Jacobsen Heather Jarvis Barry Kade Michael E . Kennedy Patricia A . Killigrew
Deborah Kirchwey , Law Ofc of Ellen Kreitmeier Martin J . LaLonde James Levy Joshua Lobe Alison Lowe Kevin Lumpkin K . James Malady , III Steven Markiewicz Stephen B . Martin Jennifer Maynard P . Scott McGee Thomas Melone Cielo Marie Mendoza Merchants Bank Mickenberg Dunn Lachs & Smith , PLC Edward A . Miller , Jr . John Monahan Mary Neal Patricia Nelson John Nicholls North Country Federal Credit Union Sarah S . North Paul O ’ Brian Jane O ’ Neill James A . Palmisano Fred Peet James Pepper Jacob Perkinson Polow Polow & Mahoney , PLLC Charles Powell Alison Powers Chief Justice Reiber and Sandra Reiber Karen Reynolds William B . Reynolds Karen L . Richards Lila M . Richardson
Jennifer Rowe Rutland County Bar Association Marie Salem Hon . D . Justine Scanlon Kirby B . Scarborough Lawrence Scarborough Lila Shapero Alexander D . Shriver Scott Smith Darren M . Springer Jonathan Springer David Sunshine Kara Sweeney Jason Tiballi Benjamin Traverse Miceala Tucker Edward J . Tyler , III , Esq . United Way of Rutland County Vermont Bar Association Vermont Community Foundation Vermont Gas Systems , Inc Kevin M . Volz Lenora Von Stange , Esq . Helen E . Wagner Ward & Babb Linda J . Williamson Robert Winn Jane Woodruff Sophie Zdatny Steven M . Zdatny
* Includes General Donations only , such as opt-in , raffles and other non-specified gifts , and does not include Access to Justice / Poverty Law Fellow donations .
www . vtbar . org THE VERMONT BAR JOURNAL • SPRING 2017 43