The Boston Bar Foundation (BBF) today announced that it has made grants
totaling $1 million to 24 Massachusetts community organizations providing legal
services in areas such as immigration, domestic violence and homelessness.
Approximately half the funds came from Interest on Lawyers Trust Account
revenues, with the remainder coming from the BBF's Adams Benefit, BBF Reserves
and other BBF fundraising efforts.
"The Foundation's ability to fund these important organizations
was made possible by the generous contributions of the greater legal community,"
said BBF President John Donovan. "The grants we announce today are the direct
result of the commitment and generosity of lawyers, law firms and
business people supporting the mission of the Boston Bar Foundation. Over the
past several years, as resources for legal services have dwindled to dangerous
levels, the Boston Bar Foundation has made millions of dollars in grants to continue
to fund vital services. That means evicted tenants, the homeless, foreclosed
homeowners, immigrants, and victims of violence have had representation.
Youth have found summer jobs. And advocates for the underrepresented have
kept their voices. That's what the Boston Bar Foundation and the Boston
Bar Association are all about: lawyers fulfilling their professional
obligations and serving justice by lending a hand in their own communities."
The Boston Bar Foundation grants committee, composed of lawyers with an
in depth understanding of the community as well as the expertise and credibility
to maximize the impact of a limited sum of money, meticulously evaluated each
and every grant application. The goal was to distribute the funds to
organizations capable of making the greatest impact on people in need of legal
aid in the Boston area.
The following organizations received grants ranging from $4,900 to
$375,000:
Brazilian Immigrant Center
Casa Myrna Vazquez
Centro
Presente
Children's Law Center of Massachusetts
City Life/Vida
Urbana
Community Legal Services and Counseling Center
East Boston
Ecumenical Community Council
Finex House, Inc
Greater Boston Legal
Services
Irish International Immigrant Center
Lawyers Clearinghouse on
Affordable Housing and Homelessness
Legal Advocacy & Resource Center,
Inc.
Massachusetts Advocates for Children
Massachusetts Coalition for
Occupational Safety and Health
Massachusetts Law Reform
Institute
Medical-Legal Partnership Boston
MetroWest Legal Services,
Inc.
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
Political Asylum/Immigration
Representation Project
Prisoners' Legal Services
RESPOND, Inc.
Shelter
Legal Services Foundation, Inc.
Tri-City Community Action Program,
Inc.
Women's Bar Foundation