The Boston Bar Foundation (BBF) announced today that it will provide $825,500 in grants to 23 community organizations that work to provide legal services to those in need. Nearly half of this amount is comprised of proceeds from the BBF’s annual John & Abigail Adams Benefit and BBF reserves, with the remainder derived from IOLTA funds.
The grantee organizations administer critical legal aid to the most vulnerable and underprivileged members of the population, such as immigrants, domestic violence survivors, at-risk children, and veterans.
BBF President Jack Clymer stated:
“This year’s funding was made possible by the tremendous success of the John & Abigail Adams Benefit, as well as the year-round support of the BBF’s mission and fundraising efforts by lawyers, law firms, and area businesses. Without the support of the legal community, the Boston Bar Foundation would not have had the ability to supply nearly half of the funding for this year’s grants, which will go toward ensuring equal access to justice for our fellow citizens.
A difficult economic climate means that we had to make some very tough decisions – ones that our Grants Committee takes very seriously. The Committee deliberated extensively to arrive at its final decisions and make sure that grants made would have the maximum leverage in the Greater Boston community. We are confident that the grantee organizations demonstrate not only the ability to provide much-needed legal services to those in need, but also financial responsibility and sustainability.”
The following 23 organizations will receive grants from the Boston Bar Foundation:
Casa Myrna Vazquez
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
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.
Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc.
Veterans Legal Services
Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association
Women’s Bar Foundation
