San Francisco — January 10, 2007 — Committed to building a better justice system for all Californians, the Foundation of the State Bar of California has awarded $267,000 in grants to organizations providing legal services and education across the state. The 30 projects funded through the Foundation's Annual Grants Program reflect a growing need to ensure that the justice system serves the state's increasingly diverse population.
"The changing face of California demands that the Foundation direct much of its grant-making efforts toward projects that educate and serve many different communities, including minorities, the economically disadvantaged, non-English speakers, young people, and senior citizens," said Scott Wylie, the Foundation's Grants Committee Chair and incoming President. "As California continues to become more diverse, the Foundation seeks to strengthen the infrastructure of legal services for the benefit of all of our citizens."
Language Access Projects
In response to an increasing demand for legal services and resources for non-English speakers, the Foundation is funding eight projects totaling $68,000 that reach out to these communities. One language access project, run by the Alameda County Bar Association Volunteer Legal Services Corporation, will provide interpreters to handle intake calls and referrals for the hundreds of calls a year the organization receives from non-proficient English speakers seeking legal assistance. Another funded project is the Public Law Center's HIV/AIDS Client Empowerment Project, which helps low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS understand their rights and provides access to legal services in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Assistance for the Elderly
In response to funding requests from organizations advocating on behalf of the elderly, the Foundation is awarding grants totaling $25,000 to projects aimed at meeting the needs of the state's elderly population, particularly in providing protection from financial abuse. Elder Law & Advocacy's Elder Pro Bono Initiative is one such project that is receiving Foundation support this year. The initiative will harness the resources of the private legal community to serve the unmet needs of low-income seniors in San Diego and Imperial counties.
Youth Education
Furthering its commitment to educating California's children and teenagers about their rights and responsibilities, the Foundation is providing $48,000 to six projects that offer youth legal education and expose young people to career options in the legal world. For example, the Foundation is supporting the Ventura County Bar Association's Courthouse to Classroom Project, which brings hundreds of school-age children into the courts for tours and the chance to participate in a mock trial. Another grant recipient is Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Greater Los Angeles and Inland Empire's Littles in Law program, which pairs at-risk youth with mentors in the legal community.
State Bar Support
Consistent with its goal of supporting the legal needs of California's diverse population, the Foundation is awarding $65,000 to five State Bar education and outreach projects, which do not receive support from mandatory State Bar licensing fees. These awards include funding for an essay contest for fourth and fifth graders on laws affecting them, to be held this spring in conjunction with the release of an updated version of the popular Kids & the Law publication, which the Foundation will be co-sponsoring with additional funding later this year. The Foundation is also providing additional funding to assist in the distribution of Kids and the State Bar's two other highly sought after publications, When You Become 18: A Survival Guide for Teenagers and Seniors & the Law: A Guide for Maturing Californians. All three consumer guides are provided without cost and are available in a number of different languages.
The Foundation's latest round of Annual Grants totaling $267,000 is supporting projects to be carried out in 2007. Since the Foundation began its grants program in 1991, it has distributed nearly $3.5 million in grants for law-related service, education, and outreach projects to community organizations, legal aid agencies, courts, bar associations, and the State Bar.
For a complete list of 2006-2007 grant recipients, click here.
About the California Bar Foundation
The California Bar Foundation is committed to building a better justice system for all Californians. Founded in 1990, the Foundation annually awards grants to California organizations conducting law-related education and service projects and scholarships to California law school students with financial need and a demonstrated commitment to public service. As a nonprofit affiliated with the State Bar of California, the Foundation provides opportunities for California lawyers to support community projects that improve access to the justice system and promote the public good.