Special Funds

Ellen Carpenter Fund

The M. Ellen Carpenter Fund was established in 2007 to support BBA public service programs that focus on mentoring Boston’s young people and creating opportunities for their personal and professional enrichment. The Fund has traditionally supported fellowships for Boston public school students to work in public sector and non-profit legal offices through the BBA Summer Jobs Program.

This fund was created in memory of M. Ellen Carpenter, in honor of her commitment to the profession and the community, especially Boston’s children and youth.  The first bankruptcy lawyer to serve as President of the Boston Bar Association, a committed member of the Boston Bar Foundation Board of Trustees and a beloved member of the legal community, Ellen was also a member of the American College of Bankruptcy and a former Chair of the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers. She was a driving force behind the creation of a Financial Literacy Program established for teens by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and the BBA, and also a passionate advocate for the BBA Summer Jobs Program, believing that it provided important opportunities for youth, while helping to expand the pipeline of lawyers of color entering the legal profession. 

Joan B. DiCola Fund

The Joan B. DiCola Fund was established in 2015 to support Boston Bar Association programs and initiatives that foster the education and professional development of lawyers, especially those that focus on training new lawyers, integrating law students into the bar, and providing funding for speakers, particularly government officials.

This fund was created in memory of Joan B. DiCola, and is a lasting reflection of her impressive commitment to continuing education in the legal profession.  Ms. DiCola was highly regarded as a solo practitioner in Boston, specializing in estate planning, probate and tax matters. She was engaged with the Boston Bar Association’s work for decades: overseeing, contributing to, and participating in countless educational programs at the BBA and throughout the legal community. She dedicated her time to numerous BBA committees – including the Education Committee – and served as Co-Chair of the Estate Planning Committee of the Trusts & Estates Section.  

The Frank S. Moran, Jr. Fund

The Francis S. Moran, Jr. Fund was established in 2002 to help support and implement the goals and objectives of the BBA’s former Children and Youth Outreach Project. Today, the Moran Fund supports programs like the BBA Law Day in the Schools Program, which brings lawyer volunteers into Boston Public School classrooms to teach students about the law.

The Edward M. Casey Fund

The Edward M. Casey Fund was established in 1977 to improve the delivery of legal services for the poor in Greater Boston. Edward Casey was an individual who often spoke passionately about justice, fairness, kindness and of our moral responsibility to each other. Providing access to justice for the poor was his guiding light in his final years. 

Since its inception, 100% of donations to this fund have been distributed by the BBF in the form of grants to legal services organizations.

The Herbert W. Vaughan Fund

Created to honor the attorney who helped launch the Lawyer for a Day in the Boston Housing Court Program, the Vaughan Fund supports BBA real estate related pro bono, public service and civic programs.

In 1999, the Boston Bar Association (BBA) Real Estate Section, through the outstanding leadership of Herbert W. Vaughan, established the BBA Lawyer for the Day Program in Boston Housing Court. Since that time, thousands of individuals struggling to navigate a complex, overburdened court system have found relief through this program. Volunteer lawyers and law students help unrepresented tenants and landlords with a range of services, from information and advice to full representation in eviction proceedings.

The Charles P. Normandin Fund

The Charles P. Normandin Fund was established in 2006 to support bankruptcy-related pro bono, public service and civic programs of the Boston Bar Association. 

This fund supports the M. Ellen Carpenter Financial Literacy Program, which gives Boston public school students the opportunity to learn about their financial rights and responsibilities.

About Charles P. Normandin

In December 2005, Charles “Charlie” Normandin, a very distinguished and beloved member of the legal community, passed away. Charlie was a partner and of counsel at Ropes & Gray and was considered by many to be the “dean” of the bankruptcy bar of Massachusetts. An active member of the Boston Bar Association’s Bankruptcy Section and a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, his commitment to professional excellence was matched only by his commitment to community service. He believed in the importance of providing pro bono services to those who are less fortunate and viewed community service as a responsibility of the profession. 

This fund honors Charlie’s contributions to the bankruptcy bar and his lifelong commitment to community service and education. 

The John A. Perkins Fund

This fund was established by former BBA President John A. Perkins, to aid the publication of significant books, articles and speeches relating to the institution of law and the legal profession. 

In 2009, the Perkins Fund funded the printing of a BBA Task Force report entitled Getting it Right: Improving the Accuracy and Reliability of the Criminal Justice System, which recommended best practices for law enforcement professionals to cut down on wrongful convictions and called for legislation to allow for DNA testing in cases where the defendant claims factual innocence. 

In 2014, the BBA Task Force to Expand Civil Legal Aid in Massachusetts issued a report, through a grant from the Perkins Fund, titled Investing in Justice: A Roadmap to Cost-Effective Funding of Civil Legal Aid in Massachusetts.  The results of the study showed that an annual $30 million in new state funding is urgently required to help bridge the gap between existing resources and what is needed to provide appropriate civil legal aid to all who are eligible.