To our Donors, Members, Volunteers and Community Partners:
Over the last six weeks the Boston community, along with the rest of the world, has faced unprecedented challenges and changes in the wake of the spread of COVID-19. Despite the uncertainty we have faced, and that ahead of us, the Boston Bar Foundation remains committed to its mission to promote justice by funding innovation in legal services, to improve access to justice to those who need it most, and to support the public interest activities of the Bar. This special edition of the BBF’s quarterly newsletter will provide you with updates on how your Foundation has continued to support the work of your Association and your community. As this is the moment for the legal community to come together, it will also provide you with opportunities to engage and give back.
This crisis has affected every facet of our daily lives, and we still don’t know how far reaching and long-lasting these effects will be. However, we can say for certain that when the dust settles, lawyers will be needed more than ever to represent and advocate for those most in need—through assisting with access to unemployment benefits; finding and securing housing; and supporting those who have lost more than most of us can imagine to this devastating pandemic. We know that the strength of the Boston Bar Association and Foundation will be needed by many, and that our members and volunteers will answer the call—as many already have.
We hope that you will continue to stay active in the Bar during this time so that we will be even stronger on the other side. Please consider tuning in to a webinar; calling in to a section committee meeting; volunteering to support pro bono efforts; or merely by sending us your thoughts or observations on this unprecedented situation. We want to hear from you. And finally, in this newsletter you will read more about how the Joan DiCola and Frank Moran Funds are helping to advance our programs and initiatives. With our grants committee now looking at the needs of legal services organizations in our community, we are looking to the Edward M. Casey Fund, which has directly supported our legal services grant-making abilities since 1977. If you are able, we ask that you please consider making a donation to one of these, or any of our Special Funds so that we are able to continue supporting this important work for those who need it most.
We hope that you and your loved ones stay safe and well in the months to come, and we look forward to seeing you again at 16 Beacon Street.
Warmest Regards,
Diana Lloyd
Boston Bar Foundation President