Boston Bar Foundation Awards $950,000 in Grants to 23 Local Organizations

The Boston Bar Foundation – the charitable affiliate of the Boston Bar Association – announced today that it will provide $950,000 in grants to 23 community organizations that work to provide legal services to those in need. Approximately 40% of the funding is comprised of proceeds from the BBF’s annual John & Abigail Adams Benefit and BBF reserves, with the remainder derived from Interest on Lawyer Trust Account (IOLTA) funds.

The grantee organizations administer legal aid to the most vulnerable and underprivileged members of the population, such as the homeless, domestic violence survivors, at-risk children, and veterans.

“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 has allowed us to advance the work of these 23 important organizations,” said BBF President Lisa Goodheart. “Because of the active engagement of the legal community, the Boston Bar Foundation grants will help ensure equal access to justice for our fellow citizens.”

The 2015 grant recipients are:

Casa Myrna Vazquez: Founded in 1977 to provide a safe haven for abused women, Casa Myrna is now Boston’s largest provider of shelter and supportive services to survivors of domestic violence.

Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts:  The mission of the Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts is to promote and secure equal justice for low-income youth through advocacy and legal services.

City Life/Vida Urbana: City Life/Vida Urbana is a grassroots community organization working towards racial, social and economic justice and gender equality by promoting individual empowerment and developing community leaders.

Community Legal Services and Counseling Center: CLSACC provides free civil legal aid and affordable psychological counseling to low-income people.

East Boston Ecumenical Community Council: The EBECC is a neighborhood-based organization that promotes the advancement of Latino immigrants through education, services, advocacy, community organizing, and leadership development.

Finex House, Inc.: Finex House provides emergency shelter and services for the most vulnerable of battered women, including those who have disabilities and women who are trafficked.

Greater Boston Legal Services: The oldest and largest legal services program in New England, GBLS provides free legal assistance to as many low-income families as possible, helping them secure some of the most basic necessities of life.

Housing Families: Housing Families works to end family homelessness by offering safe, temporary shelter, quality affordable housing and individualized supportive services that nurture the potential of each family member and help maintain permanent housing.

Irish International Immigrant Center: Irish International Immigrant Center assists immigrants from Ireland and from around the world as they integrate into American society.

Kids in Need of Defense: KIND protects unaccompanied children who enter the US immigration system alone to ensure that no child appears in court without an attorney.

Lawyers Clearinghouse on Affordable Housing and Homelessness: Lawyers Clearinghouse provides pro bono legal services to nonprofit organizations and to individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Legal Advocacy & Resource Center, Inc.: LARC helps low-income residents with legal problems by providing legal advice and making referrals to legal and social service agencies.

Massachusetts Advocates for Children: Massachusetts Advocates for Children works to ensure equal opportunities for children who have disabilities, are low income or are racially/culturally diverse.

Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health: MassCOSH unites workers, unions and community groups with environmental and health activists to end dangerous work conditions, organize for safe, secure jobs, and advocate for healthy communities.

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute: The mission of MLRI is to advance economic, racial and social justice through legal action, policy advocacy, coalition building, and community outreach. 

Medical-Legal Partnership I Boston: MLP’s mission is to equip healthcare, public health and human services teams with legal problem-solving strategies that promote health equity for vulnerable people.

MetroWest Legal Services, Inc.: MetroWest Legal Services protects the rights of elderly, disabled and other disenfranchised people and assists them in obtaining legal, social and economic justice.

Northeast Legal Aid: Northeast Legal Aid delivers civil legal services to the poor and elderly in Northeastern Massachusetts.

Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project: PAIR works to promote the rights of unjustly detained immigrants and to secure safety and freedom for asylum-seekers fleeing persecution.

Prisoners’ Legal Services: Prisoners’ Legal Services promotes the safe, humane and lawful treatment of Massachusetts prisoners through civil rights litigation advocacy, counseling and public outreach.

Veterans Legal Services: Veterans Legal Services provides free and accessible legal services to ensure the self-sufficiency, stability and financial security of homeless and low-income veterans.

Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association: VLP provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents of Greater Boston through the pro bono services of private attorneys.

Women’s Bar Foundation: Women’s Bar Foundation provides free legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, low-income seniors seeking end-of-life documents, and low-income individuals involved in housing disputes.