Grant Projects

The following Grants, funded through gifts to The New York Bar Foundation, have been awarded in 2008:

Alliance for Safe Kids, Inc., Yorktown Heights

Al Sigl Center, Rochester

Bethlehem Youth Court, Inc., Delmar

Boys and Girls Republic, New York

Brennan Center for Justice, New York

The Bronx Defenders, Bronx

Brooklyn Bar Association, Brooklyn

Capital District Women's Bar Association/The Legal Project, Albany

Constitutional Sources Project (ConSource), Washington, DC

Court Appointed Special Advocates, Inc. - New York City, New York

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Ulster County, Kingston

The Family Center, New York

Farmworker Legal Services of New York, Inc., Rochester

Huntington Youth Bureau Youth Development Research Institute, Huntington

Jamestown Bar Association, Jamestown

Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc., Utica

Legal Aid Society of New York City, New York

Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Albany

Legal Aid Society of Rochester, Inc., Rochester

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc., Geneva

Legal Services for New York City, New York

Legal Services for the Elderly, Disabled or Disadvantaged of Western New York

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, Inc., New York

Lifespan of Greater Rochester, Rochester

Mercy Haven, Inc., Islip Terrace

Monroe County Bar Center for Education, Rochester

My Sisters' Place, White Plains

National Center for Law and Economic Justice, New York

New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Inc., New York

New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, New York

New York State Bar Center, Albany

NYSARC, Inc., Buffalo

New York State Bar Association Committee on Issues Affecting People with Disabilities

New York State Bar Association Committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar, Albany

New York State Bar Association Law, Youth & Citizenship Program, Albany

New York State Bar Association Special Committee to Ensure Quality of Mandated Representation, Albany

New York State Bar Association Student Loan Assistance for the Public Interest Program (SLAPI), Albany

Pace Women's Justice Center, White Plains

Partnership for Children's Rights, New York

Queens County Bar Association/Queens Volunteer Lawyer Project, Jamaica

Red Hook Community Justice Center, Brooklyn

Robert H. Jackson Center, Inc., Jamestown

Rural Opportunities, Inc., Rochester

South Brooklyn Legal Services, Brooklyn

The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Center for Elder Abuse, Prevention, Intervention and Research, Riverdale

Unity House of Troy, Inc., Troy

Urban Justice Center, New York

Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS), New York

Western New York Law Center, Inc., Buffalo

WomensLaw.org, New York

Women's Prision Association, New York

Young Korean American Service & Education Center, Inc., Flushing

Alliance for Safe Kids, Inc., Yorktown Heights - to fund a part-time position that involves directing the Yorktown Youth Court activities including managing and training court selection of youth; planning field trips; supervision and training of volunteer staff; contacting students and parents; maintenance of confidential records; and evaluation of youth court policies.

Al Sigl Center, Rochester - to support the Future Care Planning Services Project, which will provide legal services, such as the execution of a will, to family members of adults with disabilities.

Bethlehem Youth Court, Inc., Delmar - to provide a civic and law-related educational opportunity for the volunteer student members and jurors who serve in the alternative court for youth offenders.

Boys and Girls Republic, New York - to fund a part-time coordinator position for the Self-Government and Citizenship Program.

Brennan Center for Justice, New York - for its Access to Justice project, which improves opportunities for low-income individuals, families and communities by securing effective legal representation and basic access to courts in civil and criminal cases.

The Bronx Defenders, Bronx - for Reentry Net, an online resource that provides advocates with training and resources needed to help families through the reentry process. Partial funding was directed from The John R. Dunne Fund.

The Brooklyn Bar Association, Brooklyn - for its Civil Legal Advice and Resource Office (CLARO), which is a weekly advice-only clinic held in Kings County Civil Court to assist low-income unrepresented consumers attempting to respond to serve at least 35 additional children.

Capital District Women's Bar Association/The Legal Project, Albany - to hire a Spanish-speaking Legal Services Coordinator for the Domestic Violence Legal Connection project, which provides legal representation to victims of domestic violence on non-criminal legal issues, expands outreach in the community and strengthens attorney recruitment to participate in pro bono legal services for domestic violence victims. Partial funding was directed from The Richard J. Bartlett Fund.

Constitutional Sources Project (ConSource), Washington, DC - to prepare through the process of digitization and post the New York State ratification debates on its website with free access to the public.

Court Appointed Special Advocates, Inc. - New York City, New York - to fund Family Project Connect, which provides a needed safety net to ensure safeguarding of the well-being of children with incarcerated parents and to make certain that permanency planning efforts truly represent the children's best interests. Partial funding was directed from The Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP Fund.

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Ulster County, Kingston - to recruit, train and supervise 20 additional CASA volunteers to become advocates for children in Family Court proceedings. The funding will enable the organization to serve at least 35 additional children.

The Family Center, New York - to support on-site legal services workshops for children and families impacted by the loss, absence or terminal illness of a parent or primary caregiver.

Farmworker Legal Services of New York, Inc., Rochester - for the purchase of new computers that will replace existing out-of-date equipment which will allow access to programs that will aid the staff to better assist farm workers. Partial funding was directed from The Richard J. Bartlett Fund.

Huntington Youth Bureau Development Research Institute, Huntington - to expand training opportunities, open house events and volunteer recognition ceremonies for 35 youthful offenders and 80 youth volunteers participating in the Huntington Youth Court Program.

Jamestown Bar Association, Jamestown - to promote and produce materials for The People's Law School.

Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc., Utica - for continued support of the Central New York HelpLine, which is an intake system that directs clients to the Central Attorney Unit that provides legal services to clients in need of assistance with a variety of legal matters from bankruptcy to housing and consumer problems. Funding was directed from The Robert L. Haig Fund.

Legal Aid Society of New York City, New York - for the Section 8 Affordable Housing Project which will ensure that recipients of Section 8 vouchers are able to use them to stay in their current apartments. Partial funding was directed from The Richard J. Bartlett Fund.

Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Albany - to permit an attorney to work part-time in Schenectady County for the Children's Law Project. Partial funding was directed from The Richard J. Bartlett Fund.

Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Albany - to provide funding for a summer fellowship for a minority law student who will assist the organization in representing clients in local landlord-tenant courts. Funding was directed from The Real Property Law Section Fund.

Legal Aid Society of Rochester, Inc., Rochester - to fund the Immigration Program which provides legal representation in immigration matters to low-income persons residing in a 14-county area of upstate New York. Providing immigration representation to farm workers is a priority. Partial funding was directed from The RIchard J. Bartlett Fund.

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc., Geneva - to support the Law Students in Action Project, an Equal Justice Works Americorps Program dedicated to facilitating the delivery of legal services by recruiting law student volunteers to work for legal services providers.

Legal Services for New York City, New York - to continue the content development and management of the LawHelp.org/NY project, an online legal information clearinghouse that helps low-income New Yorkers find free legal services and retrieve information about legal rights. Partial funding was directed from The Richard J. Bartlett Fund.

Legal Services for the Elderly, Disabled or Disadvantaged of Western New York, Buffalo - to fund a program that will increase awareness of consumer rights and access to justice through a collaborative project with Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Buffalo.

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, New York - to provide free legal services to low-wage workers and to assist them with job-related rights, including workplace health, safety and unemployment.

Lifespan of Greater Rochester, Rochester - to assist in funding the New York State Coalition on Elder Abuse. Through statewide outreach efforts, the Coalition serves as a catalyst for change, raising awareness about elder mistreatment and offering solutions for prevention and intervention through education and research.

Mercy Haven, Inc., Islip Terrace - for continued support of the Mercy Advocacy Program which provides free legal representation to the poor, periodic legal seminars, legal consultation to the staff of Mercy Haven and other agencies serving the poor.

Monroe County Bar Center for Education, Rochester - to support the Minority Clerkship Program with funding directed for a clerk who will work on behalf of civil legal services. The program is designed to introduce minority first-year law students to law firms in the Rochester area and to help build their interest in public service.

My Sisters' Place, White Plains - to continue funding for its Family Law Unit which provides free high-quality civil legal advice, advocacy and direct representation in Family Court cases in conjunction with comprehensive support services to low-income victims of domestic violence.

National Center for Law and Economic Justice, New York - to assist social service providers statewide to become compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Inc., New York - to support the Special Education Program which advocates for and provides representation to children with disabilities who seek appropriate educational placements from the Department of Education.

New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, New York - for continued support of the Child Permanency Mediation Program. The program expedites permanent placements for children in foster care by returning them to their homes or releasing them for adoption or other appropriate permanent placement earlier than through traditional court proceedings.

New York State Bar Center, Albany - to provide current materials for the law library.

NYSARC, Inc. - to support its Corporate Guardianship Program, which offers families, advocates and persons who do not have any family or an advocate with assistance in making decisions regarding health care, housing and appropriate day and recreational services. All guardianships are established through the Erie County Surrogate's Court pursuant to Article 17-A of the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act.

New York State Bar Association Committee on Issues Affecting People with Disabilities, Albany - to provide funding for the continuing Disability and the Law video series which disseminates information about the legal rights of persons with disabilities and to assist in ensuring that adequate legal representation is available. This year's video, entitled "Wounded Warriors", will provide guidance and referral references to individuals with disabilities and their families, advocates and attorneys regarding the services available to veterans returning from the war and their eligibility to receive assistance from technology and other rehabilitation services for their physical injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, under the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable Veteran's laws.

New York State Bar Association Committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar, Albany - to continue the Legal Ethics Awards program, which honors law school students for exemplary writing or projects on issues on professional ethics. Each New York law school is invited to participate and is given $750 to award the winner(s). Funding is also used to offset the printing cost of the compendium.

New York State Bar Association Law, Youth & Citizenship Program, Albany - to conduct a Constitution Day mini-conference for teachers. The program will raise awareness of the federal mandates regarding the teaching of Constitution Day and will provide specific ideas and materials for the fulfilling of the mandate.

New York State Bar Association Law, Youth & Citizenship Program, Albany - to conduct the New York Statewide High School Mock Trial Tournament Finals Program.

New York State Bar Association Law, Youth & Citizenship Program, Albany - to conduct a law-related education summer institute for up to 200 K-12th grade teachers. The program provides essential professional development to empower the teachers to effectively implement and utilize best practices in law-related civic education with their students.

New York State Bar Association Law, Youth & Citizenship Program, Albany - to fund the New York State Mock Trial Camp, which brings together high school students from across the state to participate in a fast paced, intensive trial practice camp for five days. Students will work with seasoned trial lawyers on opening statements, direct and cross examination, closing arguments, objections and rules of evidence.

New York State Bar Association Special Committee to Ensure Quality of Mandated Representation, Albany - to provide funding for the presentation of a one-day CLE seminar aimed at attorneys who represent indigent clients in Family Court proceedings. The program will be videotaped and made available as a free, on-line seminar for institutional defenders and private practitioners who represent indigent defendants.

New York State Bar Association Student Loan Assistance for the Public Interest Program (SLAPI), Albany - to provide loan assistance to new public interest attorneys, which offsets their high law school loan debt and enables them to continue in their public interest careers. Partial funding was directed from The Student Loan Assistance of the Public Interest Fund.

Pace Women's Justice Center, White Plains - to expand the services of its Elder Law Unit through a pilot project "Keeping Seniors Safe", which is designed to prevent financial exploitation of senior citizens through a public awareness campaign and through the utilization of a Legal Helpline staffed by pro bono attorneys from the General Counsel Office of Master Card.

Partnership for Children's Rights, New York - to continue funding the Volunteers for Children unit which recruits, trains and supervises retired and non-practicing attorneys who volunteer their time several days a week to provide legal representation and advice to disadvantaged children with disabilities and their families on matters relating to educational services and SSI benefits.

Queens County Bar Association/Queens Volunteer Lawyer Project, Jamaica - for the Civil Legal Advice and Resource Office (CLARO) which is a free walk-in clinic that provides legal advice and information to pro se debtor litigants.

Red Hook Community Justice Center, Inc., Brooklyn - for continued support of the Red Hook Youth Court.

Robert H. Jackson Center, Inc., Jamestown - to assist the statewide initiative to educate students in 5th through 8th grades about the topics of tolerance, hatred and war; the plight of millions of Jewish children in World War II; and to advance the legacy of Robert H. Jackson. The project will include an essay contest based on the book, Hanna's Suitcase, by author Karen Levine.

Rural Opportunities, Inc., Rochester - to provide reimbursement for expenses of the Pro Bono Panel of the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic. Expenses, such as gas mileage, are incurred by panel members as a result of providing free representation to low-income tax clients located in rural areas in matters relating to federal tax audit, appeals and collection issues. Funding was directed from The Tax Section Fund.

Safe Horizon, Inc., New York - to provide funding for its Anti-Stalking Program to develop and broadly distribute a Clients' Rights booklet which will address safety issues, stalking laws, how to secure an order of protection, stalking behaviors, technology used as a stalking weapon, and steps to achieve safety.

South Brooklyn Legal Services, Brooklyn - for its Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic which advises and represents about 200 low-income taxpayers throughout Brooklyn in matters relating to tax audit, appeals and collection issues.

The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Center for Elder Abuse, Prevention, Intervention and Research, Riverdale - to fund training and continuing education for elder law and other attorneys, retired attorneys, law students and paralegals to address the legal knowledge and ethical considerations involved in representing victims of elder abuse; how to recognize physical, emotional and sexual abuse and financial exploitation; how to identify victims and persons at risk for elder abuse; and how to locate available community resources.

Unity House of Troy, Inc., Troy - to continue funding for the Unity House Domestic Violence Program, which provides legal consultation and representation in civil legal proceedings related to orders of protection, custody, support divorce, name change, small claims and eviction.

Urban Justice Center, New York - for the Community Development Project which matches New York City grassroots organizations in need of legal assistance with pro bono attorneys and 30 participating law firms that are able to assist in meeting their law-related needs.

Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS), New York - to provide funding for the VOLS Children's Project-School-based Initiative to assist families in New York City on legal issues such as housing, public benefits, immigration and family law that threaten to disrupt the education of their children.

Western New York Law Center, Inc., Buffalo - to provide a fellowship for a law student to work on mortgage foreclosure and litigation and conduct research on issues arising from the sale of homes at foreclosure auctions. Funding was directed from The Real Property Law Section Minority Fellowship.

WomensLaw.org, New York - to develop a Training and Supervision Program for pro bono lawyers who assist with its Email Legal Hotline. The Hotline provides free and easy access to legal information, empowering victims of domestic violence and sexual assault with knowledge to change their lives.

Women's Prison Association, New York - for the Law Project which assists women who are or who have been involved in the criminal justice system with issues concerning child custody, domestic violence, housing, benefits and employment. Partial funding was directed from The John R. Dunne Fund.

Young Korean American Service & Education Center, Inc., Flushing - to fund the Flushing Asian American Legal Project which offers a comprehensive package of legal services designed for the community with an emphasis on providing cultural and language-specific services to the Korean and Chinese-language communities and other undeserved communities in Flushing.

Click here to see the grants awarded in 2007