Celebrating 20 Years of Impactful Giving
Dear Fellows,
It's time to launch our 2023 Foundation campaign, and this year we celebrate 20 years of impactful giving! Since 2003, the Fellows of the College have raised over $4.1 million for the Foundation, and the Foundation has awarded over $5 million for more than 630 grants.
Because of your generosity, we raised a record-breaking $460,000 in 2022 and were able to award pro bono grants totaling $523,624 (another record!) We also launched a new grant program and awarded six DEI pipeline grants and six internships through Just the Beginning: A Pipeline Organization, funding a total of $96,675 for DEI programs. Last year's success was due to the hard work of our fundraising teams, the generous hearts of College Fellows committed to funding our grant programs, and a little friendly competition among the Circuits.
We are asking Fellows to celebrate 20 years of impactful giving with us by increasing your gift from last year to break a new record!
Giving is easy. Click here to make your donation to the Foundation by credit card. (The same link below also provides information on donating by check.) You may view your Foundation donation history by logging in to your profile on the College website. We also remind you that you may make a donation in memory of (and in honor of) someone. The Foundation's "Wall of Honor" is here.
While there is no requirement or minimum donation, we ask Fellows to consider giving at least one hour of your billable rate. Fellows who give $1,000 or more join the Four-Figure Club.
The Foundation grants change lives for the better. Below are two stories from grantees in Maryland and Minnesota that demonstrate the Foundation's impact.
One of our clients was recently divorced and facing wage garnishment due to unpaid medical bills. She was in danger of losing her car - the only source of transportation for her employment. Client attended one of our monthly clinics and successfully filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, avoided having her car repossessed, and was able to get a fresh start. Another recent client is a farmer over age 61 who was recently divorced, has been struggling with mental health issues, and is unable to continue his farming operation. He had essentially become homeless and has been living with a friend. With our assistance, this client was able to filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, thereby obtaining relief on several small debts related to his farming operation and right size his financial obligations to meet his now very limited financial resources.
C. was a chapter 7 bankruptcy client on SSDI who was unable to work due to mental health and previous addiction issues (C. was over ten years of sobriety when he came to us for help). Like many clients, C. felt guilty about filing for bankruptcy, so he tried to negotiate his bills but found this was impossible to achieve with his creditors. After further counsel, he accepted that bankruptcy was a moral option for him, and he successfully completed a chapter 7 bankruptcy through us, repeatedly telling us of his gratitude for how this has impacted his life for the good.
We are really fortunate to be able to support these important and life-changing programs and it's time to start giving for the 2023 campaign. Please feel free to reach out to me, Vince Lazar, or any of the Foundation Directors with any questions or concerns you may have. Thank you again for your past generosity and your time.
Jan Hayden
ACB Foundation Chair
Vince Lazar
ACB Foundation Vice-Chair
