New York Bar Foundation Presents $530K in CY Pres Funds to New York City Housing & Legal Services Groups

ALBANY, NY (01/11/2010)(readMedia)-- On Monday, January 11, 2010 the New York Bar Foundation will present approximately $530,000 in cy pres funds to four organizations – Legal Aid Society, Legal Services NYC, City-Wide Task Force on Housing Court and the Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project – to create programs that increase awareness of tenant screening and the duties and obligations of landlords under fair credit laws. The check presentation will be held at the offices of the Legal Aid Society 199 Water Street at 12:45 p.m.

In May 2009, Southern District of New York Judge Lewis A. Kaplan signed an order for distribution of a cy pres fund (a class action settlement fund) of approximately $1.2 million in White v. First Advantage SafeRent, Inc. (04 CV 01611). The award was given to The New York Bar Foundation for distribution through its grant making program.

Presenting the cy pres grant awards will be members of the Foundation's Board of Directors, Lesley F. Rosenthal, chair of the Foundation's Cy Pres Committee, and Richard Raysman. The $530K is the first of two payment installments. The second is scheduled for January 2011. The funds awarded in this settlement will total approximately $1.2 million.

The New York State Bar Association received its grant of $67,250 on January 6, 2010 in Albany.

WHAT: The New York Bar Foundation will present approximately $530K in cy pres funds to New York City housing and legal service nonprofit organizations – Legal Aid Society, Legal Services NYC, City-Wide Task Force on Housing Court and the Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project – to create programs that increase awareness of tenant screening and the duties and obligations of landlords under fair credit laws.

WHEN: Monday, January 11, 2010 – 12:45 p.m.

WHERE: Legal Aid Society

199 Water Street, 6th Floor (Near Fulton Street)

CONTACT: Josh Salter - (212) 575-4545; Day of: (914) 629-0444

Linden Alschuler & Kaplan, PR

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The 77,000-member New York State Bar Association is the official statewide organization of lawyers in New York and the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. Founded in 1876, NYSBA programs and activities have continuously served the public and improved the justice system for more than 130 years. www.nysba.org

Founded in 1950, The New York Bar Foundation provides funding through its grant making program to increase public understanding of the law; improve the justice system and the law; facilitate the delivery of legal services; and enhance professional competence and ethics. To learn more about The New York Bar Foundation and how you can support its charitable programs, go to www.tnybf.org, phone 518-487-5651 or email foundation@tnybf.org.