The New York Bar Foundation Awards 57 Grants to Support Law-Related Projects Throughout New York State

ALBANY, NY (03/18/2010)(readMedia)-- The Board of Directors of The New York Bar Foundation announced today that it has recently awarded 57 grants totaling $337,050 to fund charitable and educational law-related projects. The grants have been awarded to legal services agencies, bar associations and other nonprofit organizations to fund projects throughout New York State.

Several grants will support programs that provide access to justice to those who suffer from domestic violence, to low-income or poor immigrants, to the elderly who are neglected or abused, and to incarcerated women. Portions of grant funding will help those seeking assistance with legal guardianships for disabled children, bankruptcy, foreclosures, debt collection, and consumer debt.

Foundation president, M. Catherine Richardson (Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC, Syracuse), said, "The need for funding for law-related projects continues to grow and we are pleased to provide financial support that will benefit children and adults throughout our communities in New York State. The funding for all of these important projects comes from generous charitable contributions to The Foundation from lawyers, law firms, corporations and others."

Four organizations were awarded grants to conduct law student fellowships in matters relating to intellectual property law, matrimonial and family law, or real property law. Two grants are for programs to recruit and train volunteers who work to provide permanency for children who have been removed from or are at risk of being removed from their home due to abuse or neglect.

The list of grantees include:

Albany - In Our Own Voices, Inc.; Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York; New York State Bar Association for the following: Committee on Issues Affecting People with Disabilities, Committee on Minorities in the Profession, Environmental Justice Committee, and the Law, Youth & Citizenship Program for the Mock Trial Summer Institute, New York Statewide High School Mock Trial Tournament, for a National Symposium on the First Amendment, Religion and Public Schools, and to conduct a Law-Related Education Summer Institute; New York State Defenders Association, Inc.; Prisoners' Legal Services of New York; and Public Utility Law Project of New York, Inc.

Binghamton - ACCORD, A Center for Dispute Resolution, Inc.

Bronx - The Bronx Defenders

Brooklyn - Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc.; South Brooklyn Legal Services, Inc.; and WomensLaw.org

Corning - CASA of the Southern Tier, Inc.

Delmar - Bethlehem Youth Court, Inc.

Geneva – Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.

Hempstead - Nassau/Suffolk Law Services Committee, Inc.

Hudson Falls - Council for the Prevention of Alcohol and Substance Abuse for the Warren County Youth Court

Kingston – Workers' Rights Law Center of New York, Inc.

Lowville – Resolution Center OBO Court Appointed Special Advocates of Lewis County

New York - Brennan Center for Justice; Center for Appellate Litigation; Center for Court Innovation; Center for Family Representation; Edwin Gould Services for Children & Families; inMotion Inc.; LatinoJustice PRLDEF; Legal Services for New York City; Lenox Hill Neighborhood House; MFY Legal Services, Inc.; New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Inc.; Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation; Partnership for Children's Rights; Pro Bono Net, Inc.; Sanctuary For Families, Inc.; Selfhelp Community Services, Inc.; The Door - A Center of Alternatives, Inc.; The Legal Aid Society; Urban Justice Center; and Women's Prison Association

Plattsburgh - Rural Law Center of New York, Inc.

Rochester - Empire Justice Center; Legal Aid Society of Rochester, Inc.; and Lifespan of Greater Rochester, Inc.

Syracuse - Latin American Law Student Association at Syracuse University College of Law

White Plains - My Sisters' Place, Inc.

Burlington, VT - Vermont Immigration and Asylum Advocates for the Clinton County NY Jail Detention Program

Founded in 1950, The New York Bar Foundation provides funding through its grant making program to facilitate the delivery of legal services; increase public understanding of the law; improve the justice system and the law; 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.

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Founded in 1876, 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. The State Bar's programs and activities have continuously served the public and improved the justice system for more than 130 years. For more information, visit us at our Web site at www.nysba.org.