The New York Bar Foundation recently presented the Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society(HLA) with a grant of $9,159 .  The grant will be used to support Diversity Fellowships to support COVID-19 related case increases.  

“This New York Bar Foundation funding gives HLA an opportunity to hire paid interns to  assist with pandemic related increases in legal needs,” said Linda Gehron, Executive Director. “Promoting justice for all requires many groups working together. We are proud and grateful to have the support of the New York Bar Foundation to further our mission.”

Foundation grants assist non-profit organizations with essentials-of-life issues such as child support, consumer debt, housing, access to health care and education, and family matters such as domestic violence and family stability.  Added this year was a focus on COVID-19 related issues, and racial justice impacted programming needs.

“The New York Bar Foundation has allocated nearly $700,000 in grants to 107 programs across New York significantly increasing the total number of grants over the past several years,” said Lucia Whisenand, chair of the Grant Review Committee.  “The issues we touch on are extensive and impact people in life changing ways.”

By raising awareness of the need for access to civil legal services and allocating resources to help meet these needs, the Foundation will help make access to justice a reality for New Yorkers and, thereby, enhance the understanding of and respect for the rule of law.

“Through our grant-making program we help improve access to justice by providing seed grants to innovative legal projects piloting new ways to help those in need,” adds June Castellano, Vice-chair of the Grant Review Committee.  “When you give to the Foundation you help make a difference across New York State.”

At a time when the help of legal services organization is in great demand, the Foundation has established a COVID-19 Emergency Legal Relief Fund. Donations to the fund will assist New Yorkers across New York State in need of legal services due to the impacts of COVID-19 through their grant program.  Donations can be made at www.tnybf.org and selecting the COVID-19 Legal Relief Fund in the drop-down window. 

The New York Bar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is the charitable arm of the New York State Bar Association.  Established in 1950, the Foundation is dedicated to aiding charitable and educational projects to meet the law-related needs of the public and the legal profession.   

To learn more about the Foundation visit www.tnybf.org or email Deborah Auspelmyer [email protected].