Pennsylvania Bar Foundation

SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW AND PROMOTE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE.THE MISSION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA BAR FOUNDATION IS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW AND PROMOTE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE. THE FOUNDATION ACCOMPLISHES ITS MISSION BY MAKING GRANTS; ADMINISTERING A LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR CIVIL LEGAL AID ATTORNEYS WHO HELP THE POOR FOR FREE; SEEKING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE LEGAL COMMUNITY; AND ENCOURAGING BAR MEMBERS TO DONATE THEIR TIME, TALENT AND EXPERTISE IN SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMIN SEPTEMBER OF 2010, THE PENNSYLVANIA BAR FOUNDATION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA IOLTA BOARD, LAUNCHED A LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR ATTORNEYS EMPLOYED BY IOLTA-FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE FREE CIVIL LEGAL AID TO INDIGENT PENNSYLVANIANS.THE PROGRAM HAS TWO GOALS: 1) TO ASSIST LEGAL AID ATTORNEYS IN BETTER MANAGING THEIR EDUCATIONAL DEBT SO THEY CAN AFFORD TO CHOOSE AND REMAIN IN PUBLIC SERVICE CAREERS; AND 2) TO HELP CIVIL LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS ATTRACT AND RETAIN SKILLED AND TALENTED LAWYERS IN PUBLIC SERVICE.TO DATE, THE PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO MORE THAN 400 ATTORNEYS AND IS BUDGETED TO AWARD MORE THAN TWO MILLION DOLLARS IN LOAN ASSISTANCE DURING ITS FIFTH THREE YEAR CYCLE.

PRO BONO - $6,486SCHOLARSHIPS - $6,000UNIT COUNTY GRANT MATCHING PROGRAM - $1,000BIRDSALL IMPACT GRANT - $1,000

NAMED SCHOLARSHIPS -IN 2013, THE PENNSYLVANIA BAR FOUNDATION LAUNCHED A NAMED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN AND BEYOND THE LEGAL COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH AN ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP TO BENEFIT PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTS ATTENDING ANY OF OF THE NINE ACCREDIATED LAW SCHOOLS SERVING THE STATE.AN ANNUAL MINIMUM COMMITTMENT OF $3,000 PER YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS IS REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH A NAMED SCHOLARSHIP FUND. NAMED SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ESTABLISHED BY BAR ENTITIES OR BAR MEMBERS HAVE A LOWER ANNUAL COMMITMENT RATE AND ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE AN ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA BAR FOUNDATION, TO THE EXTENT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE, TO INCREASE THE IMPACT OF THEIR AWARD.NAMED SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED COMPETITIVELY, BASED UPON CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE DONOR AND APPROVED BY THE FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IN 2022, THE JOSEPH T. MCDONALD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED ONE $3,000 SCHOLARSHIP AND THE LOUISE HOFFMEYER-OVERMILLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED ONE $6,000 SCHOLARSHIP.

CIVICS AND LAW RELATED EDUCATION PROGRAM -LAW RELATED EDUCATION PROGRAMS SEEK TO HELP INTEGRATE CIVICS INTO THE CLASSROOM CURRICULUM OF ALL GRADE LEVELS AND SUBJECT AREAS. TWO OF THE MAJOR PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO DO THIS ARE THE CELEBRATE THE CONSTITUTION PROGRAM AND THE LAW DAY PROGRAM.THE CELEBRATE THE CONSITUTION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. THE AWARD-WINNING CELEBRATE THE CONSTITUTION BRINGS TOGETHER K-12 STUDENTS, LAWYERS AND JUDGES FOR MOCK CONSTITUTION SIGNING PROGRAMS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA. THE ANNUAL PROGRAM KICKS-OFF IN SEPTEMBER DURING THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION WEEK CELEBRATION AND CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE FALL. ALL PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATIONS RECEIVE CONSTITUTION-RELATED MATERIALS FOR THE SIGNING PROGRAMS.THE LAW DAY PROGRAM ALLOWS PENNSYLVANIA LAWYERS AND JUDGES TO VISIT K-12 CLASSROOMS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MAY TO TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT THE LAW. SUPPORTING MATERIALS, SUCH AS LAW-RELATED LESSON PLANS AND SOUVENIRS WITH LOTS OF KID APPEAL ARE DISTRIBUTED TO LAWYERS, JUDGES, AND SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH MAKING THE DAY NOT ONLY INSTRUCTIVE BUT ALSO MEMORABLE AND FUN.FOUNDATION FUNDING SUPPORTS THE PURCHASE OF APPROXIMATELY 20,000 POCKET U.S. CONSTITUTION BOOKLETS EACH YEAR AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS AND LESSON PLANS RELATED TO THE CONSTITUTION.