The collective effort and generosity of Chicago’s legal community made this year’s Investing in Justice Campaign another resounding and record-breaking success. 146 law firms, corporate legal departments and other law-related organizations participated in this year’s Campaign, and more than 4,300 individual attorneys and legal professionals contributed more than $1.3 million, all record amounts. Thanks to many generous matching contributions from participating firms and companies, the 2014 Campaign also set a new record for the overall total raised in the Campaign $1.81 million.
This year’s numbers push the Campaign past a noteworthy milestone as well, with more than $10 million raised and distributed in grants since the Campaign’s inception in 2007. None of this would have been possible without the exemplary leadership of 2014 Campaign Chair Patrick Fitzgerald of Skadden Arps, the Campaign Leadership Team and countless volunteers.
This Campaign is the largest campaign of its type anywhere in the country. Over the eight years since its inception, the Campaign has more than doubled in size in the number of donors and dollars contributed. 100 percent of the individual contributions to the Campaign go directly to CBF grants to 34 pro bono and legal aid organizations.
Campaign Grants fund a continuum of legal services, ranging from web-based information and resources to legal aid hotlines, advice desks and clinics, to extended legal representation and larger impact litigation and advocacy. Those receiving services made possible by the Campaign include the elderly, disabled, veterans, children, domestic violence victims, people at risk of losing their homes, immigrants fleeing persecution and abuse, and many other low-income and disadvantaged people in the Chicago area in need of legal assistance.
Chicago can and should be quite proud of this year’s accomplishment. The ongoing success of the Investing in Justice Campaign is a testament to our legal community’s commitment to making sure everyone gets the justice they deserve, not just what they can afford.
See the full press release.