More than 4,000 lawyers and legal professionals came together to contribute $1.4 million in the 2021 Investing in Justice Campaign. With the exemplary leadership of Gil Soffer, Chicago managing partner of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, 130 law firms, corporate legal departments, and other law-related organizations participated in this year’s Campaign to help raise awareness and much-needed funding for pro bono and legal aid services in the Chicago area.
This year’s Campaign will make possible more than $2 million in grants and support for the work of more than 30 pro bono and legal aid organizations and related initiatives. Thanks to many generous matching contributions from participating firms and companies, the CBF is able to dedicate 100% of individual Campaign contributions to support these organizations and initiatives, and to leverage more than $700,000 in additional funding from CBF foundation and government partners.
Since its inception in 2007, the Campaign has grown tremendously and is the largest campaign of its kind anywhere in the country. The Campaign has raised more than $19 million to date, while leveraging millions more in additional support the pro bono and legal aid organizations serving the Chicago area.
With more than half of low-income and disadvantaged people in the Chicago area unable to get often crucial legal help due to a shortage of legal aid resources, and many more moderate income people lacking affordable help, the Campaign plays a key role in helping to meet that need. The tens of thousands of people receiving services made possible by the Campaign each year are the elderly, disabled individuals, veterans, children, domestic violence victims, people at risk of losing their homes, immigrants fleeing persecution and abuse, and many other people in need.
More information about the Campaign and its impact is available at chicagobarfoundation.org/campaign.