2020 Annual Fundraising Appeal

Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 9:00 AM
Philadelphia Bar Foundation, 1101 Market Street, 11th Floor, Philadelphia PA 19107

Event Information

Event Details

Help improve the lives of Philadelphians seeking justice.

There's no better time than now to ensure that the Philadelphia Bar Foundation can continue to provide necessary funding to support legal aid resources in our community. Donate today.

In April 2020, the Bar Foundation released emergency grants to Philadelphia’s civil legal aid agencies in an effort to alleviate some of the unexpected pressure on our public interest community. The Foundation intends to provide additional grants in December 2020, but we need the support and generosity of the Philadelphia community to succeed.

  •  About our April 2020 Emergency Grants

  •  About our Grant Recipients

  •  COVID Resources for Civil Legal Aid

Civil legal aid organizations have been an essential instrument of front-line response during the coronavirus pandemic, and they will be just as critical in our 2021 recovery. Free and low-cost legal services are integral to the fight for racial justice, as structural inequalities and racism are prevalent across civil legal matters, from housing to unemployment to immigration. The Bar Foundation provides unrestricted grants to nearly 40 Philadelphia civil legal aid agencies - our grants allow them to continue to fight for individuals and families in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania.

Event Highlights

The unmet need for legal aid services is tremendous this year. It is intensified by the fact that one out of every four Philadelphians, including more than 100,000 children, live in poverty and are now struggling with the effects of the coronavirus recession.

Individuals and families in our communities are experiencing legal emergencies that could lead to serious negative long-term consequences for their health, safety, and family stability. Many do not have the financial means to hire a lawyer. Without legal representation and advocacy, people are at greater risk of losing their homes, access to education, and their right to be free from discrimination.

Free and low-cost legal aid services increase equal access to justice and opportunity. Legal aid improves the quality of life for diverse Philadelphians experiencing poverty, including children, adults, and seniors. Legal service organizations are integral to the fight for racial justice, as structural inequalities and racism are prevalent across civil legal matters, from housing to unemployment to immigration. These organizations have been an essential instrument of front-line response during the coronavirus pandemic, and they will be just as critical in recovery.

Help improve the lives of Philadelphians seeking justice by supporting the Philadelphia Bar Foundation. We provide annual unrestricted grants to nearly 40 civil legal aid agencies. Research shows that every dollar invested in legal aid yields, on average, an $11 benefit for the individual, their family, and our community. Your donation allows legal aid organizations to continue fighting tirelessly for critical services in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania every day.