Providing the Resources for Today and Tomorrow – NCBF Annual Fund and Endowment Fund
By In June, I was fortunate to attend the Disaster Legal Services Workshop, where lawyers volunteered their services to help victims of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. This workshop was conducted in Asheville and was one of ten seminars held across Western North Carolina to assist individuals dealing with landlord/tenant, insurance, FEMA, health claims, and other issues arising from the devastation of the hurricane. Several hundred people came for help and were assisted by talented lawyers, including the Secretary of State, Elaine Marshall. These lawyers are coordinated by Pisgah Legal Services and voluntarily represent or refer to lawyers who represent the individuals in these matters. The sense of relief and joy that was everywhere at the workshop was invigorating. These North Carolinians knew lawyers cared and that they were not alone in their time of incredible need.
This program is funded by the North Carolina Bar Foundation. The Foundation is the funding body for Association civic education and pro bono programs. Like many other nonprofit foundations, the Bar Foundation receives a small percentage of the interest on the principal of the Endowment. 4ALL–Lawyers on Call, Career Fairs, Entrepreneurs Assistance Program, and the Judicial Learning Center are just a few other programs funded by the Foundation.
The Annual Fund is another revenue source that funds the operation of the Foundation. In essence, this fund is the daily operational fund for the Foundation. Members of the NCBA are fortunate that our Association is the preeminent Association in the United States. The quality of our operation, staff and programs for members is recognized in the United States and other international legal entities as being a leader. We are grateful to our talented staff for assisting with the Association’s programs and activities.
I am fortunate to be a longtime member of the Association, a member and former Chair of the Administrative Law and Workers’ Compensation Sections, and presently a member of the NCBA Board of Governors. There is no other nonprofit fund that needs your support more than the North Carolina Bar Foundation and the NCBF Annual Fund.
I am asking each of you to contribute $10.00 to the Foundation and $10.00 to the Annual Fund. If you are already giving to these funds, I ask you to increase your donation by $10.00 to each fund. Please go to the Bar Foundation website and navigate to the Support the NCBF page to make these donations. These funds will be wisely and prudently used to continue the stellar work our Association does. They will also help to show the public that North Carolina Bar Association members are leaders and working for a better North Carolina. Thank you for your support.