The
Legal Project
Pro
Bono Corner
Lisa A. Frisch, Executive Director
New York State Funding
for Civil Legal Services Programs
Thanks to CDWBA,
WBASNY and all of you for taking the time to express your concerns about
the cuts to civil legal services funding in the Executive Budget. To
date, the resolution to this is still unknown, but we are hopeful that
the Legislature and the Governor’s Office will continue to find
ways to support the funding for civil legal services programs statewide.
Meet the Legal Project Staff
Gayle Hartz
has been a staff attorney for The Legal Project since 2005, starting
out part-time and since the fall of 2007, she has been a full-time attorney
in our domestic violence program. Previously, when Gayle was in private
practice, she was one of the pro bono attorneys which The Legal Project
could most rely on to take complex and difficult domestic violence cases,
receiving the CDWBA’s Pro Bono Award in 2004. When The Legal Project
was founded in 1995, Gayle began participating in our pro bono programs
and volunteering at the legal clinics. Gayle received her undergraduate
degree from Empire State College and her law degree from Western New
England School of Law in January 1991 and was admitted to practice law
in the State of New York in June of 1991. Prior to going to law school
Gayle worked for attorneys as a legal secretary for many many years
(more than she
cares to count). Outside of her profession, she gets the greatest joy
from spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and
now, great-grandchildren. After that, nothing beats sailing
in the Carribbean. (We’re with you on that, Gayle!)
A Special Thank
You to Skylar Hartz
While many girls
are welcoming their Sweet 16 with limos and jewelry,
Gayle Hartz’s granddaughter Skylar celebrated with a big heart,
asking her guests to make donations to The Legal Project in lieu of gifts.
We were so touched by her generousity and goodness, but not totally surprised,
given that her grandmother has one of the biggest hearts that we know.
As a result of Skylar’s generosity, The Legal Project received nearly
$500 in donations! Thank you so much, Skylar!!!! You are very special!
Gayle, pictured here with her
granddaugher, Skylar Hartz.
Many Thanks to Hodgson Russ
Law Firm
We were delighted
to receive a wonderful donation of five excellent printers from Hodgson
Russ, LLP to The Legal Project. This will save us a great deal of money
as we were on the brink of needing some additional printers and our
wish was granted when we got a call out of the blue from the good people
at Hodgson Russ, offering them to us. Thank you!
AT&T Donates $5000 to the Legal Project's Domestic Violence Legal
Connection
A big thank you to
AT&T for their support of our Domestic Violence Legal Connection program,
providing us with a much appreciated $5000 unrestricted donation to the
program. These funds will go directly to helping victims of abuse seeking
representation in Family Court or in matrimonial proceedings. We continue
to be impressed with AT&T’s corporate giving program and their
interest and support of the non-profit community.
Bank of America Awards $3000
to the Legal Project's Affordable Housing Program
We were very pleased
to receive a grant award from Bank of America to help support our Affordable
Housing Attorney Assistance Program (AHAA). They have been a long-time
supporter of our affordable housing efforts and we are very grateful!
Thank you for volunteering
in February!
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Clinics
Albany Public Library:
Janet Axelrod
Melissa Latino
Ron Orlando
Laura Hoffman
Marcia Roth, Coordinator
YWCA
of Schenectady
Barbara King
Laura Silva
Dana Eckhardt, Coordinator
Mechanicville:
Anne Reynolds Copps
Casey Copps, Coordinator
Unity
House:
Nancy Harding
Thomas Kenney
Jill Nagy
Abe Bolgatz, Coordinator
Albany
Housing Authority
Katherine Levitan
Margaret Vella
Kyle Smith, Coordinator
Saratoga:
Linda Taverni
Laura Hoffman
Herb and Shirley Gordon, Coordinators
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Equinox:
David Levy
Joanne Sternheimer
Kyle Smith, Coordinator
AHAA
James Gross
Samantha Miller
Pam Robich-Wright
Domestic
Violence Legal Connection
Jo Katz
Camille Siano-Enders
Justine Spada
Legally
Speaking
Pam Robich-Wright
Michelle Wildgrube
Wills
& Estates
William Hurst
Tara Anne Pleat
Bankruptcy
Doug Coleman
Richard Croak
Alan LeCours
Kathy McCullough Day
Laura Silva
Pro
Se Clinics
Thanks to Anne Reynolds Copps for conducting a training session
on pro se divorces for Albany Law School students who volunteer
with The Legal Project in our pro se clincs.
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Affordable Housing Training
Interested in volunteering
to help first time low income homebuyers? Our AHAA! Training will be
held in two parts on May 20th and May 22nd, at The Legal Project conference
room. The training is presented in two classes designed to meet the
needs of all those attending. The first class is on Real Estate Basics,
designed specifically for attorneys who do not practice real estate
law. This session will be presented by Michelle Wildgrube. The second
session is on Affordable Housing Essentials, which is required for both
experienced real estate attorneys and those who have not regularly handled
those cases. Susan Cotner of the Affordable Housing Partnership and
Anne Reynolds Copps will be the presenters for that session. Each training
session provides 3.0 hours of CLE. The training is free to attorneys
who are willing to take at least one pro bono case annually and for
current AHAA! panel attorneys and $75 for each session for those who
do not wish to provide pro bono representation at this time. Contact
Gina Marie at gcannistraro@legalproject.org
for more info.
Save the Date
Thursday, October 23,
2008 for the 13th Annual Pro Bono Reception at the New York State Museum
We are seeking underwriters, advertisers and silent auction donors so
please contact Lisa at lfrisch@legalproject.org
for more information. Stay tuned for information about our exciting raffle
for our Lucky 13th Annual Reception!
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