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March 2017 Cover Story - Golfing With Purpose

by Todd G. Friedland

Golf is a noble sport. I have no business being anywhere near it. Seriously, I once won a “closest to the pin” contest. They would not give me the prize until two witnesses swore under oath that they had witnessed my miracle shot. One such witness commented: “Yeah, I couldn’t believe it either.”

So, I don’t spend a lot of time on golf courses. But, sometimes there is a tournament with such an important purpose attached to a round of golf that I cannot help myself. April 24, 2017 will be one of those occasions. On that date, the Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund’s Annual Judge Kenneth Lae Charity Golf Scramble will tee off at Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club. The greenskeeper have already commenced special training to deal with me.

This popular event sells out every year, so register now. Here is a link: ocbar.org/golf. Better yet, register a foursome. And, don’t forget the sponsorship and underwriting opportunities. All proceeds from the event benefit the OCBA Charitable Fund and the organizations it supports.

The Charitable Fund uses all of its raised funds to support organizations and programs that enhance the system of justice. This year, the Charitable Fund will award more than $170,000 in grants to such worthy causes as:

California Youth Connection
Creating Leaders From Within
Providing a transformative experience for current and former foster youth through its dual goals of empowering youth and improving foster care.
Grant Awarded: $2,000

Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law
Bette and Wylie Aitken Family Protection Clinic
Provides free legal representation, legal advice, and pro per workshops to indigent and low-income people and survivors of family violence, sexual assault, and trafficking.
Grant Awarded: $12,000

Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange County
Constitutional Futures Project
Civic and law-related educational programs made available to all high school students in Orange County including Mock Trial, Peer Court, Constitution Day, Law Day, and the Orange County Career Forum.
Grant Awarded: $45,000

Human Options
Legal Advocacy Program
Provides victims of domestic violence and late life family violence with education on legal rights, court accompaniment and support, direct assistance, and resources.
Grant Awarded: $10,000

Laura’s House
Legal Advocacy Program
Provides victims of domestic violence with a broad range of services and support to assist them in understanding and securing their legal rights so they can lead safe, productive, and violence-free lives.
Grant Awarded: $10,000

Legal Aid Society of Orange County
Legal Intake for OC’s Homeless Residents
Seeks to resolve problems and remove barriers to ameliorate homelessness in Orange County through the provision of vital legal and wrap-around services in the Civic Center Area of Santa Ana.
Grant Awarded: $30,000

Orange County Bar Foundation
Project SELF
Provides low-income and at-risk high school students with hands-on internships in the legal field.
Grant Awarded: $3,600

Orange County Korean American Bar Association Foundation
Pro Bono Legal Clinics
To support and further enhance pro bono efforts to the Korean American community in Orange County.
Grant Awarded: $4,000

Public Law Center
Courthouse Clinics
Courthouse-based clinics for low-income residents conducted by Public Law Center, Orange County’s pro bono law firm committed to providing access to justice.
Grant Awarded: $30,000

University of California, Irvine School of Law
Pre-Law Outreach
Assists undergraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds to prepare for the law school application and admissions process, and to understand the unique demands of legal education.
Grant Awarded: $10,000

Veterans Legal Institute
Pro Bono Veterans Clinics
Provides pro bono legal assistance to homeless, at risk, disabled, and low-income veterans and service members. Seeks to eradicate barriers to housing, education, employment, and healthcare, and to foster self-sufficiency.
Grant Awarded: $18,000

Women’s Transitional Living Center
Legal Advocacy Services
Provides shelter, supportive services, and community education and advocacy to domestic violence victims in Orange County.
Grant Awarded: $5,000

Special thanks to Golf Committee Chair Jeff Reeves of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, and the entire golf committee consisting of: Dan Robinson, Michael Baroni, Cathrine Castaldi, Joe Chairez, Brad Chapin, John Denny, Matt Fletcher, Chad Franks, Dan Glassman, Sarah Nowels, James Pack, Beau Stockstill, Dean Zipser, Ashleigh Aitken, Tom Bienert, Ken Parker, Jeffrey Reisner, Chris Ross, Dan Gutenplan, Jim Skorheim, and Todd Friedland. Your hard work pays off in the form of direct benefits in our county, and in rewarding experiences for our lawyers.

So, let’s all brave the fairways of Coto for a good cause. I’ll be there shooting from the trees, digging through the rough looking for yet another lost ball, and having a great time knowing that my agony of defeat is supporting our great work in the Orange County legal community.

Todd G. Friedland is the 2017 OCBA Charitable Fund President and a business litigator at Stephens Friedland LLP. His golf game is legendary—but not in a good way. Reach him at todd@sf-lawyers.com or heytodd@ocbar.org.

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