by Todd G. Friedland and Mei Tsang
$205,000!!! That is how much in grants the Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund awarded to worthwhile organizations recently.
The Charitable Fund’s very popular Raise Your Glass wine tasting and awards event on August 23, 2018 at Newport Beach Country Club is your chance to help the Charitable Fund make a difference in Orange County.
The Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund is the OCBA’s charitable giving arm that supports numerous community programs consistent with the OCBA’s mission, “To Enhance the System of Justice, To Support the Lawyers Who Serve It, and To Assist the Community Served By It.” The Charitable Fund supports organizations and programs focused on legal assistance to needy individuals, civics and access to justice initiatives, domestic violence clinics and shelters, and other programs that enhance our community and legal system. In 2018, the Charitable Fund awarded the following:
California Youth Connection, Creating Leaders from Within, $5,000.
Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law, Bette and Wylie Aitken Family Protection Clinic, $15,000.
Collaborative Courts Foundation, Employment Support Services, $10,000.
Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange County, Constitutional Futures Project, $45,000.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Mentor Advocate Program, $4,000.
Human Options, Legal Advocacy Program, $10,000.
Laura’s House, Legal Advocacy Program, $10,000.
Legal Aid Society, Homeless Outreach, $30,000.
Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Center, Child Abuse Services Team, $3,000.
Project Youth OCBF, Project SELF, $4,500.
Public Law Center, Bankruptcy Project, $25,000.
University of California, Irvine School of Law, Pre-Law Outreach, $6,500.
University of California, Irvine School of Law, Saturday Academy of Law, $5,000.
Veterans Legal Institute, Pro Bono Veterans Clinics, $22,000.
Women’s Transitional Living Center, Domestic Violence Legal Advocacy Services, $10,000.
Where else can your contributions, or attendance at an event, have such a profound impact on so many organizations and the people they serve? Help the Charitable Fund continue to do good. Go to www.ocbar.org and sponsor, or buy a ticket to Raise Your Glass.
CHEERS TO THOSE WHO SERVE
As an 8,000-member-strong volunteer organization, the OCBA and its Charitable Fund are only as good as those who contribute their time and energy to accomplish the OCBA’s mission, and who work tirelessly to make Orange County a great place. At Raise Your Glass, we also say “cheers” to some wonderful charitable partners in the community, honoring a law firm, a community partner, and a corporate partner. Here is who we will be honoring this year.
THE INCREDIBLE HONOREES FOR 2018
Law Firm Honoree: One of the nation’s most respected intellectual property firms is Orange County’s own Knobbe Martens. Knobbe is at the forefront of IP legal issues and has prosecuted over 25,000 patents. But the firm is also dedicated to giving back and serving our community. Knobbe is a longtime supporter of both of the Charitable Fund’s annual fundraisers: The Kenneth Lae golf tournament and Raise Your Glass annual benefit.
Knobbe is a significant supporter of other charitable causes in Orange County as well, including the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, other bar association foundations, and many health-related charities (such as the American Heart Association and the Masimo Foundation). Knobbe also supports the Public Law Center financially, through board and committee membership, as well as by handling pro bono cases placed by PLC. A Knobbe partner co-chaired PLC’s Volunteers for Justice Annual Dinner through which the PLC raised over $750,000 to provide access to justice for poor and marginalized people in Orange County. In addition to many individuals, Knobbe’s pro bono clients include the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, Free Wheelchair Mission, and Working Wardrobes, among numerous others. Further, Knobbe regularly handles prisoner-rights cases in federal court. Thanks to Knobbe for its support for the OCBA, the legal community, and our Orange County community as a whole.
Community Partner Honorees: The Charitable Fund continues to support organizations that help protect members of our community. This year is no different, having awarded $45,000 in grants to the following four organizations. They are also being specially recognized by the Charitable Fund at Raise Your Glass for their outstanding work addressing domestic violence issues.
Bette and Wylie Aitken Family Protection Clinic. The Bette and Wylie Aitken Family Protection Clinic is a program of Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law. The Clinic provides free legal services to indigent victims of family violence who otherwise could not afford legal representation. Under the direction of the Clinic’s Co-Directors, Wendy Seiden and Julie Marzouk, students represent victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in petitions for immigration relief, protective orders, and other related legal protections. The Clinic provides highly competent, client-centered legal assistance to some of Orange County’s most vulnerable residents while teaching law students essential lawyering skills and the importance of pro bono service.
Human Options. Human Options’ Legal Advocacy Program has been ongoing since 1986. Program services include education on legal rights and remedies, court preparation and accompaniment, assistance with completing and filing applications for restraining orders, and support in cases of housing disputes and employment issues. With the Charitable Fund’s assistance, Human Options provided important staff training and other services including direct immigration representation services for Human Options’ clients.
Laura’s House. Laura’s House was established in 1994 to deliver domestic-violence-related services throughout Orange County. Over 5,000 abused men, women, and children have been serviced by Laura’s House. Its mission is: “Changing social beliefs, attitudes and the behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.” The Legal Advocacy Program provides legal assessments, restraining order assistance, and other services that empower survivors of domestic violence to live independent and violence-free lives.
Women’s Transitional Living Center. WTLC is the oldest domestic violence shelter in Orange County and the third oldest in the nation. Since its founding in 1976, the agency has grown into a multi-service organization dedicated to ending the cycle of violence and exploitation through multiple levels of Bridge Housing, Supportive Services, and Prevention. WTLC’s Board of Immigration Appeals accredited Legal Advocacy Program works with survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking whose recovery needs involve navigating the court system. This includes support surrounding child custody, divorce and legal separation, protection orders, immigration relief assistance, legal change of name and/or gender, and other legal concerns.
Corporate Honoree: Outstanding medical care for kids and being a positive influence on Orange County are hallmarks of Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). In addition to providing world-class medical care to thousands of children every year, CHOC Children’s has developed over eighty programs to benefit the community beyond healthcare. Since 2014, CHOC’s legal clinic has assisted seventy to one hundred patient families every year with representation for guardianships and conservatorships. The legal clinic also provides training opportunities for law students through an internship program. This year, CHOC opened an eighteen-bed pediatric mental health inpatient center. The legal clinic will continue to serve children without biological parents present to consent to medical care, developmentally disabled adults, and now will also serve patients with mental illness.
WINE, NETWORK, BID, REPEAT
At Raise Your Glass, you can sample wines from numerous outstanding wineries, network with the bench and bar, and bid on unique auction items. Then do it again, over and over, until your wine IQ is increased, you have connected with 300 new friends, and your cash has gone to a good cause.
But you would not have those opportunities without the hard work of our entire Annual Benefit Committee, the OCBA Charitable Fund Board, the Auction Committee, and the Wine-Tasting Committee (although we should probably charge admission to that group). Their hard work and dedication will undoubtedly result in a fun evening for all that will be of great value to the worthy organizations supported by the Charitable Fund.
The OCBA, the Charitable Fund, their boards, and our members are devoted to improving our legal community, and the community as a whole, but we need you to help raise much-needed funds to support programs like those mentioned above. Join us in support of these causes, and to salute our honorees. Register today at www.ocbar.org or email events@ocbar.org, or simply call 949.440.6700.
Todd G. Friedland and Mei Tsang are the 2018 Orange County Charitable Fund Raise Your Glass Co-Chairs because they missed the meeting where Co-Chairs were selected (no, really because they admire the impact made by the Charitable Fund). Make a difference. Go to www.ocbacf.org and do your part. #SupportOurCommunity