Although my parents were never wealthy, I always remember them supporting local charities. It was a lesson on the importance of giving back. When Martha and I became parents, part of the deal with our children in getting an allowance was that a portion be set aside each week to go to the charity of their choice.
Communities are built and strengthened when everyone pulls together, contributing what they can of time, talent, and treasure, toward the betterment of society.
When I came to the State Bar of Wisconsin 10 years ago, George Brown, then executive director, and past president Lane Ware sat me down and asked (told) me that one of my assignments would be working with the Wisconsin Law Foundation, our organization’s charitable arm. It has proven to be one of the great joys of my professional career.
Thanks to the generosity of thousands of members, over the past decade your Law Foundation has become a significant source toward making a meaningful impact. At the time, most members identified the Law Foundation with support for the State Bar’s high school mock trial program. And they would be right. The Law Foundation is the primary funder in supporting more than 1,300 students each year learning to articulate positions informed by their critical thinking skills. These students come away with an understanding and appreciation of the rule of law and the vital role it plays in a civil society.
But your Law Foundation has become so much more.
Today, the Law Foundation provides funding for a broad array of programs in communities across Wisconsin, including focusing on developing the next generation of legal and civic leaders; promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; supporting teen courts and restorative justice efforts; and providing grants to attorneys providing services in rural and underserved communities.
So, here’s the big news and how you can double your gift to the Law Foundation. Thanks to a generous pledge by Law Foundation Board member attorney Kevin Lyons and his wife, Roseann Lyons, all donations from individuals who have not contributed to the Wisconsin Law Foundation since July 1, 2018, will be matched for a cumulative dollar total of up to $25,000!
Any donations you give now through June 30, 2022, will have twice the impact!
Their timing could not have been better as the Law Foundation needs your support now more than ever.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Law Foundation saw a dramatic increase in applications for support of charitable and educational programs and projects that promote greater understanding of the law and improvement of the administration of justice across Wisconsin.
To meet the demand and help address issues caused by the pandemic, the Law Foundation is working hard to increase our funding, but we cannot do it without all of us pulling together. Please donate today to DOUBLE your impact in contributing toward the common good.
» Cite this article: 94 Wis. Law. 6 (September 2021).
