Vol. 76, No. 10, October
2003
Building a Strong Foundation
Wisconsin Law Foundation, through contributors
like you, supports a variety of valuable public education and service
programs.
by George C. Brown,
State Bar executive director
Did you know that a State Bar
public service program has helped launch the careers of dozens of
Wisconsin lawyers, doctors, teachers, and business leaders? It's the
State Bar High School Mock Trial Program. One alumnus is a former clerk
to a U.S. Supreme Court Justice; another serves on the State Bar Board
of Governors, is a lawyer-coach himself, and has a son who is a member
of a high school team. More than 160 Wisconsin high schools field one or
more teams in this competition, with the state champion moving on to
national competition. More than 600 lawyers and judges, 160 high school
teachers, and 1,800 students participate from across our state.
So, who pays for this program that has such a positive impact on
students and their futures? Some of the money comes from entrance fees
paid by the schools, but these fees are kept small because schools have
less money these days. Some money comes from your dues dollars. And a
substantial sum is granted to the State Bar from the Wisconsin Law
Foundation (WLF). In fact, the WLF founded the High School Mock Trial
Program in 1984.
The State Bar now is responsible for the program and the Foundation
is responsible for raising funds for this and other public service
programs. Today, WLF grants pay a portion of the mock trial program
costs and support a variety of valuable public service programs. Teen
courts in Clark and La Crosse counties are just two examples of other
law-related public service projects receiving WLF grants.
Who is the Foundation? You are. That is, 700 of your colleagues
constitute the membership of the WLF. In the last several years, with
the help of its new professional development leadership, the WLF board
has enhanced the potential for the Foundation to grow. The WLF has
developed Restricted and Named Funds opportunities to help meet the
charitable interests of a variety of lawyers, and it has established
recognition systems for gifts and their tax ramifications.
As WLF leaders travel to local bar associations and law offices to
educate Wisconsin lawyers about its mission, the WLF has experienced an
increase in requests for both gifts and grants.
Because of this increase, the WLF and the programs it sponsors need
your help. To learn more, please contact John Daugherty at (800)
444-9404, ext. 6038, or at jdaugherty@wisbar.org. Do it for
the kids.
Wisconsin
Lawyer