Minneapolis (3-29-02): -- The Bar Benefit Committee of the Hennepin County Bar Foundation announced today that its BAR BENEFIT 2002 set a record for the fourth consecutive year for contributions from the legal community in support of local legal service programs. John T. Knight and Katherine L. MacKinnon, chairs of the planning committee, and Foundation President Marlene S. Garvis thanked all concerned.

Hennepin County Bar Association Past President Aaron Biber and his wife, Nancy, served as auctioneers, encouraging attendees to buy Caribbean, Costa Rican and Mexican vacations, as well as U.S. get-a-ways, flight tickets, continuing education packages and other items. Over $56,000 was donated to the Foundation through direct contributions and the auctions, and an additional $9,100 was raised for the Volunteer Lawyers Network.

Over 400 members of the bench and bar enjoyed an evening of fun and fundraising, hosted by the honorary chair, attorney Jeffer Ali of the Merchant & Gould law firm. He presented the annual Pro Bono Publico awards to attorneys J. Marquis Eastwood, Charles J. Lloyd, Steven M. Pincus and the Honorable Stephen C. Aldrich for their contributions to the community through volunteer service. (See accompanying release.)

Founded in 1968, the Hennepin County Bar Foundation is dedicated to the mission of ensuring the fairness of, and accessibility to, the legal system by promoting public understanding and confidence in our system of justice. Toward this end the Foundation makes grants each year to area community organizations involved in public legal education and the delivery of legal services to the citizens of Hennepin County. Over $400,000 in grants have been made in the last seven years, supported in large part by the Bar Benefit, as well as individual contributions from the Hennepin County legal community.

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Photos are available on request. 
Contact Duane Stanley, 612-752-6611 or duane@hcba.org