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Bar
Benefit Raises
Record Amount for Local Legal Services
Minneapolis
(03-23-09): -- On March 10, 2009, the Hennepin County
Bar Foundation’s annual Bar Benefit raised over $120,000
to serve the legal needs of the disadvantaged, and the
Volunteer Lawyers Network raised almost $15,000 through
its silent auction and raffle held in conjunction with
the benefit. Foundation President Christina Szitta and
Planning Committee Chair Courtney Ward-Reichard
expressed their enthusiastic thanks to all for their
generosity.
The
benefit, held at the Radisson Plaza Hotel, was an
evening of fellowship, fun, and fundraising,
enthusiastically supported by hundreds of members of the
legal community, both bench and bar. In addition to
providing financial support for legal services, the Bar
Benefit also provides an opportunity for the legal
community to honor those who have distinguished
themselves in pro bono work.
Recipients of this year’s Pro Bono Publico awards
were:
-
Irene Opsahl, Legal Aid Society (the
Distinguished Service award, which recognizes
overall commitment to pro bono service throughout a
lawyer’s career);
-
Susan Ledray, Fourth Judicial District Self Help
Center (award for excellence in the public sector);
and
-
William Fisher, Gray Plant Mooty (award for
excellence by an attorney from the private sector).
Also,
several law firms were again recognized for successful
participation in the HCBA Challenge for Pro Bono
Services by providing at least 3% of their 2008 billable
hours to pro bono work: Dorsey & Whitney; Faegre &
Benson; Fredrikson & Byron; Gray Plant Mooty; Halleland
Lewis Nilan & Johnson; Leonard, Street and Dienard;
Lindquist & Vennum; and Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi.
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
community organizations involved in promoting the
administration of justice, public legal education and
the delivery of legal services to the citizens of
Hennepin County. Grants for 2009 will be announced in
July. Over $600,000 in grants have been distributed in
the last decade, supported in large part by the Bar
Benefit, as well as individual contributions from the
members of the Hennepin County Bar Association.
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