With funding for civil legal aid in Florida at its lowest point in 10 years, a new study shows that every dollar spent on civil legal services for the state’s low-income residents yields more than $7 in economic impacts. With total funding of $83 million from all sources, 33 Florida civil legal aid organizations made $600 million of economic impact in 2015, according to the study commissioned by The Florida Bar Foundation. The detailed results and implications of the study will be the topic of three press conferences Feb. 2 and 3.
11:30 A.M., FEB. 2, MIAMI
American Bar Association Midyear Meeting
Gallery 3, 4th Floor - JW Marriott Marquis, 255 Biscayne Boulevard Way
Featuring: American Bar Association President-Elect Hilarie Bass,
Florida Bar President William J. Schifino Jr., and Florida Bar Foundation President Matthew Brenner
Please note that free media registration for the ABA Midyear Meeting is required*
10:00 A.M. FEB. 2, ST. PETERSBURG
Florida Philanthropic Network Statewide Summit on Philanthropy
Vinoy Grand Ballroom Foyer - Vinoy Renaissance Hotel, 501 5th Avenue NE
Featuring: Past Florida Bar President Gwynne Young,
Florida Bar Foundation President-Elect Jewel White, and Dean Mead Law Firm Tampa Office Managing Shareholder
& 2016 TBBJ BusinessWoman of the Year Angie’s Award Winner Melanie Griffin
10:00 A.M., FEB. 3, TALLAHASSEE
Florida Commission on Access to Civil Justice
Horizon Ballroom, 8th Floor - Hotel Duval, 415 North Monroe Street
Featuring: Florida Chief Justice Jorge Labarga,Florida Commission on Access to Civil Justice Executive Committee Chair Gregory W. Coleman,
Florida Commission on Access to Civil Justice member Donny MacKenzie, and
Florida Bar Foundation CEO/Executive Director Bruce B. Blackwell
A live stream of the press conference and commission meeting will be at: http://wfsu.org/gavel2gavel/
*All members of the press attending the press conference at the American Bar Association Midyear Meeting in Miami need to complete a free registration via this online registration link. Accredited journalists can also register on-site or pick up their preregistered press credentials at the Hyatt Regency Miami (Riverfront Hall, Lobby Level), beginning at 2 p.m. on Feb. 1. A press room for accredited reporters will be provided at the Hyatt’s Riverfront Hall (lobby level) starting at 9 a.m. on Feb. 2. The room will be open daily thereafter from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will close one hour after the adjournment of the House of Delegates on Feb. 6. The press room phone number is (305) 379-4559.
About The Florida Bar Foundation
The mission of The Florida Bar Foundation (www.TheFloridaBarFoundation.org), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is to provide greater access to justice. Through strategic grantmaking, the Foundation funds civil legal aid and projects to improve the administration of justice and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the legal aid delivery system. In addition to providing funds directly to Florida legal aid organizations, the Foundation engages in catalytic philanthropy by investing in training, technology, technical assistance, assessment and capacity-building for the legal aid delivery system and works to develop and expand innovative pro bono initiatives. Principal support for the Foundation’s charitable activities comes from the Interest on Trust Accounts (IOTA) Program implemented by the Florida Supreme Court in 1981. Additional support comes from gifts made by Florida attorneys, law firms, corporations, foundations and others.
