The Ingham County Bar Foundation has returned over tens of thousands of dollars in grants to community organizations and events, including a $5,000 grant to Friends of the Ingham County Veterans Treatment Court last November. Pictured (l to r) standing; Mike Cavanaugh, Tony Smith, Peter Sheldon, Sue LeDuc, Max Hoffman, Judge David Jordon, John Caterino, Dave Lick and Ken Beachler. Seated: George Zulakis (left), and Larry Salstrom.
File photo
The Ingham County Bar Foundation was established in 2002 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable corporation dedicated to support charitable organizations and events in honor of the legal profession. While lawyers have long recognized their individual obligation to community commitment, the Foundation has provided an entity for lawyers to collectively assemble charitable contributions to support the Foundation's Mission Statement: To promote access to justice, expand the availability of legal services, support charitable organizations, promote legal education and foster the honor and integrity of the legal profession.
Since its founding, the Foundation has returned over tens of thousands of dollars in grants to community organizations and events to continue its mission. Recipients of grant funds have included the Veterans Court Foundation, Peer Mediation Programs, and Ingham County Access to Justice Center, as well as The Greater Lansing Food Bank, Cooley Law School 5K Race for Education, City of Lansing MLK Day Observance for Students, H.O.P.E. Scholarship Program with the Lansing Police Department and Lansing Public Schools, Elder Law of Michigan, Highfields, Inc., Ingham County Child Benefit Fund, Cooley Law Service to Soldiers Program, and many more.
The ICBF is a membership corporation whose members select the Board of Directors. The current Board comprises President Susan LeDuc, Vice President David Lick, Secretary Michael Cavanaugh, Treasurer Tom Woods; and Nan Casey, James Graves, Max Hoffman, Jr., Peter Sheldon, Webb "Tony" Smith, George Zulakis, and Kurt Krause.
The Foundation has 57 fellows who have pledged to contribute at least $1,000 and it has approximately 125 annual members who pay annual dues of $25. The Foundation's Charter established an inclusive culture with membership open to anyone and is not restricted to members of the legal profession.
While the Foundation is growing in its impact on the tri-county community organizations, its goal is to establish an endowment fund. The Foundation recognizes that raising funds depends upon communicating its mission to the lawyers and the citizens on the tri-county area. Some Board members, in addition to contributing their time and pledges, have given funds to establish memorials in honor of a friend, loved one or colleague.
To fulfill its mission, the Foundation has established fundraising events. Its marquee event is the Ingham County Bar Foundation Memorial Golf Classic held each year this year set Thursday, June 25, at Hawk Hollow in Bath Township.
Periodically, the Foundation hosts retirement dinners for judges, including the Feb. 5 event for retiring judges Michael Cavanagh, Thomas Fitzgerald, William Whitbeck, and Charles Filice.
Involvement with the Ingham County Bar Foundation signifies one's deep-seated commitment to the community and pride in honoring the legal profession. To grant recipients and others, the Ingham County Bar Foundation is the benevolent face of the legal profession.
For more information, visit www.inghambar.org.
Published: Mon, Mar 02, 2015
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