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A Letter from The President and Executive Director
Dear Friends and Supporters:
We are happy to provide you with this newsletter because you provide the foundation for the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County. Without your interest and support, we could not help the thousands of disadvantaged individuals, children and families who need our help to improve their living conditions and quality of life.
After having survived two frightening storms in 2004, we were once again confronted with a devastating hurricane last summer. Although many of our clients, friends and family suffered power outages and major property damage, thankfully, we all came through physically uninjured.
On the legal front, 2005 saw the expansion of a number of Legal Aid's most successful projects. A generous grant from the Quantum Foundation ensures that our Bioethics Legal Project continues to grow and provide a bridge between the medical and legal communities in assisting individuals coping with end of life issues. The project has been renamed The Bioethics Collaborative for Education, Outreach and Advocacy and includes our partners: the Palm Beach County Medical Society, Hospice of Palm Beach County and Hospice by the Sea.
A $100,000 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will result in a much needed expansion of our Fair and Affordable Housing Project. This program is designed to ensure that no individual in our community is denied access to housing due to their race, religion, ethnic background, age, gender, disability, marital status or sexual orientation. The Area Agency on Aging's award of emergency funding allowed us to hire two additional attorneys to provide legal assistance to victims of the recent hurricane disasters.
As we enter 2006 we look forward to an expansion of our Non-Profit Legal Assistance Project to provide additional assistance including storm and emergency related legal services to many of the community's non-profit agencies. Also, our Relative Caregivers's Project is under consideration for the funding of an additional staff attorney, as is our recently established Low Income Taxpayer's Clinic.
On the fund-raising side, the 2005 Campaign for Equal Justice raised $353,000 and the 17th Annual Pro Bono Recognition Evening netted over $200,000. All these funds are used to provide free legal assistance to the disadvantaged in our community. In addition, the 5th Annual Cup of Justice Golf Tournament was sold out and raised much needed funds for our Education Advocacy Project which provides legal services to disabled children in Palm Beach County's lower performing schools to ensure they receive every opportunity for academic success.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, we want to thank you for all you do to support Legal Aid's 16 essential programs and invite you to become an active participant in our work and upcoming events.
Wishing you a safe and Happy New Year!
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