Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. Launches Disability Law Project

West Palm Beach, FL (December 11, 2001) — The Able Trust recently awarded the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. a substantial grant of $47,613.00 to establish a Disability Law Project. Additional funding for this program comes from the John Scarpa Donor Advisory Fund at the United Way of Palm Beach County and through a generous donation from Applied Computer Services.

This project, an expansion of Legal Aid's HIV/AIDS Legal Project, which has been preventing workplace discrimination against HIV-infected individuals since 1986, will provide free legal assistance to disabled individuals seeking to achieve or retain meaningful employment and assure that they are not denied access to adequate health care due to their disability.

"For over fifty years the Legal Aid Society has been helping the disabled in our community maintain stable and meaningful lives. Through the generous support of The Able Trust, we now have the opportunity to take a more proactive role in enhancing the opportunities for these hard-working people, and fulfill our mission - and that of The Able Trust - in helping people expand their employment and health care options," said Bob Bertisch, Legal Aid's Executive Director.

For more information please contact Bob Bertisch, Executive Director at the number below.

The Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc., founded in 1949, is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing free legal services to disadvantaged individuals and families living in Palm Beach County. Projects include the Domestic Violence Project, Juvenile Advocacy Project, Foster Children's Project, Ryan White Project, Fair Housing Project and Elder Law Project.

The Able Trust is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, public-private partnership foundation with a mission to provide Floridians with disabilities fair employment opportunities through grant programs and public awareness. The Able Trust currently grants over $1.5 million annually to individuals and agencies throughout Florida.

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Contact:
Bob Bertisch, Executive Director (561) 655-8944 ext. 247