2013-2014 annual report

FOUNDATION
Bread for the City
Legal Aid Society of the
District of Columbia
omen’s
Bar Association
Foundation
2013-2014 Annual Report
serving the legal and related
needs of women and girls in the
DC metropolitan community
Mission
Leveraging the generosity of lawyers and friends to support
nonprofits that serve the legal and related needs of women and girls
in the DC Metropolitan community.
From Our President
The Women’s Bar Association Foundation was proud to
celebrate its 33rd anniversary this year. We provided grants to
seven amazing organizations and recognized them at our fifth
annual Grants Award Ceremony in April. We also awarded
our 8th Founders Fellowship grant, which provides a stipend
to support the work of a law student from one of the six area
law schools at a local nonprofit organization that serves the
legal and related needs of women and girls in our community.
On both the giving and fundraising fronts, we continue to
maintain our high quality programs and activities, while
pursuing new efforts to increase our presence in the community
and develop new sources of funding. We expanded our
fundraising efforts this past year, with a new event at Bloomingdale’s in the Spring, by joining
the United Way (#8914), and by participating in the Do More 24 online fundraising event.
When you give to the WBA Foundation, you leverage your contribution with those of others
to make a real impact on the lives of women and girls in our community. By combining our
resources, we are able to fund programs like the Neighborhood Legal Services Program’s
WBAF Housing Conditions Project, the first program named after the Foundation as a funding
source. The purpose of the project is to remedy dangerous housing conditions for vulnerable
women and their children through direct representation and empowerment. WBAF’s grant
will be used to support affirmative housing cases on behalf of women living with children
in substandard conditions and assist women to become effective advocates for safer housing
conditions. The program is expected to substantially improve housing conditions for at least 30
families, educate women in low income neighborhoods about their rights as tenants, and build
advocacy capacity among women residents at one multi-family housing complex.
Despite the good work we have accomplished with your generous support, there is still a great need
in our community. Thirty-three organizations requested a total of $253,650 in grants from the
WBA Foundation during the 2013-2014 grantmaking cycle, only a fraction of which we were able
to satisfy. We are diligently working to expand our fundraising efforts in order to make an even
greater impact. We are grateful to our many donors who continuously help us to close this gap.
This Annual Report provides an overview of our activities for the past year, and
demonstrates how we leverage the collective contributions of our donors to create a greater
influence than any individual can have on her or his own. Our report also highlights the
impressive programs of our grantees, who are working every day on the front lines to improve
the lives of women and girls in the DC metropolitan community.
Amy L. Bess
2013-2014 President
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Grantmaking Program &
Grantee Awards Ceremony
The WBA Foundation’s grant process begins in the fall,
with the release of a Request for Proposals. In Fall 2013, 33
organizations submitted a Letter of Intent (LOI), requesting
a total of over $253,650 in support. Eight organizations were
invited to submit a full grant application. Full proposals were
reviewed and researched by the WBA Foundation Board of
Directors, which made final funding determinations and awarded a total of $43,000
grants to seven organizations. Each year, our grantees are required to submit a year-end
report of their activities conducted under the grant.
In April, we hosted the fifth annual Grant Awards Ceremony at the offices of Morgan
Lewis & Bockius LLP. This event served to unite our grantees, supporters, and other
members of the community in celebration of our seven grantees: Asian Pacific American
Legal Resource Center, Bread for the City, Break the Cycle, DC Volunteer Lawyers
Project, Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment & Appeals Project, Legal Aid Society
of the District of Columbia, and Neighborhood Legal Services Program. A representative
from each grantee provided brief remarks during the event and networked with attendees
to provide additional information about their programs and services. Our distinguished
keynote speaker was Bea Hanson, Principal Deputy Director, Office on Violence Against
Women (OVW), U.S. Department of Justice. The OVW provides federal leadership in
developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence against women and administer justice
for and strengthen services to victims. Ms. Hanson discussed her office’s efforts and
remarked that “the increased availability of legal services appears to play a particularly
significant role in reducing domestic violence.”
Founders Fellowship
The Emma Gillett and Ellen Spencer Mussey Founders Fellowship,
established by the WBA Foundation in 2006, was named to
honor the two pioneering women who founded the Women’s Bar
Association of the District of Columbia in 1917. The Fellowship
is awarded annually to support an area law student working for the
summer with a local legal service provider on projects that address
the legal needs of women and girls in our community. Proceeds
from our Wine Tasting & Silent Auction have funded this
fellowship for the past eight years.
The 2014 WBA Foundation Founders Fellowship, in the amount of $7,500, was awarded
to Howard University law student Maria J. Maldonado. The Fellowship will allow Ms.
Maldonado to gain invaluable legal experience working as a Summer Legal Intern at the
Neighborhood Legal Services Program in the summer of 2014. The Neighborhood Legal
Services Program, also a community grant recipient, provides free civil legal services to lowincome residents of the District of Columbia.
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2013-2014 Grantees
Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center
Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center is a 13-year-old organization whose
mission is to advocate for the legal and civil rights of low-income Asian Americans
with limited English proficiency in Metro DC. The Resource Center accomplishes
this mission through linguistically accessible and culturally appropriate legal services,
community legal education, and advocacy. The WBAF grant will support the
implementation of the Justice for Filipino Teachers program, which will provide legal representation
and immigration support to Filipino teachers who have been illegally trafficked into the U.S. with false
promises of teaching jobs.
Bread For The City
Bread for the City began as a volunteer-run, free
health clinic in 1974. Over the years, their programs grew to include the addition of a legal
clinic, social services program, and, most recently, an advocacy program. Bread’s mission is
to provide comprehensive services to vulnerable residents of Washington, DC, including
food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services, in an atmosphere of dignity
and respect. The WBAF grant will assist the operation of Bread for the City’s Domestic
Violence Community Legal Services Project, which serves low income minority women in their fight to obtain
protection from domestic violence. @BreadfortheCity
Break The Cycle
Break the Cycle believes everyone has the
right to safe and healthy relationships, and its mission is to engage, educate, and
empower youth to build lives and communities free from domestic violence. Break
the Cycle is the leading, national nonprofit organization addressing teen dating
violence. The WBAF grant will support the improved delivery and expansion of its legal services program.
Break the Cycle provides representation in campus administrative proceedings, as well as family, employment,
and housing matters; accompanies survivors to meet with police and/or prosecutors to report abuse and assists
in criminal prosecution; and makes appropriate referrals for social services. @BreaktheCycleDV
DC Volunteer Lawyers Project
The DC Volunteer Lawyers
Project is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to address the critical shortage of legal
assistance for low-income people in Washington, DC, especially in cases involving domestic
violence. The WBAF grant will support the Domestic Violence Program in increasing the
number of domestic violence survivors represented by its volunteer attorneys in protection
order petition proceedings and related custody, divorce, and child support matters. @DCVLP
Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment & Appeals Project
DV LEAP’s mission is to provide a stronger voice for justice by fighting to overturn unjust trial court
outcomes; advancing legal protections for victims of domestic violence and their
children though expert appellate advocacy, training lawyers, psychologists and judges
on best practices; and spearheading domestic violence litigation in the Supreme
Court. The WBAF grant supports its DC project, DC LEAP. @DV_LEAP
Legal Aid Society of the District Of Columbia
For more than 80 years, Legal Aid’s mission has been to make justice real — in
individual and systematic ways — for persons living in poverty in the District of
Columbia. The WBAF grant will support the Domestic Violence Underserved
Communities Representation Project. The project will provide extended
representation, advice, counsel, and brief assistance to clients in at least 50 cases. @LegalAidDC
Neighborhood Legal Services Program
Neighborhood Legal Services Program is a private, nonprofit law firm that has been providing
free civil legal services to low-income residents of the District of Columbia since 1964. The
WBAF grant supports the WBAF Housing Conditions Project, whose goal is to remedy
dangerous housing conditions for vulnerable women and their children through direct
representation and the empowerment of women to advocate for their own rights as tenants.
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Fundraising Activities
Wine Tasting & Auction Benefiting Founders Fellowship
The WBA Foundation hosted its 11th annual
Wine Tasting and Silent Auction in October.
This year’s event, “Flavors of Fall” was hosted at
Hogan Lovells US LLP. The tasting featured an
exceptional lineup of wines from New Zealand,
Europe, South America, and the United States.
Representatives from The Curious Grape, a
woman-owned business in Arlington, VA,
guided guests through the tastings.
The annual Wine Tasting is the WBA Foundation’s largest individual fundraising
event. This year it raised slightly less than $20,000 and was attended by 100 guests.
Bloomingdale’s Fundraiser
In March, we hosted a new fundraiser at
Bloomingdale’s in Chevy Chase. Proceeds from
the event registrations supported our grantmaking
efforts. The event featured a presentation
by Lauren Rothman, a local style expert and
published author, who discussed creating your
own personal style. Attendees received a copy of
Ms. Rothman’s book, Style Bible: What to Wear to Work, courtesy of our sponsor,
Navigant Consulting. The evening also included networking and an opportunity to
shop at Bloomingdale’s with 10% of the sales benefitting the Foundation.
Annual Dinner
Each year, the WBA Foundation joins with
the Women’s Bar Association of the District
of Columbia to host a joint Annual Dinner.
This event is one of the largest gatherings in
the DC legal community. Judy Smith of Smith
& Company, a well-known local attorney and
the inspiration for the Olivia Pope character
on TV’s Scandal, was recognized as the WBA’s
2014 Woman Lawyer of the Year.
The presidents of the Women’s Bar Association and the WBA Foundation presented
overviews of the successes experienced by each organization during the past year. The
Foundation debuted a video highlighting our 2014 grantees. Also available online at
wbadcfoundation.org, the video features personal commentaries from grantees about
the impact the Foundation’s donors have on each grantee’s ability to deliver services
to women and girls in our community. The WBA Foundation is grateful for the
generosity of over 98 organizations and individuals who sponsored our Annual Dinner.
Page 5
Thank You To Our Donors
The WBA Foundation funds grants and the Founders Fellowship with donations it
receives from community supporters.
It is through the support of committed donors that the WBA Foundation can carry
on its important work. The WBA Foundation extends its gratitude to the following
supporters for their generosity.
$5,000 and Above
Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.
$2,500 - $4,999
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation
James Sandman
Bloomberg
Crowell & Moring LLP
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
$999 - $2,499
Jennifer Duane
McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
Navigant Consulting
The Walden Trust
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
$500 – $999
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP FTI Consulting/Compass Lexecon
M. Elizabeth Medaglia
Arnold & Porter LLP
Groom Law Group
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Baker & Hostetler LLP
Hilton Worldwide, Inc.
LaDawn Naegle
Amy L. Bess
Hogan Lovells US LLP
Diana Savit
Diane M. Brenneman
Howard University School of Law
Sidley Austin LLP
Bryan Cave LLP
HuronLegal
Steptoe & Johnson LLP
BuckleySandler LLP
Linda M. Jackson
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
Covington & Burling LLP
Jackson & Campbell, P.C.
Marilyn Tucker
DLA Piper LLP
King & Spalding LLP
Vedder Price P.C.
Tracy-Gene G. Durkin
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Venable LLP
Kenneth W. Epps
Latham & Watkins LLP
Williams & Connolly LLP
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow,
Littler Mendelson P.C.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Garrett & Dunner, LLP
Lorelie S. Masters
WilmerHale
Ellen & Ken Adler
Ain & Bank P.C.
American University Washington
College of Law
Ashcraft & Gerel LLP
Deborah T. Ashford
Rhoda S. Barish
Valerie Barrish
Philip C. Baten
Beveridge & Diamond PC
Janet Blizard
Diane C. Boykin
Susan G. Braden
Marjorie A. Burnett
Barbara Burr
Nancy Duff Campbell
Mary Ann Chaffee
Paulette Chapman
ClifftonLarsonAllen LLP
Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP
File & ServeXpress, LLC
Bernard B. Fulton III
Nina Glasner
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$100 – $499
Gray Plant Mooty
Kathleen V. Gunning
Sherri Evans Harris
Lisa Horowitz
Vivian Huelgo
Kirra Jarratt
Debra Jezouit
The Kaiser Law Firm PLLC
Kalijarvi Chuzi Newman & Fitch PC
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Kim Kendrick
Gladys Kessler
Susan M.C. Kovarovics
The Law Office of Jessica E. Adler
Law Offices of Alfred F. Belcuore
Bridget Bailey Lipscomb
Rebecca Liu
Nancy A. Long
The McCammon Group
Miller & Chevalier Chartered
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, LLP
Tiffany Moore
Celeste M. Murphy
Sonia Williams Murphy
Narda M. Newby
Marjorie O’Connell
Suzanne Reifman
Regan Zambri Long, PLLC
Jeannette Elizabeth Roach
Rebecca Rucich
Nakeasha Sanders-Small
Pamela Satterfield
Savit & Szymkowicz, LLP
Leigh A. Sempeles
Joi Sheffield
Carolyn Stennett
Lisa Stewart
Jennifer Stillerman
Maureen Thornton Syracuse
Andrea Tecce
Thomson Reuters
Pamela Whittaker
Wiley Rein LLP
Andrea D. Williams
Williams Bertram, PLLC
Winston & Strawn LLP
Contributors listed in this list participated between June 1, 2013 and May 31, 2014. We have
made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this listing. If we have made an error, please accept
our apology. You may call us at 202 639 8880 so that we can correct our records.
Up to $99
Cheryl Aaron
Jessica E. Adler
Ferdose al-Taie
Jim Alegro
Cory Amron
LaKeitha Anderson
Anonymous
Elizabeth Austern
Nicole M. Austin-Hillery
Kathy Barlow
Melanie Bates
Paula Bowens
Nicole Brown
Leila Carter Brown
Brown Advisory
Ann Bushmiller
Capital Reporting Company
Donnell Carr
Gaffar Chowdhury
Allison M. Cohen
Tasha L. Cole
Doumar Martin PLLC
Linda J. Dreeben
Suzanne B. Ducat
Debrah Farnell
Linda M. French
Tonya Gaskins
Nausheen Hassan
Cynthia Hemphill
Rhonda C. Holmes
Norma B. Hutcheson
Ellen M. Jakovic
Barbara Jarratt
Nancy M. Johnson
Carol Jones
John C. Keeney
Hugh Keith
Leslie J. Keyes
Luisa Lancetti
Joan Lanigan
Law Counsel Staffing
Rachel Levinson-Waldman
Susan Low
Lorna E. Maloney
Mira Nan Marshall
McArthur Franklin PLLC
Melonie J. McCall
Shawnte Mitchell
Carol A. Montoya
National Women’s Law Center
Ellen Ostrow
Gail Pierce
Consuela A. Pinto
Laura Possessky
Paula M. Potoczak
Lexer I. Quamie
Eric Rice
Barbara H. Sahli
Rita M. Sampson
Sudarshini Satchi
Royce Sherlock
Halima Sow
Marcel P. Stennett
Annamaria Steward
Jay Stewart
Michelle C. Thomas
Lucy A. Thomson
Total Document Solutions, Inc.
Mary Kate Whalen
Josh & Bess Winston
Joanne W. Young
Victoria Ziegler
Aviva E. Zierler
2014 Wine Tasting and Silent Auction
Sponsors & Contributors
Champagne Level
Invotex
Wine Level
Connie Bertram
The Honorable Diane M. Brenneman
Jennifer Duane
Kathy Gunning
Ellen Jakovic
Nancy Long
Sparking Water Level
Marjorie Burnett
Anne Bushmiller
Paulette Chapman
Alida M. Dagostino
Tracy-Gene G. Durkin
Hazel Groman
Kirra L. Jarratt
Mira Marshall
Kendra Martello
Lynne Milne
Mytrang Nguyen
Monica Parham
Ilene Price
Diana Savit
Carolyn Stennett
Sarah Surwit
Contributors
The Honorable Mary Ellen Abrecht
Norma Hutcheson
Naomi Balto
I Ricchi
Borderless Thinking
Ellen M. Jakovic
Bradford Renaissance Portraits Corporation
Jenner & Block LLP
The Honorable Diane Brenneman
Knightsbridge Management Corporation
Kelly Brinkley
Law Counsel Professional Staffing
Capital Reporting Company
Legal Services Corporation
Paulette Chapman
Leslie E. Sandler Fine Jewelry and Gemstones
Citi Open
Kirra Jarratt
CurvyMama Pies
Julia Anne Matheson
DSC Consulting
M. Elizabeth Medaglia
Emily Bishop Interior Design, Inc
Navigant Consulting
Federal City Caterers
O Salon
Folger Theatre
Olney Theatre Center
Friends of the WBAF at Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Bruce Pascal
Golf Course Specialists/GolfDC Academy
PIAF Salon and Day Spa
Kathy Gunning
Quiet Time Quilts
Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens
Andrew Rhim
Round House Theater
Darshini Satchi
Mylan Satchi
Diana Savit
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Stellar Coaching
Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.
Joan Strand
Carolyn Stennett
Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard
Maureen Thornton Syracuse
The Cur ious Grape
The Inn at Perry Cabin
The Sulton Salon, LLC
Theater J
Vedder Price, P.C.
Joanne W. Young
We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this listing. If we have made an error, please
accept our apology. You may call us at 202 639 8880 so that we can correct our records.
Page 7
2013-2014
Board of Directors
Amy L. Bess
President
Vedder Price P.C.
Linda M. Jackson
Treasurer
Littler Mendelson, P.C.
Kelly V. Brinkley
Assistant Treasurer
United Way of the
National Capital Area
Lorelie S. Masters
Secretary
Jenner & Block LLP
Break the Cycle
DC Volunteer Lawyers Project
Board Members
Kathleen V. Gunning
Kirra L. Jarratt
Immediate Past WBAF President
DC Bar Foundation
Nancy A. Long
American Association of
University Professors
M. Elizabeth Medaglia
James J. Sandman
Legal Services Corporation
Serving for 30 years alongside lawyers and
friends of the community
Sudarshini Satchi
Carolyn P. Stennett
National Head Start Association
Maureen Thornton Syracuse
Andrea Tecce
Navigant
Gaffar Chowdhury
United Way National Capital Area,
Emerging Leader (ex-officio)
First Financial Group
Suzanne D. Reifman
WBA Board Liaison (ex-officio)
Northrop Grumman
Women’s Bar Association Foundation
2020 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 446
Washington, DC 20006
202-639-8880 | wbadcfoundation.org
info@wbadcfoundation.org
www.facebook.com/WBAFoundation
@wbaf