| Lending A Hand: The DuPage County Bar Foundation
By Glenda Berg Sharp
Established in 1997, the DuPage County Bar Foundation is the charitable [501(c)(3)] arm of the DCBA. The purpose of this educational and charitable corporation is:
• To foster and maintain the honor and integrity of the profession of law;
• To improve and facilitate the administration of justice;
• To promote the study of the law;
• To acquire, preserve and exhibit rare books and documents, subjects of art and items of historical interest having legal significance; and
• To assist deserving members of the DuPage County Bar and their dependants who are ill, incapacitated or superannuated.
The DCBF is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of nine distinguished DCBA members. James F. McCluskey serves as 2002-03 President.
Lawyers Lending a Hand
Effective this year, the DCBF serves as the formal home of Lawyers Lending a Hand [LLH]. This public service project was founded by Paul Marchese of the State’s Attorneys Office and former DCBA Executive Director Eddie Wollenberg. DCBA members and friends meet monthly to serve and relieve the stresses of practicing law by assisting various agencies and services in DuPage County. A few examples of projects include painting walls and sorting canned goods for a food pantry, organizing coat drives, playing basketball with at-risk youth, clearing debris from forest preserve streams, and visiting the elderly.
Can you lend a hand? See http://www.dcba.org/events/lend_a_hand.htm for information on future LLH activities.
In December, Lawyers Lending a Hand will assist Humanitarian Service Project to package food boxes and Christmas gifts for distribution to low-income senior citizens. We will meet at the warehouse directly behind the Quest Book Store located at 306 W. Geneva Road, Wheaton at 5:00 PM on December 12, 2002.
Lending a Hand via Grants
The DCBF facilitates the administration of justice by inviting grant submissions twice a year – from February 1-28 and again from August 1-31. Over the past year, we have awarded grants totaling $10,000 to four organizations that coincidentally serve DuPage County children and youth.
Community Art Partners, which engages at-risk youth in fine arts projects.
CASA of DuPage County, which serves as the child’s advocate to the 18th Judicial Circuit in Abuse and Neglect cases.
DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform for their Child Support Reform initiatives.
Three Fires Boy Scouts Council for the Juvenile Diversion program which provides positive direction for youth through education and community service.
Lending a Hand via Scholarships
The DCBF promotes the study of law via the Hartman E. Stime Scholarship. The DCBF Board awards this scholarship annually to an incoming second-year law student from DuPage County. This scholarship was established in memory of Hartman Stime, a long-time DCBA member distinguished for his many years of pro bono work and community service efforts on behalf of the poor and elderly. The DCBF announces scholarship availability to all Illinois law school financial aid offices, and posts the scholarship application on our web site. A screening committee will personally interview applicants. The scholarship is awarded at the Law Day Luncheon in early May.
Lending a Hand to Our Members in Need
Since its inception, the DCBF has assisted several DCBA members in need by contributing financially to help defray major medical expenses. Such application may be made via confidential correspondence to the DCBF President or Executive Director.
May I Lend a Hand?
The DCBF invites all DCBA members and friends to lend a hand. We seek tax-deductible financial support, either through direct contributions, pledges or via DCBA dues check-offs. All funds are used toward grants, scholarships and Lawyers Lending a Hand, and not toward salaries. DCBF funds will not be used for the financial gain of members or to influence legislation. The Foundation also encourages you to become involved with our Lawyers Lending a Hand program.
The Foundation acknowledges the following DCBF Fellows and Patrons for their ongoing financial support: Christine Ory; Donald Ramsell; Patrick Bond; James McCluskey; Richard Felice and Hon. William Ferguson. We thank Jim McCluskey for raising $6,000 for the DCBF and the DuPage Legal Assistance Foundation [dedicated solely to Legal Aid] via participation in the Wisconsin Ironman Triathlon. We also thank the Clifford M. Carney Foundation for a recent generous contribution.
Glenda Berg Sharp has served as the Executive Director of the DuPage County Bar Foundation as well as the DCBA since July, 2001. You may reach her at 630/653-7779 or gsharp@dcba.org. The DCBF’s web site is http://www.dcba.org/public/found.htm.
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