Pennsylvania Bar Foundation Accepting Application for 2010 Art Birdsall Impact Grant Program Created in 2006, to commemorate Arthur Birdsall’s long tenure as the Association’s link to its vital county bar partners, the Art Birdsall Impact Grant Program seeks to assist county bar associations in the furtherance of a charitable, educational or pro bono program, project or enhancement of an existing charitable, educational or pro bono program or project that succeeds in making an immediate impact on the way a county bar association operates in service to its members, its courts and its community.

The program is open to all bar associations, with consideration given to those with limited needs. Its goal is to fund annually one or two grants which are consistent with the Foundation’s mission of law-related education or access to justice.

“The program was conceived to provide funding over a 10-year period,” comments Foundation President George Gvozdich, Jr., of Ebensburg.” 2010 will be the third year awards have been funded. Last year, Butler County and Franklin County received grants. Butler County Bar used the funds towards the purchase of Adobe Creative Suites software to enhance the bar’s support of its members and its court. Franklin County used its grant to help fund pro bono services to low income Latino victims of domestic violence.”

A five-person grant evaluation committee comprised of Foundation Board members and Foundation members of the Conference of County Bar Leaders Executive Committee will be appointed by President Gvozdich to evaluate submissions and select recipient(s) to share in grants totaling not more than $1,000. Any unallocated funds will be carried forward to the succeeding year.

County Bar Associations interested in applying for grants funds must complete a simple three-page application. The deadline for submission is April 15, 2010. The successful applicant(s) will be notified in writing on or before May 7, 2010 and the grants will be awarded during the Annual Meeting of the Foundation Board of Directors and Members on May 13, 2010 in Hershey, PA in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Click here for more information and application forms.

Nominations are now being accepted for the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation’s Louis J. Goffman Awards.

Named in honor of the late PBA past president from Philadelphia, the Louis J. Goffman Awards have been recognizing Pennsylvania’s finest pro bono providers for 20-years. The nomination deadline is April 15, 2010, and the award presentation will take place during the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Annual Meeting scheduled for May 12 - 14 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey PA. Don’t miss your opportunity to nominate a worthy individual, law firm or organization from your county.

For additional information and nomination forms please click here.

The Pennsylvania Bar Foundation Nominating Committee, chaired by Immediate Past President Karen M. Balaban, Esq., is accepting applications from Pennsylvania Bar Foundation Fellows, Life Fellows, Keystone Society and Commonwealth Club members interested in seeking nomination to run as a candidate for Zone Ten Director or Vice-president of the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation.

The election will be held at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation Board of Directors and Members on Thursday, May 13 at 3:00 p.m. at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center in Hershey, PA.

If you are a Foundation Fellow, Life Fellow, Keystone Society or Commonwealth Club member and interested in being nominated by the committee, please submit your qualifications and a brief biographical sketch by April 1 to: E. Marie Queen, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Bar Foundation, P.O. Box 186, Harrisburg, PA 17108-0186