By Ginna Owens

Thanks to the generous contributions of philanthropic law firms, organizations, corporations, and individuals King County Bar Foundation just wrapped up another banner year in support of equal justice. A record breaking $510,000 in cash contributions, plus another $150,000 in pledges and $170,000 in grant income for a total of $830,000 was just reported to the Board of Trustees.

This extraordinary largesse helped more than 8,800 low-income and otherwise vulnerable King County residents receive free legal services. Thirty-one minority law students from Seattle University and University of Washington received Foundation scholarships. Seventy high school youth of color and/or economic disadvantage were welcomed as students at the Future of the Law Institute, and are now eligible for scholarships to both undergraduate institutions and later to law school.

“The only down-side to this report,” said Foundation President Dan Gandara, “is that these services are still under fundedÉthere are still too many King County residents without access to the courts, too many high school youth of color unaware of options leading to a career in the law, too many minorities that could attend law school if more scholarships were available.”

With this in mind, as their FY 2005 kicks off, the Foundation has ratcheted up its fundraising goals to reflect a five percent increase in the hope of bringing an increasingly stronger response to the need for services.

Tax deductible contributions to KCBF can be made at any time through the use of a variety of vehicles: King County Bar Association members are encouraged to exercise the “dues-check-off” option on their membership renewal. Five year pledges to the KCBF Leadership Circle and Foundation Cabinet; and four year pledges to the President’s Council are always available. These and other giving opportunities are described on the KCBF web site, www.kcbf.org. n