Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is ecstatic to announce that David J. Bershad and Mindy A. Cohen have pledged a $1,000,000 gift in support of its mission to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. David and Mindy’s generous contribution will enable VLJ to create an endowment, which will ensure the longevity of the organization and the sustainability of its finances in the wake of unforeseen circumstances.

David and Mindy have already donated $500,000 towards their pledge. As part of their commitment, they will issue a challenge grant to encourage others to commit to the endowment. When the endowment reaches $1,000,000, David and Mindy will donate their second $500,000. This means their support will elevate VLJ's endowment to an incredible $1,500,000—an unprecedented milestone in ensuring our sustained impact. In an effort to raise the $500,000 needed to unlock David and Mindy’s challenge grant, VLJ is embarking on a five-year Legacy of Justice Campaign in 2024.

$500,000 Match Goal for Endowment Campaign Met

As of November 2024, VLJ is thrilled to announce that it has successfully met the $500,000 match goal for its Legacy of Justice Endowment Campaign. This achievement was made possible through the generous support of 43 donors who collectively contributed $519,750 to the campaign.

Key highlights of the match goal include:

• 36 donors pledged $426,750, payable over 5 years

• 7 donors provided outright gifts totaling $93,000

Legacy of Justice Campaign - A Case for Support

For more information on the endowment campaign, or to inquire about supporting VLJ’s efforts to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty, please contact Saranya Thana, VLJ’s Director of Development, at (973) 755-4120 or sthana@vljnj.org.