Newark, NJ (July 29, 2020) — Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ), a nonprofit that provides free legal services to low-income and vulnerable people in New Jersey, is pleased to announce it has received a $25,000 grant from Merck.
The grant is in support of VLJ’s annual fundraising gala. Traditionally, the Arts & Eats for Justice gala is an in-person dinner each fall in celebration of VLJ’s staff, volunteers, funders, and community partners working together to transform the lives of clients. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the gala is reimagined for 2020 as a six-week online fundraising campaign culminating in a signature virtual event, Uniting for Justice.
The Uniting for Justice campaign will begin on September 14, 2020 and the online celebration will take place on October 21, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. VLJ is pleased to share that the virtual celebration will include an interactive portion to keep guests engaged and may include several celebrity guests. Attendees will also hear directly from our clients about how their lives were changed with the help of pro bono legal assistance.
Merck is VLJ’s longest-standing corporate sponsor. The company supports several of VLJ’s programs each year with volunteers and funding, including the Divorce Program, New Jersey Human Trafficking Victims Legal Assistance Program, Debt Relief Legal Program, and Veterans Legal Program.
Jaclyn Kramer, VLJ’s Development Director, said, “We are so grateful for Merck’s generous support. Through this Uniting for Justice grant, Merck has demonstrated once again their commitment to our neighbors in New Jersey. Legal services are more critical than ever in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, its economic crisis, and the spotlight on long-simmering racial injustices impacting our nation. That Merck has committed above-and-beyond their already generous support for VLJ makes it clear that the company and its employees prioritize legal justice, equality, and empowering healthy communities.”
For more information about Uniting for Justice and to learn how to support VLJ, please visit http://www.vljnj.org/unitingforjustice
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About VLJ
VLJ is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal services to low-income and vulnerable client populations throughout New Jersey. VLJ’s model for ensuring fair access to the legal system makes the most of scarce financial resources through partnerships with hundreds of volunteer attorneys. With the support of 560 volunteers, VLJ helped 1,460 clients last year, including veterans, children, tenants, families, and victims of human trafficking, through 10 distinct pro bono programs. To learn more, please visit www.vljnj.org