American College of Bankruptcy Foundation Awards $12,500 Grant to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice to Help New Jerseyans Struggling with Debt
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2024
CONTACT
Eric W. Hughes
Bershad Director of Communications
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
(973) 233-5724
Email: ehughes@vljnj.org
Newark, NJ – As economic challenges continue to strain families across New Jersey, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) remains committed to aiding residents facing significant financial challenges. Thanks to a recent grant award of $12,500 from the American College of Bankruptcy Foundation (Foundation), VLJ’s Debt Relief Legal Program (DRLP) will continue providing critical legal assistance to New Jerseyans experiencing poverty who are struggling with consumer debt issues, such as bankruptcy, medical bills, and lawsuits from creditors.
The Foundation’s financial support reflects its mission of advancing justice through charitable activities focused on bankruptcy and insolvency. Year after year, the Foundation continues to fund organizations across the country that provide relief and stability for financially vulnerable populations. This year, the Foundation awarded a total of $598,550 in pro bono grants, demonstrating its dedication to supporting civil legal services organizations nationwide.
Many individuals who come to VLJ are overwhelmed by medical and/or other forms of debt, are enduring harassment from debt collectors, or are sometimes being sued for a debt that is not even theirs. Whether a client has one or two debts, or is overwhelmed with significant debt and considering bankruptcy, VLJ and its volunteer attorneys employ innovative strategies to address the financial issues faced by each client.
VLJ’ s DRLP includes recruiting and training volunteer attorneys, undertaking an invaluable service by increasing the number of attorneys who can provide legal services intended to bring financial relief for VLJ clients. In addition to providing hands-on training and mentoring for volunteers, VLJ’s DRLP staff engage in advocacy efforts to dismantle systemic barriers faced by our clients in their pursuit of stability. Through this encompassing approach, VLJ works to alleviate the financial burden for individuals and families, contributing to stronger, more resilient communities across New Jersey. The DRLP’s efforts to help families experiencing significant financial challenges move toward financial freedom are more important than ever, particularly at a time when more than 40% of American households are relying on credit cards to pay their bills and afford basic necessities.
Cathy Keenan, VLJ’s Executive Director, offered, “The American College of Bankruptcy and the American College of Bankruptcy Foundation’s commitment to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s Debt Relief Legal Program makes a profound difference in the lives of our clients and the volunteers who dedicate their time and talent. In an era marked by increasingly high living costs and aggressive debt collection practices, quality, free civil legal services are essential to ensure everyone has a fair chance at economic stability and security. We are incredibly grateful to the College and the Foundation for their continued belief in our mission to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty, furthering the understanding that justice should be decided on the merits and not one’s ability to afford it.”
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About the American College of Bankruptcy Foundation (ACBF)
The American College of Bankruptcy Foundation was established to promote the ends of justice through educational and charitable activities consistent with the goals of the American College of Bankruptcy. Its missions, focused in the areas of bankruptcy and insolvency, are: sponsorship and encouragement of legal research, publications and forums; establishment of scholarships and grant awards; providing for the collection and maintenance of data and documents for scholarly research; fostering the institution and maintenance of legal aid services for the indigent; and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within the organization and across the insolvency profession. For more, please visit www.americancollegeofbankruptcy.com/foundation.
About Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ)
VLJ is an award-winning, comprehensive nonprofit legal services program based in Newark, NJ, with a statewide reach. VLJ's mission is to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. The Newark-based organization ensures fair access to the legal system through partnerships with corporations and hundreds of volunteer attorneys. In 2023, VLJ’s work impacted over 4,200 people—including 1,644 children—and its volunteer attorneys donated nearly $2 million in free legal services.