Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s Endowment Campaign Reaches $500,000 Match Goal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2024
CONTACT
Eric W. Hughes
Bershad Director of Communications
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
(973) 233-5724
ehughes@vljnj.org
Newark, NJ — Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (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, surpassing the match goal.
The campaign was launched with a challenge grant from David Bershad and Mindy Cohen, who pledged to match endowment gifts up to $500,000. David and Mindy have already donated $500,000 toward their pledge. When VLJ exceeded the $500,000 fundraising goal, David and Mindy donated their second $500,000. This means their support will elevate VLJ's endowment to an incredible $1,519,750—an unprecedented milestone in VLJ’s history.
Key highlights of the campaign include:
•36 donors pledged $426,750
•7 donors provided outright gifts totaling $93,000
This successful fundraising effort will have a significant impact on VLJ's ability to sustain and expand its efforts to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. The endowment will provide a stable source of funding, allowing the organization to plan for the future and respond to the evolving needs of its clients.
Cathy Keenan, Executive Director of VLJ, remarked, "We are deeply grateful to our match supporters for enthusiastically answering the call. This endowment is historic and will be instrumental in empowering those who may otherwise be unable to afford legal assistance, reinforcing our efforts to create a just and compassionate New Jersey. Indeed, rarely do smaller organizations receive endowments, let alone of this size, which shows not only the amount of trust David and Mindy place in us, but the incredible team we have here at VLJ doing the work. We have more work to do to continue to grow the endowment, but these initial gifts are a testament to the power of pro bono, collaboration, and justice.”
The Legacy of Justice Endowment Campaign's success demonstrates New Jersey’s strong commitment to ensuring justice is decided on the merits and not one’s ability to afford it.
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.
###
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.