The Oklahoma Bar Foundation Board of Trustees approved funding recommendations from the 2015 Grant Awards Committee in the total amount of $310,266 on August 20. The total from the 2015 Grant Awards pushed the OBF just north of the $12 Million Grant Award mark since the founding in 1946.
“We have a lot to celebrate,” says Trustee President Jack L. Brown. “This year we have passed the $12 Million mark in grant funding and scholarships, and we have put a solid fund development plan in place to create sustainable funding for future grant programs. The Foundation is dedicated to the grantee organizations we fund because of the important law-related work they do in communities throughout our State.”
“Current OBF grantees, through their programs, help meet the legal needs of Oklahomans throughout our State. What if this help wasn’t possible for the people these agencies serve? It would leave many children, families, seniors and veterans in unsafe circumstances,” says Grants & Awards Chair Millie Otey.
2015 Grant Awards
The Foundation is focused on fund development efforts more than ever due to the continued record low interest rates. The Foundation will be asking the legal community for support this fall and in years to come to ensure these programs stay in place to help those in need. The Foundation announced funding for the following law-related charities:
2015 Grant Awards – Center for Children & Families in Cleveland County – Divorce Visitation Arbitration Program
Community Crisis Center in Ottawa County – court advocate funding
Domestic Violence Intervention Services of Tulsa – court advocate funding
Family & Children’s Services in Tulsa County – Tulsa Family Court Program
Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma – Statewide
Civil legal services for low-income and senior Oklahomans
Low-Income Taxpayer Legal Clinic (OILS), Statewide – support with legal tax issues for low-income individuals
Marie Detty Youth & Family Services in Comanche County – court advocate assisting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault
Oklahoma High School Mock Trial Program, Statewide – Oklahoma Bar Associations law-related education program for high school students
Oklahoma City University School of Law, American Indian Wills Clinic, Statewide – law student educational outreach Legal Clinic to solve complicated land trust issues
Oklahoma Lawyers for Children in Oklahoma County – pro bono legal services for abused, neglected and deprived children
Teen Court in Comanche County – Teen Court of peers & educational outreach for first time juvenile offenders
Tulsa Lawyers for Children in Tulsa County – pro bono legal services for abused, neglected and deprived children
University of Tulsa, Boesche Legal Clinic, Statewide – law student educational
Legal Clinic to help resolve immigrant legal issues
William W. Barnes Children’s Advocacy Center in Rogers, Mayes & Craig Counties – child abuse recognition and prevention training
YMCA Youth in Government, Statewide – Youth Model Legislative Day and National Judicial Competition at ABA in Chicago
Youth Services of Tulsa in Tulsa County – Youth Court of peers for first time juvenile offenders
