MISSION The Boston Bar Foundation (BBF) is the charitable affiliate of the Boston Bar Association (BBA) and is a reflection of the Boston legal community’s proud tradition and history of public service and civic involvement. Through the generosity and support of the Greater Boston legal and business communities, the BBF funds the following initiatives: Access to Justice: In 2007, the BBF awarded close to $2 million in grants to fund 60 diverse community organizations that provide crucial legal services to tens of thousands of low-income individuals & families in the Greater Boston area. In civil matters, there is no constitutionally-mandated access to legal assistance, so the indigent, working poor and elderly who lack financial means to hire a lawyer have only legal aid organizations to turn to for representation. Already, those organizations are forced to turn away 3 out of 5 eligible clients due to limited resources. The BBF Grants Committee is knowledgeable, experienced and uniquely positioned within the Boston legal community to determine funding priorities and provide grants to the most effective and efficient legal service programs in Greater Boston. Public Service Initiatives: The BBF fully funds the BBA's Public Service Programs. From volunteering with low-income taxpayers to providing pro bono legal and mediation services, this initiative connects thousands of lawyers each year to community service activities throughout Greater Boston. One of the best known examples of the many community service programs funded by the BBF is the BBA's Children & Youth Outreach Project. This initiative links Boston students of all ages with lawyers and judges who are dedicated to helping them learn and achieve through mentoring, tutoring and employment programs. Law-Related Community Education: The BBF funds projects that provide materials and resources that guide people through the judicial process and educate citizens about their legal rights in various areas of law (e.g., housing, employment, pensions, domestic violence, etc.). The BBF also hosts a series of Community Issues Forums each season, which focus on subjects of interest to members of the Greater Boston community. Past topics include Housing & Homelessness, Voting Rights, and the Legislative Year to Come. For more information about these programs please contact BBF Executive Director Richard M. Page, Jr. at (617) 778-1916 or rpage@bostonbar.org. Efficiency in the Administration of Justice: The BBF funds programs that help make our judicial system more efficient and accessible to all. These include: mediation and other ADR programs that encourage settlement and reduce court backlog; pamphlets that guide pro se litigants through court proceedings; and courtroom interpretation services for non-English speakers and the hearing-impaired. For more information about the Boston Bar Foundation, its mission, or programs and events, please contact BBF Executive Director Richard M. Page, Jr. at (617) 778-1916 or rpage@bostonbar.org.