Thousands in New Jersey will benefit from grants awarded by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation to nonprofit organizations in support of law-related education programs. When all funded programs are combined, more than 80,000 people across New Jersey will be reached through educational videos, digital resources, brochures, webinars, seminars, direct outreach, pro bono legal support and much more.
The 38 nonprofit organizations that received financial support will reach several underserved populations in New Jersey, including youth, older adults, veterans, immigrants, the differently abled, people with autism, people who are unhoused, victims of domestic violence, the LGBTQ+ community and others.
“The grants support a wide range of projects that help our community and create a tangible, lasting difference on the lives of people our nonprofit partners serve, said Charlie Stoia, president of NJSBF. “This is critical to support our mission of increasing public understanding of law and legal system through education.”
Grant recipients said the funding will advance their missions to help those in need:
Rich Ambrosino, executive director for Shore House – “This funding will be used to launch a legal education program for our more than 330 members who live courageously with persistent mental illness,” Ambrosino said. “Through this program they will learn to effectively advocate for themselves about issues such as employment rights, accessible transportation services, the citizenship process, financial management and tenant representation. Empowering adults living with mental illness is our mission at Shore House and this support will help us tremendously in meeting that mission.”
Caryn Tomljanovich, managing director of development at NJ LEEP – “The grant from the New Jersey State Bar Foundation will help us partner with over 350 students from middle school through college to provide them with the academic and social emotional skills to achieve their greatest academic and career ambitions.”
James Fanous, COO and co-founder of GI Go Fund – “Cosponsorship for our Veterans Legal Victory Project helps us to offer critical pro bono legal aid to veterans across New Jersey,” Fanous said. “With NJSBF’s continued support, we are expanding our outreach and ensuring that veterans, especially those from underserved communities, receive the justice and legal assistance they deserve.”
The Foundation is supporting the following programs in fiscal year 2024-2025:
- Autism New Jersey: Autism and Law Enforcement Project
- Bergen County LGBTQ+Alliance: LGBTQ+ legal rights and protections available to those living and/or working in New Jersey
- CAIR-NJ: Know Your Rights Trainings
- Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen: Immigration Services Program
- Clinton Hill Community Action: Laws Affecting Your Everyday Life
- Comite en Union para Salvadorenos: Education and Outreach on Immigration Laws
Community Health Law Project: Legal Assistance and Education to Promote Housing Stability - Covenant House New Jersey: Atlantic City Youth Advocacy Center
- Crossroads4Hope: Legal Programs Community Outreach Work
Disability Rights New Jersey: Youth in Transition: Navigating NJ Systems with a Goal of Increasing Self-Advocacy and Achieving Competitive, Integrated Employment - Eagleton Institute, Center for Youth Political Participation: RU Ready Civic Engagement Initiative
- Essex County Legal Aid Association: Tackling the Eviction Crisis in Essex County
- Family Promise of Sussex County: Stabilizing Tenancy: Eviction Prevention Program (STEPP)
- GI Go Fund: Veteran Legal Victory Project
- Kids in Need of Defense (KIND): Pro Bono Attorney Engagement in Removal Defense for NJ’s Unaccompanied Immigrant Children
- Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund: Advancing Legal Education with Latina Women and Immigrant Families
- League of Women’s Voters of New Jersey: Voter education materials and “Know Your Voting Rights” webinar
- Legal Aid Society of Monmouth County: Monmouth County Pro Bono Civil Legal Services Program
- Literacy Volunteers of Morris County: Civics, Life Skills and Citizenship Instruction for Adults
- Madison Area YMCA: Youth and Government Program
- Make the Road NJ: Safeguarding Immigrant Tenants and Workers: A Legal Rights Education Project
- Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs: Keeping our Community Informed and Educated
- National Association of Women Judges, NJ Chapter: New Jersey Color of Justice Program
- NJ Appleseed: Know Your Rights: A Consumer Guide to Medical Debt
- NJ Consortium for Immigrant Children: Digital Resource Bank of Immigrant Children and Families in New Jersey
- NJ LEEP: Legal Diversity Pipeline Program
- Oasis — A Haven for Women and Children: From Surviving to Striving
- Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of NJ (PLAN NJ): Communicating the Need for Legal and Estate Planning for the Future Care of People with Developmental or Psychiatric Disabilities
- Pushcart Players: Lift Every Voice: A Letter to the Editor
- Salvation and Social Justice: Restore Workshop Series
- Senior Services Center of the Chathams: Planning is Empowerment Legal Series
- Shore House: Legal education program for adults living with persistent mental illness
- SPAN Parent Advocacy Network: Special Education & Health Rights of Children & Youth with Special Needs Involved in Child Protection & Juvenile Justice Training
Women In Transition: Family Law Series - YMCA Newark and Vicinity: Youth and Government Conference 2025
YWCA Northern New Jersey: Fair Chance in Housing Symposium and Toolkit - YMCA Union County: Legal Education Advocacy Program
The Arc of New Jersey: Equal Justice Talks Webinar Series
NJSBF’s Cosponsorship Program, which began in 1990, is supported with funding from the IOLTA Fund of the Bar of New Jersey. For more about the Foundation’s Cosponsorship Program, visit njsbf.org.
Originally published July 15, 2024
Bar Report of the New Jersey State Bar Association