The Morrison & Foerster Foundation Celebrates 30th Anniversary With $1.6 Million in Special Grants to Youth Charities

One of the oldest law firm-affiliated charitable foundations in the United States, the Foundation was established in 1986 to support charitable organizations serving the communities in which the lawyers and staff of Morrison & Foerster live and work

10/13/2016

Jamie A. Levitt

Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO (October 13, 2016) – The Morrison & Foerster Foundation, one of the oldest law firm charitable foundations, today announced the largest set of grants in its history to mark its 30th anniversary. The Morrison & Foerster Foundation created a special $1.3 million grants program for nonprofit organizations focused on innovative solutions to assist disadvantaged youth. The Foundation will also donate nearly $300,000 to nine other nonprofit organizations serving youth. These 30th anniversary grants are aimed at launching projects to help disadvantaged children or at-risk youth in regions where the firm has offices.

“One of the hallmarks of Morrison & Foerster is our lasting commitment to purposeful giving,” said partner Jamie Levitt, co-chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Trial Group who also chairs the Foundation. “We are proud to celebrate the 30^th anniversary milestone for the firm and Foundation by supporting organizations that work tirelessly on innovative solutions to help youth in need and create a more just society. The recipients of our anniversary grants were all nominated by lawyers and staff throughout our firm, which speaks volumes about the people and culture of Morrison & Foerster.”

Over the last 30 years, the Foundation has awarded close to $48 million to nonprofit organizations, primarily at the local level, with $3.6 million donated in 2015 alone. The 30th anniversary special project grants represent the Foundation’s fourth set of special grants, made in addition to the Foundation’s annual giving, following similar $1 million programs in 2003 and 2006 and a $1.5 million program to celebrate the Foundation’s 25th anniversary. The Foundation’s special project grants have made a significant difference in the lives of many disadvantaged youth.

This year The Morrison & Foerster Foundation will award anniversary grants totaling $1.345 million to the following organizations:

• $240,000 to GlobalGiving for Lighthouse: Center for Human Trafficking Victims in Tokyo, Japan to expand Lighthouse’s anti-trafficking resources to new geographic regions and to use technology to reach more targets and victims of human trafficking in Japan.
• $225,000 to Voices for Children in San Diego, CA to implement VFC’s Case Liaison Program in San Diego County, designed to triage child abuse cases in court in real time and match trained Court Appointed Special Advocates to foster children as quickly as possible after they become dependents of the court.
• $225,000 to You Gotta Believe – The Older Child Adoption & Permanency Movement in in New York, NY to help launch its “This Is For Real Program,” designed to provide long-term post-placement support for older foster youth and their adoptive families to help them navigate the difficult transition for youth who have faced long histories of trauma, in order to help the new families endure and thrive.
• $225,000 to YWCA Silicon Valley in San Jose, CA to help launch the YWCA’s Arise Program, a mobile counseling and therapy unit serving children and youth in Santa Clara County who have been affected by complex trauma.
• $215,000 to Constitutional Rights Foundation in Los Angeles, CA to help launch “Cops & Kids: Working Together for Peace on the Streets,” a program designed to nurture safe communities in Los Angeles by creating an opportunity for youth, police officers, teachers, and parents to explore together the roles that police and citizens play in public safety.
• $215,000 to Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs in Washington, D.C. to help launch the Committee’s Parent Engagement and Academic Enrichment Program, intended to increase the level of parental involvement in the education of public school children in disadvantaged communities in Washington, D.C.

In addition, the Foundation will give nine grants in honor of its 30th Anniversary to the following nonprofit organizations:

• Bridge the Gap College Prep – Sausalito, CA ($50,000)
• Britepaths – Fairfax, VA ($30,000)
• Children’s Museum of the Arts – New York, NY ($30,000)
• Community Alliance for Special Education – San Francisco, CA ($30,000)
• Foster & Adoptive Parent Advocacy Center – Washington, D.C. ($30,000)
• Mother’s Choice USA for Mother’s Choice – Montrose, CO ($30,000); services will be provided to sister charity in Hong Kong.
• Ravenswood Education Foundation – Menlo Park, CA ($30,000)
• Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center – Denver, CO ($30,000)
• Volunteers of America: Camp POSTCARD (Peace Officers Striving to Create and Reinforce Dreams) – Denver, CO ($25,000)

About the Morrison & Foerster Foundation

The Foundation is funded by Morrison & Foerster partners, with additional contributions from firm staff and other supporters. The Foundation is dedicated to giving back to the communities in which Morrison & Foerster LLP has offices. One of the oldest law firm-affiliated charitable foundations in the United States, the Foundation has been serving others through community-focused financial support for 30 years. This lasting commitment to purposeful giving is one of the hallmarks of Morrison & Foerster.