The impact of saying. yes. Case for Support

Transcription

1 The impact of saying yes Case for Support

2 Dear Friends, The downturn of the economy has drastically reshaped the landscape of legal services agencies like VIP. There have been funding cuts across the board, resulting in staffing reductions and general cutbacks. VIP s goal, with your help, is to not only maintain the important work we are doing in spite of these financial setbacks, but to expand our services, doubling the number of clients we serve by Our clients have critical legal problems that threaten their basic human needs. These issues cannot meaningfully be addressed without the assistance of an attorney. VIP matches clients with volunteer attorneys to help maintain income, stabilize families, prevent homelessness and support community economic development. To meet the needs of our ever increasing clientele, VIP needs to recruit more volunteers, a time intensive process perfected by the hard-working staff at VIP. Your gift to VIP makes a positive, immediate impact on our ability to address the needs of our community through the work of our volunteer attorneys. With your assistance, VIP can say yes to more low-income Philadelphians, helping them break the cycle of poverty or exploitation, overcome obstacles, and navigate complex legal issues. With your help, many lives will change for the better. I encourage you to give to VIP. Whether large or small, a gift helps to rebuild, strengthen, and improve Philadelphia s communities. Sincerely, Matthew D. Lee Board President

3 We are the agency of first choice for legal professionals seeking pro bono opportunities to provide quality legal services to lowincome residents, nonprofit organizations and small businesses. VIP continues to create and implement creative and effective ways of bridging the gap between socially marginalized individuals, families, and communities with legal needs and lawyers possessing the skills and ability to meet those needs. WHO Low-income residents Nonprofit Organizations Small Businesses HOW Volunteers Donations Because of the support we receive from our volunteers, board members, donors and sponsors we are able to continuously enhance the quality of services we provide to clients. By investing in our mission, supporters enable VIP to say YES to more clients to help them break the cycle of poverty or exploitation, overcome obstacles, and navigate complex issues. In-Kind Support Since 1981, Philadelphia VIP has been the hub of pro bono legal services. VIP matches dedicated volunteer attorneys committed to pro bono service with low-income residents with critical legal needs. We are skilled at recruiting, training and supporting volunteers; our metrics show that we provide excellent services and help us continually improve our practices. We partner effectively with bar associations, law firms, other legal services organizations, law schools, businesses and the judiciary to attract the best and brightest volunteers in the region. Our success with volunteers enables us to achieve our ultimate purpose: to leverage the powerful resource of the legal community to provide quality legal services and ensure access to justice for low-income Philadelphians. WHAT Recruit Train Support Leverage Your Opportunity Make a Profound Difference Break the Cycle of Poverty or Exploitation Philadelphia VIP s goal is to increase funding from diverse sources by 15% over the next three years. Your new or increased support of VIP can make a profound difference to individuals, families, communities and, indeed, to the quality of life within the greater Philadelphia region. Take advantage of this opportunity to invest in Philadelphia VIP. VIP can in turn say YES to more clients to help them break the cycle of poverty or exploitation, overcome obstacles, and navigate complex issues.

4 WHERE Philadelphia Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the second largest city on the East Coast of the United States. More than 28% of Philadelphia s citizens fall below the federal poverty line. For most families, this means a daily struggle for employment, family stability and shelter. These individuals and families also are disproportionately involved in the legal system, needing the courts to help secure their basic human needs. Individuals and families who are denied access to justice are at risk for losing their income, connections to their family and their home. Moreover, for the growing number of citizens for whom English is a second language, self-representation is, at best, difficult and frustrating. VIP staff and volunteers ensure that everyone has equal access to justice, regardless of income. This is particularly important in this economy when even more people need our help. A lawyers expertise can help our clients maintain income, stabilize their families, remain in their homes and create economic prosperity in their communities. WHY Priority Areas: Support Family Stability Maintain Income Prevent Homelessness Promote Community Economic Development HOW MUCH $4,000,000 in services to volunteer community Each dollar invested in VIP provides more than $4.00 in legal services to clients. In 2013, Philadelphia VIP s pro bono attorneys and professional staff assisted in civil cases for more than 1,800 individuals and families who could not afford attorneys and whose cases would not have been handled by other public interest organizations. The estimated value of the legal services provided in 2013 is more than $4,000,000. Vision Statement: In 2020, VIP is the expert in volunteer legal services in the Philadelphia region and is a national model. We are the agency of first choice for legal professionals seeking pro bono opportunities to provide quality legal services to lowincome residents, nonprofit organizations and small businesses. Our Vision Year 2020 National Model Agency of First Choice

5 The greatest indications of the impact that VIP s services have on the lives of individual, family and small business/nonprofit clients is VIP s successful track record, the dedication of the volunteer attorneys, and the profound stories of the people seeking help. VIP has recruited and trained thousands of private bar attorneys to provide consistent, high quality representation to low-income clients with critical legal needs. VIP continues to create and implement creative and effective ways of bridging the gap between socially marginalized individuals, families, and communities with legal needs and lawyers possessing the skills and ability to meet those needs. VIP staff and volunteers ensure that everyone has equal access to justice, regardless of income. This is particularly important in this economy when even more people need our help. Our Service High Quality Representation Low-Income Clients Critical Legal Needs Bridging Gaps Ensuring Equal Access Our Volunteers 30,000+ clients served 1,000 volunteers recruited per year Diverse and Powerful Community Lend Expertise Civic Responsibility VIP has served more than 30,000 clients since its inception. Its clients are among the most economically poor in the region, and their ranks are growing. To leverage greater services, VIP effectively recruits and supports more than 1,000 volunteers each year, and has been linking volunteer attorneys to residents, small businesses and nonprofits with critical legal needs since 1981.VIP s volunteers make up a diverse and powerful community of professionals. They come from established large law firms, start-up and boutique firms. They serve as in-house counsel at corporations, as judicial law clerks, and as staff attorneys at government agencies. Some have recently received their law degree and are just embarking on their careers. Others have decades of experience behind them. What unites them is a desire to lend their expertise and time to advocate and problem-solve on behalf of a client in need. VIP leverages the volunteers legal expertise by providing training specific to the needs of VIP clients and fostering their innate sense of civic responsibility. Through VIP, volunteers have access to technical experts on staff, experienced mentors, extensive training materials, free continuing legal education seminars, and ongoing professional development opportunities.

6 A Word from Our Volunteers Philadelphia VIP makes it easy for an attorney with a hectic schedule to find time for pro bono work, and give back to the community. The staff is incredibly efficient in setting up attorneys with clients in need and providing all of the pertinent information, so that the attorney can quickly get started. On top of that, there are numerous tutorials and sample documents to make the process even smoother for the volunteer attorney. Volunteering with Philadelphia VIP has been an excellent way for me to provide access to legal services to those in need, all while balancing a busy schedule. It s a pretty good feeling to be able to help someone, too! - Jill Jenkins, KML Law Group, P.C. For the past 18 years, I have been a proud Philadelphia VIP volunteer attorney. I presently focus my pro bono legal work with VIP on helping indigent Philadelphians to protect what is, in many circumstances, their only asset: their homes. Through actions to quiet title, I undo fraudulent conveyances, enforce lease-purchase agreements and use litigation to satisfy stale mortgages and, otherwise, assist VIP clients to protect their legal and equitable homeownership interests. I consider this work to be not only tremendously rewarding and professionally fulfilling, but also extremely gratifying because, in most circumstances, I get to see our clients reap the benefits of homeownership and to be able to remedy long-standing title issues that otherwise would go unresolved. -Robert Tintner, Fox Rothschild LLP I sincerely enjoy working with Philly VIP; the individuals who work there are experienced, compassionate, and exceedingly helpful. The cases are always interesting and rewarding. Philly VIP is a wonderful organization, without them, the voices of so many people would not be heard. Allowing for the indigent to have access to counsel and legal resources is invaluable. -Maria Testa, Testa & Pagnanelli, LLC

7 Maintaining Family Income Child Support I Employment/Wage Claims l Tax Issues l Disability Philadelphia VIP volunteers work to maintain and increase income for individuals and families struggling to stay above the poverty line. A prime example nearly half of all low-income households spend more than 40% (which is fifteen points above the recommended level) of their earnings on mortgage or rental payments. The slightest shift in their income or in housing expenses is disruptive, affecting every aspect of a family s daily life and future. Jose is a young father from Guatemala on a work visa. He had an oral contract to be paid for six months of work on a housing project. Despite management approvals and a signed inspection report, the employer refused to pay him the entire amount, claiming the work was not done properly. Ensuring that a client receives income they are entitled to, or protecting a client from wrongful termination, are just a few examples of the successful cases that VIP s volunteer attorneys have undertaken. The majority of clients served in this area are the working poor people who, without VIP, face losing not only their income, but also their family and their home. Your new or increased gift will enable more VIP volunteers to protect their client s income, maintain independence, and continue to contribute to society. A VIP attorney helped secure the full amount of his back wages. Jose kept his livelihood and his ability to support his family.

8 Preventing Homelessness Probate l Tangled Title l Consumer Debt l Litigation Defense l Mortgage Foreclosure l Landlord/Tenant l Public Housing Evictions VIP is at the forefront of the housing foreclosure crisis. Hundreds of lowincome homeowners facing foreclosure, financial wreckage and ultimately homelessness receive free housing counseling and an opportunity to negotiate settlements with lenders through our participation in the Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program. VIP is the only organization focused on the ongoing and systemic issue of Tangled Title. VIP s volunteer attorneys have assisted hundreds of clients by successfully clearing legal entanglements in order to prevent loss of shelter. Addressing both crisis and enduring problems, VIP has a direct impact on preserving the integrity of city blocks; preventing homeowners from losing their home through foreclosure and sheriff s sale; maintaining property values by curtailing house abandonment while making it possible for homeowners to maintain insurance; and enabling homeowners to gain access to energy-saving, home repair grant programs. Your new or increased gift will enable VIP to assist more of the 14,000 Philadelphians with Tangled Titles and the hundreds of Philadelphians at risk of foreclosure, helping them to stay in their home and pass on a secure asset to the next generation. Tamara is nearly blind. When she applied for a loan to cover much needed repairs to her home, she unknowingly signed a $7,500 mortgage agreement. The mortgage was bought and sold by several lenders and, due to fees, ballooned to $28,000. With social security disability as her only source of income, Tamara could not pay the mortgage. Her house was scheduled for foreclosure. A VIP attorney helped Tamara completely eliminate the debt. Tamara now owns her home free and clear.

9 Supporting Family Stability School Discipline l Name Change l Immigration Issues I Child Custody l Adoption/Guardianship l Special Education Ninety percent of clients with cases heard in Philadelphia s Family Court have no legal representation. Without professional representation the process often becomes adversarial and combative, destroying the delicate balance that must be maintained for a family to have a successful outcome. By representing clients in complex family law matters, including adoption, guardianship, child custody, divorce, and special education cases, VIP volunteers help ensure that families receive the legal services needed to stabilize their lives. Adele has a 1- year-old grandson. He was abandoned by his mother at a day care center. The court awarded custody of the boy to Adele. She wanted to officially adopt him in order to provide him with a safe future, a permanent home, and the financial security he needed. VIP s Family Law Advisory Council, a group of experienced family law practitioners who are also VIP volunteers, provides guidance and support to volunteer attorneys in family law cases. The Council s members serve as ambassadors to the Family Law Bar and to other attorneys interested in assisting with family law cases. The Council also advances specific initiatives aimed at increasing access to justice for families involved in the domestic relations division of Philadelphia Family Court. Your new or increased gift will support a dedicated staff attorney to recruit, train, and mentor a consistent corps of volunteers to handle the delicate and complex matters of family law. A VIP attorney helped Adele adopt her grandson and give him the stability he deserved.

10 Promoting Community Economic Development Nonprofit Organization l Small Business Assistance Local businesses and nonprofit organizations serve communities in different ways, and both are critical to the fabric of neighborhoods. They provide programs and amenities close at hand and often employ people from the community. From time to time, most nonprofit organizations and small businesses face legal issues that must be addressed in order for them to thrive and sometimes even continue to exist. Many would not be able to afford to pay legal fees without compromising their services to the community. VIP s LawWorks Project matches organizations with volunteer attorneys who are equipped to handle a wide range of legal issues such as incorporation, tax concerns, employment law issues, zoning, and lease and real estate law concerns. LawWorks also offers educational programs that provide organizations with information that helps prevent or resolve legal problems. Your new or increased gift will enable VIP to expand its outreach and legal assistance to nonprofits and small businesses serving low-income communities in order to ensure that this critical sector continues to revitalize our city. Nadia wanted to open a home-based business to support families living with autistic children. She had a strong vision and a training methodology that worked but little knowledge of the business process. She also had only learned to read and write as an adult. A VIP attorney convinced their firm to purchase a software program that could read documents to Nadia. Providing her with more than 100 hours of service, they shepherded her through every step of the business-starting process until she was fully established in a successful business.

11 How to Give Thank you for your interest in supporting VIP's critical work. When you make a gift to VIP, you are helping ensure access to justice for all Philadelphians, regardless of income. There are many ways to support VIP! You can support Philadelphia VIP financially through the method of your choice: By mail: Please send contributions to Philadelphia VIP, c/o Sara Woods, Executive Director, 1500 Walnut Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA By credit card (online): Please visit to donate online via credit card. Through United Way: You can donate to VIP through your United Way workplace campaign. Be sure to use our Donor Choice number to designate your gift to VIP. Our Donor Choice number is Through the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, Raising the Bar Campaign: You can donate to VIP through your firm's Raising the Bar Campaign, coordinated by the Philadelphia Bar Foundation. Please contact Jessica Hilburn-Holmes, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, at (215) or jhilburnholmes@philabar.org. Support VIP through a matching gift: Each year, VIP benefits from matching gift programs, where your employer matches either the entirety or a portion of your gift to VIP. If your company has a matching gifts program, we encourage you to consider requesting a match to maximize your contribution to VIP. Support our annual firm or corporate campaigns: VIP's Annual Firm and Corporate Campaigns offers law firms and corporations the opportunity to invest in VIP's future by providing critical operating dollars to ensure we continue providing the high level of service our clients deserve. Support VIP through Planned Giving: We encourage our supporters to secure VIP's future by planning to leave VIP a gift upon death through bequests, retirement plan beneficiary designations, life insurance gifts or trust arrangements. Other important ways to support VIP o Donate your Arbitration Fees to VIP o Direct Cy Pres Funds to VIP o Make a gift of stock For more information about how to support our work, please visit or contact: Sara Woods, Esq. Executive Director swoods@phillyvip.org

12 1500 Walnut Street, Suite 400 Philadelphia, PA T (215) F (215) United Way Option #7763