York County Bar Foundation Impact and Lenz Fund Grant

Impact Grants Program:

The York County Bar Foundation (YCBF) funds interested organizations for innovative law-related programs/projects which serve the York County community by:

• Increasing access to justice for all people, particularly those struggling with poverty and abuse;
• Improve the administration of justice;
• Promote public understanding of and respect for the law;
• Encourage careers and diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession;
• Improve the quality of life for York Countians through support for law-related community initiatives.

YCBF is interested in proposals for early-stage programs/projects with the potential for real impact or proposals which seek to improve the effectiveness of existing programs/projects. Focus on legal and justice programs which positively impact Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Preference will be given to organizations committed to DEI.

In special cases, consideration may be given to community quality of life initiatives of particular interest to the Bar and operating support for start-up costs for new programs provided the program meets the grant criteria. YCBF will not consider proposals for annual operating expenses.

Henry Lenz Memorial Fund Grants Program: 

The York County Bar Foundation (YCBF) is funds proposals from interested organizations for innovative law-related programs/projects which serve to improve the circumstances of children who become subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system of York County. YCBF is interested in proposals for early stage programs/projects with the potential for real impact or proposals which seek to improve the effectiveness of existing programs/projects proposals dealing with juveniles or juvenile delinquency.  Such programs may include but are not limited to:

• The provision of items of social and cultural benefit beyond the necessaries required to be supplied by the County for children under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court of the York County Court of Common Pleas
• Provide for special needs of children of York County who are under commitment by the Juvenile Court of the York County Court of Common Pleas for treatment, supervision, or rehabilitation that would not be the responsibility of the County and are beyond the ability of the parent or other person responsible for the child’s maintenance to provide;
• Support for children who have demonstrated desire and reasonable ability for education beyond high school.
  
  

NOTE: “Children” shall include all children who have been or shall be referred to the Juvenile Probation Office or York County Children and Families having been found delinquent, neglected or dependent children, until they be discharged from the jurisdiction of the Court, or shall no longer be subject thereto by reason of having attained the age of 21 years, whichever is earlier. In special cases, consideration may be given to community quality of life initiatives of particular interest to the Bar and operating support for start-up costs for new programs provided the program meets the grant criteria. YCBF will not consider proposals for annual operating expenses.

What is the process to apply for funding? Proposals may be submitted for early consideration at any time through June 21, 2024. For consideration in 2024, the deadline is 12:00 Noon on Friday, June 21, 2024 at York County Bar Foundation, 137 East Market Street, York PA 17401 or by e-mail to victoria.connor@yorkbar.com. The YCBF may also invite additional submissions throughout the year.

Following review of proposals by the YCBF Lenz Fund Advisory and Grants Committees, those submitting proposals will be notified by August 2 of our decision to invite full grant applications. Full grant applications are due no later than August 30.

How much funding is available? YCBF anticipates that up to approximately $69,000 will be available for programs/projects not otherwise receiving YCBF funding. Selected grants will be funded from the total allotment available.

Proposals (no more than 2 pages) should include:

• A summary of the program / project and how it addresses YCBF's funding interests
• Program / project leadership and partners
• Estimated cost and other funders
• How the program / project will be sustained after initial funding

Questions? Contact Victoria Connor, CEO, York County Bar Foundation, at 717.854.8755 (ext. 206) or Victoria.Connor@yorkbar.com.

Impact Grants, Legal Aid and Scholarships – 2023

The Bar Foundation’s commitment to supporting law-related investments throughout the community resulted in over $324,292 in funding for the following purposes:

Impact Grants: $53,928

Better York c/o LogosWorks Partners (YorkSafeNet Camera Study)...................$5,000

County of York Human Services (Mental Health Equity Summit).........................$2,500

Do Moore Good (PARDON ME film screenings) .................................................$7,000

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (Dr. David Fyfe, Facilitator) ...................$1,161

Rainbow Rose Center (Capacity Building)..........................................................$5,000

The Resource for Great Programs (Economic Impact Study Update) ..................$13,267
Tenfold York (Eviction Prevention) .....................................................................$20,000

Community Program Support Grants: $142,263

MidPenn Legal Services (Family Law Attorney) ................................................. $65,000

MidPenn Legal Services (Pro Bono Intake Support) ...........................................$27,500

Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center
(Management & Fund Development Support) .....................................................$39,000

Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center
(Temporary Protected Status Clinics)................................................................ $10,763

Henry Lenz Memorial Fund: $19,600 

County of York (Support for Juveniles in the Court System & their Families)...... $16,600

Children's Home of York (Life-skills program curriculum for at-risk Youth)...........$3,000

Impact Grants, Legal Aid and Scholarships – 2023

The Bar Foundation’s commitment to supporting law-related investments throughout the community resulted in over $324,292 in funding for the following purposes:

Impact Grants ($53,928): Better York c/o its fiscal agent LogosWorks Partners received $5,000 for its management of the YorkSafeNet feasibility study regarding a possible public security camera system in York City. $2,500 was provided to the County of York Department of Human Services for support of the Mental Health Equity Summit initiative fostering education and conversation to address the mental health needs of our multicultural communities. Do Moore Good, the charity founded by filmmaker Shuja Moore, received $7,000 to advance the important and impactful work of the PARDON ME film screenings and panel discussions throughout the Commonwealth. In support of the Bar’s work related to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Dr. David Fyfe, facilitator and trainer, received $1,161 for the IDI® Assessment of Bar members and staff to advance cultural competency skills. The Rainbow Rose Center received $5,000 to help build its capacity to assist members of the LGBTQ+ community with legal needs related to name changes. The Resource for Great Programs was granted $13,267 for phase one in updating the YCBF’s 2012 study to quantify the economic impact of the investment in civil legal aid in York County. $20,000 was granted to Tenfold York for a program to provide legal representation to eligible low-income people facing eviction.

Henry Lenz Memorial Fund ($19,600) is a charitable fund whose principal and income are to be used for charitable purposes involving dependent and delinquent juveniles.

The County of York received $16,600 from the Henry Lenz Memorial Fund for the provision of support for juveniles in the court system and their families. Funds were used to offset the costs of travel, clothing, education, and enrichment activities for 33 individuals. The Children’s Home of York received $3,000 for life skills curriculum to support at-risk youth.

Legal aid and ongoing interests ($230,339):

MidPenn Legal Services received the lion’s share of the available assistance, with grants and alternative pro bono service funding in the amount of $92,500; to support pro bono services and to preserve their critically needed family-law attorney position in the York office.

PIRC also received $49,763 to retain staff and support its operations in providing free legal services to indigent, vulnerable immigrants in the York community including two clinics to assist York’s Haitian community with the provision of temporary protected status documents in partnership with the New American Welcome Center. PIRC’s work includes direct representation in York County of immigrant victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and for partial support for its office manager position to coordinate activities that meet the growing education and direct services needs of immigrants/immigrant families, and leverage PIRC’s legal staff, programs, community partnerships, and experience to grow and reach additional immigrants who would otherwise go unserved.

$84,076 supported YCBF’s efforts related to the delivery of Pro Bono and Legal Services to the York County community. With this funding, the Pardon Project of York County provided expungement/pardon clinics were held along with free CLE trainings, PFA “service days,” and participation in other free to the public community information events.

Leave A Legacy® York County, a program of the York County Bar Foundation, received $4,000 to promote charitable and legacy giving in York County.

Scholarships and special awards $20,425:

The Clarence “Chuck” N. Patterson Diversity Internship for the Summer of 2023 was awarded for a position at the Public Defender’s Office to Ariel Aleman and Bryan Eras at the District Attorney’s Office. Ariel is a 1L student and Bryan is a 2L at Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg.

The Richard Noll Scholarship Committee awarded two $1,200 scholarships to “deserving, needy law student(s) from the greater York area.” The recipients were Caleb Lingenfelter of the University of Pittsburgh School and Law and Lillian Dittler of the University of Baltimore School of Law.

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank received $500 as a Law Day honorarium on behalf of Judge Jennifer Wilson Philpott. $500 supported Union Lutheran Church’s Community Resource Fair at which the Bar had an information table. The YCBF’s T. Frederick Feldmann Fund for Ethics and Professionalism granted $1,000 to the Herbert B. Cohen American Inn of Court for program support. $100 was provided to the York County Community Foundation in memory of Tim Kinsley’s commitment to workforce development and second chance employment. The York County History Center received $2,500 for the 2023 Articles of Confederation Day celebration at which an all-female cast of eighteen legal professionals from the York County Bar Association performed The Distaff Side play in commemoration of the 246th anniversary. The York Opioid Collaborative received $265 to support its work from the proceeds of the Doctor vs. Lawyers Pickleball Tournament Proceeds.