Bar Foundation's Grants in Action

The Fayette County Bar Foundation’s mission is to raise and contribute monies to local organizations or projects which offer legal representation to the indigent; provide needed education to area residents on the legal system; or which otherwise elevates the reputation of lawyers in our community.  Since its formation in 2006, the Fayette County Bar Foundation has given a total of $229,230 in grants to worthwhile organizations like Fayette County Pro Bono; Legal Aid of the Bluegrass (for its Domestic Violence Advocacy program); Maxwell Street Legal Clinic (legal representation of the local immigrant community);   Children’s Law Center/Institute for Compassionate Justice (for representation of children); Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), and the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship.  It has helped the local John Rowe Chapter of the National Bar Association deliver breakfast to children at Winburn Elementary during CATS testing.  It has supported local bankruptcy lawyers providing financial literacy to area high school seniors through the CARE program.  It aided law enforcement and social workers to come together for educational seminars on human trafficking. 

Below are pictures from the Grandparents as Parents conference which is held annually and which has received several grants from the Foundation.  This conference provides much needed education from family law attorneys and social workers for grandparents acting as primary caregivers to children.   

Also pictured is one of this year’s grant recipients, the Kids Court during Civics Week at the Lexington Children’s Museum.  During Civic Week lawyers spoke to the kids about the three branches of government, and the children elect one of their peers to represent them in naming a new school.  The representatives make their case to the public and a vote is taken.  The children thus learn first-hand about representative democracy.  They also learn to advocate for one side in a courtroom dispute in Kids Court, using Humpty Dumpty, Cruella Deville or Buzz v. Woody from Toy Story.  Parents and children interact together on these cases, and as pictured there is a bench for the judge, two attorney stands, a witness stand and a jury box. 

 We need your help to continue the Fayette County Bar Foundations’ mission and good works. Please join us as an individual Fellow (a contribution of $1000 which can be made over time as shown below), a Sustaining Fellow (for any current Fellow, you can continue to help the Foundation by contributing $100 a year); or as Sustaining Firm (which depending on the size of the firm, may become a sustaining firm for between $1000-2500).   Below is a pledge form which lists the giving levels.  Any and all contributions may be made payable to the Fayette County Bar Foundation and sent to the Fayette County Bar Association.  

Kid's Court

Grandparents as Parents Conference

Welcome to our new website!

The Fayette County Bar Foundation welcomes you to our new website.  In addition to keeping you updated with the latest Bar Foundation news, this site provides details on the Foundation's mission, grant policies & application process, financials, and the Foundation's board members & supporting firms.

The site also allows for online grant applications and online donations.

Thank you for visiting, and we hope you enjoy the site!

Fayette County Bar Foundation Announces 2014 Officers

The following have been elected to serve as officers of the Fayette County Bar Foundation Board of Directors effective January 1, 2014.

Timothy C. Wills          President and Chair

Mindy Barfield             Vice-President & President-Elect

Wade Lawson               Treasurer

Lori Shelburne             Secretary

Officers will be responsible for promoting the Foundation by raising and distributing funds by sponsoring grant applications submitted by charitable groups and by participating in the projects it funds.

Fayette County Bar Foundation Awards $32,000 in Grant Funds to Seven Organizations/Projects

On Tuesday, November 19th the Fayette County Bar Foundation awarded $32,000 in grant funds to seven (7) organizations/projects. With this year’s grants, the Fayette County Bar Foundation has awarded grants totaling over $170,000 in the seven years since its inception.

Below is a complete listing of the grant recipients and amounts awarded for 2013-2014.

Fayette County Bar Association Law Camp ($10,000): The FCBA is planning a “Law Camp” in June 2014 for 32 highly qualified rising seniors from Fayette County schools. The participants will be chosen by a committee who will consider grades, essays and recommendations. Scholarships will be available for those with financial need. The camp will be a 7 day, 6 night residential program at UK with tuition of $150 each. They will participate in all-day programs located at the Law School which will include lessons on the judicial system and trial practice and procedure. There will be guest speakers (judges, lawyers) and the students will participate in a mock trial held on the last day.

Legal Aid of the Bluegrass/DV Project ($6,000): Now in its 4th year, LABG sponsors a Domestic Violence project where local volunteer attorneys represent applicants for Domestic Violence Orders during their hearings. LABG does the administrative work, vetting the candidates and providing a client file for the volunteer lawyers with every assignment. The monies will defray the costs of LABG personnel to manage the DV project.

Maxwell Street Legal Clinic ($6,000): Over the past year, the Clinic has assisted immigrant youth eligible under a new category known as “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” (DACA). Under DACA, youth brought to the US at a young age without legal status – and qualified based on age, school participation or honorable discharge from the military – may be granted two years residence here with deportation withheld and with eligibility for a work permit. The grant monies will go for ongoing operations.

CASA of Lexington, Inc. ($5,000): Unlike a guardian ad litem appointed by the Court, a CASA volunteer works with 1-2 children/families at a time. Statistics show that children with a CASA volunteer spend less time in foster care, experience fewer out of home placements and do better in school. CASA was able to assist 143 children last year who had been abused and/or neglected. Funds will allow CASA to hire a volunteer manager to recruit more volunteers and help with logistics.

Access to Justice-CAT ($2,000): Child Advocacy Today or CAT is staffed by one full-time attorney who provides legal representation to patients at UK Children’s Hospital and their parents. The grant money will help defray the cost of law students assisting the CAT attorney.

Grandparents as Parents Conference ($2,000): The grant money will assist with the cost of the annual Grandparents as Parents Conference which provides training and legal education for those who are or seek to be the primary custodians for grandchildren. Carnegie Center – LARK ($1,000): This program highlights the volunteerism of the local bar, with lawyers volunteering time to read to children at downtown elementary schools such as Booker T. Washington Elementary. The grant money is to be used to purchase the books used in the program.