Last month the Idaho Law Foundation sent out our annual postcard to our members. On the front is a quote from Tim Cook that says, “Let your joy be in the journey.” At the Law Foundation, we have indeed had a good journey in 2017 and are excited about the year to come.

In the last year, over 500 of you have donated to the Law Foundation and our programs. Our Access to Justice Fund raised $193,000, the most money we have ever raised for this fund. Thanks to your kindness, Idaho Volunteer Lawyers and the other legal service organizations supported through this initiative are positioned to start 2018 in a stronger financial position.

Additionally, Law Related Education was able to double their 2017 fundraising goal, we are getting closer to the meeting our initial Endowment fundraising goal, and the Foundation launched a fundraiser at our Annual Meeting in July that brought in some new donors. And of course, we are nearing our Licensing Campaign goal for the year (if you haven’t had an opportunity to donate, there’s still time before the end of the year; contact Carey Shoufler for more information). The Law Foundation relies on the generosity of Idaho attorneys to keep us moving forward and I am grateful for the continued support.

As the President of the Law Foundation, I get to see first-hand the care that the staff takes to utilize the funds Idaho attorneys entrust to us. As we move into 2018, there’s so much more we plan to undertake. Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program expects to increase the number of clients served through recruiting attorneys to provide more limited representation and help more attorneys utilize the Pro Bono Opportunities Website to more easily access pro bono cases.

Law Related Education will focus on growing mock trial in more rural, underserved parts of the state and will distribute the new Kids & the Law publication to parents of Idaho teens. We are so excited about what these projects can do for Idaho’s citizens, and we remain mindful that it’s your support that allows us to have these opportunities to serve the public.

Thank you to the legal profession for being part of our journey. May 2018 be filled with joy for you and your loved ones.