State Bar volunteer leaders Edmund M. Brady, Jr. and John Tully co-chaired the first meeting of the Access to Justice Statewide Campaign Committee in Lansing on Tuesday, March 21, 2000. The Statewide Campaign Committee will kickoff the next phase of the Bar's historic initiative to coordinate statewide fundraising for legal aid programs that provide free legal services to low-income people with civil legal needs in Michigan.

Candace Crowley, State Bar Assistant Executive Director-Fundraising-Access to Justice, outlines the State Bar's Development Campaign during the Committee's March 21 meeting.

"We are really excited to take this effort to the next level" said Brady, a past president of the State Bar of Michigan and partner in the Detroit-based firm of Plunkett & Cooney, P.C. "The State Bar's recognition of the chronic funding problems of legal aid programs has caused it to lend unprecedented support to this problem. We've worked hard to get an endowment fund established and to get a successful, statewide fundraising strategy in place. We've got great regional leaders and we are excited to spread the message and get everyone on board."

Brady, who was appointed along with Tully as Campaign co-chair by the State Bar's Access to Justice Task Force Chairperson Reginald M. Turner, also serves as a Trustee with the Michigan State Bar Foundation, which receives and distributes all gifts to the Access to Justice Fund.

Campaign Committee Chairperson Reginald M. Turner and Campaign Co-Chairs John Tully and Edmund M. Brady, Jr. lead a discussion on the Access to Justice statewide campaign.

"This is a great opportunity for lawyers to let the public know that we really are committed to the public good," said Tully.

Tully is managing partner of the Grand Rapids firm of Warner, Norcross and Judd. He has been a longstanding leader in support of legal aid. For years, one hundred percent of his firm's lawyers have contributed the $300 voluntary standard to its local legal aid program. Last year, the firm agreed to send the contributions through the ATJ Fund.

"We want lawyers to follow the Representative Assembly's Voluntary Standard and support this every year, but to get this endowment going, and to get the public to follow us, we need major gifts," Tully said. He urges all lawyers in Michigan to support civil legal aid by contributing through the ATJ Fund. "Coordinated fundraising for this mission makes the most sense. We can get a strong message out, and we can help donors support multiple causes with one gift. Best of all, the centralized approach allows legal aid lawyers to concentrate on doing what they do best-providing legal services to the poor."

Tully notes that most pro bono work by private lawyers in Michigan is coordinated through the legal aid programs. ATJ Funds support that part of the work as well.

Both Brady and Tully have worked with Turner to recruit leaders for the local campaign that will occur throughout the state. The local campaign leaders will work on the 21st to learn of the Campaign's progress to date, review the major gift strategy and prepare to spread the Access to Justice Case for Support throughout the entire state.

"Our goal is to raise $2 million by the end of the year and then take the Campaign to the public," said Brady. "I know the lawyers in Michigan will get us there."

(Left to right): Attorney Edward Stein; State Bar President Alfred M. Butzbaugh; and State Bar Associate Executive Director-Access to Justice, Mary Ann Sarosi participate in the Access to Justice Statewide Campaign Committee meeting.