DTE Energy has donated a $15,000 gift to the State Bar of Michigan Access to Justice (ATJ) Fund. DTE Energy's Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Bruce D. Peterson, who is a member of the ATJ Southeast Michigan Corporate Committee, said this is the second year that he had directed such a contribution. The ATJ Fund supports non-profit programs that deliver civil legal services to the poor.

"I am proud to be part of a corporate community that is sensitive to the unmet legal needs of the poor" Peterson said, "Adequate financial support for civil legal aid is a legacy that we can give to our communities, because the availability of peaceful resolutions to conflicts will help people and neighborhoods prosper."

The DTE Energy gift has been designated to support the operations of both Elder Law of Michigan and Community Legal Resources.

To be eligible as a 2005 charitable contribution, gifts must be received by the Michigan State Bar Foundation or postmarked by December 31st. For more information about the ATJ Fund and the programs it supports, please visit www.atjfund.org or contact Lesa Smith at 1-800-968-1442.