John Tarkowski (center) was the men's overall winner in a recent "Race for Justice" at Detroit's Belle Isle Park. Race co-chairs John Conway (left) and J. Christian Hauser celebrate with him. The event raised nearly $3,000 to support the State Bar's Access to Justice (ATJ) Fund. Other winners were: Mary Ross, Women's Overall Winner; Daniel Mazljakowich, Men's Runner-Up; and Hope Calati, Women's Runner-Up. Corporate sponsors of the race, which was organized and hosted by the State Bar Young Lawyers Section, included Howard & Howard Attorneys, P.C.; Dickinson Wright PLLC; West Group; Warner Norcross & Judd LLP; Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C.; and United Auto Group, Inc.

The Access to Justice Fund supports 40 civil legal aid programs that handled more than 46,000 cases in 2003 for low-income families across the state. The ATJ Campaign raised nearly $1.3 million in new cash and pledges last year, making 2003 the most successful in its short fundraising history. Overall, more than $4.4 million has been raised in donations, pledges, and planned gifts by the Campaign since its inception in 1998. ATJ donations are received and managed by the Michigan State Bar Foundation, which distributes designated funds and awards grants from undesignated funds to eligible nonprofit programs throughout Michigan.