Legal Services of Eastern Missouri - Annual Report 2014

BRIDGING THE JUSTICE GAP www.lsem.org 2014 Annual Report

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri Serving 21 counties in Eastern Missouri

Bridging the Justice Gap

W

e believe the most vulnerable in our society should have a voice when it comes to securing access to education, healthcare, housing, safety and other critical services.

We provide that voice by bridging the justice gap for low-income individuals and the elderly in a 21 county region of eastern Missouri.

From Potosi through metro St. Louis and up to the Iowa border, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM) has been providing low-income and elderly clients with high-quality civil legal assistance since 1956.

LSEM is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Our Mission

L

egal Services of Eastern Missouri(LSEM) is an independent, non-profit organization that provides equal access to justice for low-income

people and the elderly in eastern Missouri.

Page 1 | Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

Bridging the Justice Gap

FOR EASTERN MISSOURI

W

e often hear words of gratitude from

program highlights and statistics. They are

clients of ours at Legal Services

impactful and we are very proud of them.

of Eastern Missouri (LSEM). And

whether you are reading the stories in this

But we are most proud of the simple thanks

Annual Report from Tara, Terrie and Gladys or

that we get, almost every day, from someone

you are hearing it first-hand, as we are lucky

in need whom our outstanding attorneys and

enough to do, it makes you stop to realize the

advocates at LSEM have helped; someone for

importance of our work here at LSEM.

whom we have provided a bridge to a better life.

Inherent in our theme of Bridging the Justice Gap is a divide: a divide of access, of

We are very proud of and appreciate you,

opportunity and of resources to navigate our

our community of supporters, and others who

complicated civil legal system.

come together each year to provide the funds so critical to our work. As you read this year’s

In the past year or so as we have watched

report, know that we are extremely grateful for

events unfold in Ferguson, more and more

you, as well.

people are coming to understand how important equal access to justice is and how

Thank you for joining us in this important

difficult it is to achieve. At LSEM, we fight for

mission, of bridging the justice divide for

equal access in the civil arena around vital

those in need.

services like education, housing, health care, safety and more. It is through important civil legal work and holistic advocacy that we help give our clients the chance to achieve what we all want, a better life for ourselves and our families.

“

I'm just so grateful

It is this critically important work that we do

”

every day at LSEM, in metro St. Louis and throughout all 21 counties of our service area.

Last year, we helped over 16,000 Missourians get the access they needed to essential civil representation and advocacy. You will read

Daniel K. Glazier

Thomas G. Glick

Executive Director & General Counsel

President, Board of Directors

throughout this 2014 Annual Report of our

Annual Report 2014 | Page 2

LSEM is grateful to the many staff and volunteers who

OUR LEADERSHIP LSEM Board of Directors President Vice President Vice-President Treasurer Assistant Treasurer Secretary Assistant Secretary

Thomas G. Glick Maria V. Perron James McConnell Stephen C. Moore Karen R. McCarthy Leonard P. Cervantes Dorothy Rush Jan Robey Alonzo Gary Burger T. Bennett "Ben" Burkemper Ryan R. Cox Jerome J. Dobson William Dodson Matthew C. Hans Agnes Hill Lawrence Kettenbach Shana Lindsey McPherson D. Moore Ashley Nanney Candy O'Connell Brendan Roediger Jennifer L. Schwendemann Vennie E. Sharp Peter Smith Mavis Thompson Richard Trennepohl, Jr. Delores Verner Verneice Walley Thayer L. Weaver, Jr. Barbara Whiting

Page 3 | Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

make our mission possible. Below is a list of our Board of Directors and senior staff who help guide us toward our mission of helping our clients survive and thrive.

LSEM Senior Staff Daniel K. Glazier Gayle Williams Jeanne Philips-Roth Joel Ferber Susan Hauser Teri Chadwick John Early DeAna Rowden

Executive Director & General Counsel Associate Director of Administration Associate Director of Client Services Director of Advocacy Director of Finance Director of Development & Marketing Director of Human Resources Information Technology Manager

Kim Allen Jon Althauser Susan Alverson Lucas Caldwell-McMillan

Managing Attorney, Immigration Law Managing Attorney, Union Office Managing Attorney, Housing Program Director, Medical-Legal Program Connecting Kids to Coverage Managing Attorney, Consumer Program/Assoc. Director of Advocacy for Litigation Managing Attorney, Lasting Solutions Director, Volunteer Lawyers Program Managing Attorney, St. Louis Family Court Program Program Director, Community Economic Development Director, Social Work Managing Attorney, Hannibal Office Lead Attorney, Legal Advocacy for Adults with Mental Illness Managing Attorney, Advocates for Family Health Managing Attorney, Children’s Legal Alliance Managing Attorney, Public Benefits & Disability

Dan Claggett Jason Dodson Jim Guest Kathleen DuBois Laurie Hauber Jennifer Heggemann Jeffrey Miller Pat Mobley Jo Anne Morrow Dan Underwood Karen Warren

2014 HIGHLIGHTS Below are just a few of the organizational highlights from 2014. Every grant awarded means more clients served at LSEM. Every article published, every staff and organizational award means the cause of justice is getting attention in the community – which benefits every client we serve.

L

SEM hosted the Midwest Legal Services

Our Union Office was honored at the Franklin

Immigration Attorney Rebecca Feldmann was

Executive & Financial Directors Meeting

County Domestic Violence Vigil.

appointed Chairperson for the Missouri/Kansas

in October 2014. Attendees included: Jim

chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers

Sandman, Legal Services Corporation President;

Monsanto selected LSEM to receive a special

Don Saunders, NLADA Vice President of Civil Legal

$100,000 two-year grant for case work and

Services; and 28 executive and financial directors

outreach in Ferguson/North County conducted in

Staff Attorneys Karen Warren and Luz María

from throughout the Midwest.

collaboration with other funded partners of the

Henríquez were selected to participate in the

Urban League and North County Inc.

second class of the Shriver Center's Racial Justice

Executive Director Dan Glazier was appointed

Association.

Training Institute.

Midwest Representative on the Civil Policy Group

LSEM was one of six sponsors of the 2nd Annual

of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association

Women’s Champion of Social Change Awards

The St. Louis Mental Health Board awarded a

(NLADA).

Breakfast hosted by the St. Louis Ending Violence

$159,000 grant to LSEM for continued advocacy on

Against Women Network.

behalf of at-risk students in St. Louis City.

chapter of the Federal Practice Manual for Legal

Consumer Law Attorney Rob Swearingen filed and

Missouri Foundation for Health awarded LSEM an

Aid Attorneys, and also published an article in

won a lawsuit for unfair and deceptive practices in

18-month grant of $99,721 to hire a Marketplace

Pedslines, a publication of the Missouri Chapter of

using automatic shut-off devices (stranding cars),

Outreach and Enrollment Specialist for LSEM’s

American Academy of Pediatrics.

that was featured in the National Consumer Law

Marketplace Assistance Program, which helps

Center’s Repossessions Manual, 8th edition.

individuals and families access no- or low-cost

Director of Advocacy Joel Ferber updated a

LSEM was awarded the Spirit of Justice Award by the Saint Louis Bar Foundation.

health insurance through the Missouri Health Union/Lasting Solutions Staff Attorney Holly Yoakum

Insurance Marketplace.

was named a Rising Star Super Lawyer for 2014.

St. Louis County Port Authority Reinvestment Fund awarded a $102,450 grant to LSEM for the expansion of the Community Economic Development Program.

Annual Report 2014 | Page 4

Bridging the Justice Gap

FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE

L

SEM is a respected leader in our communities and across the nation in providing civil legal aid. Nearly 40 staff attorneys have a combined 600+ years of experience. Volunteer attorneys are a critical part of

our service delivery, as well. We consider a case closed successfully when we were able to secure, regain or retain financial or other benefits for our clients. With a 97% success rate for closed cases in 2014, we know we are changing lives.

Poverty is on the rise in Missouri, and so are the numbers of people who need our help. The 2010 census indicated that 16.1% of Missourians lived in poverty, compared to 13.4% in 2000. The numbers are worse for children, with almost 23% of Missouri’s children living below the poverty level. In all, there were almost 300,000 Missourians living in poverty in the 21 county service area of LSEM in 2014.

We are actively engaged in community education and outreach, but limited resources mean we can only help less than half those who request assistance.

17,009 6,264 67,426 Page 5 | Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

requests for help in 2014 eligible cases accepted hours worked on client cases

Bridging the Justice Gap

FOR EDUCATION Despite being

Teachers were having issues with Johné refusing to

the third incident. My question is, why wasn’t I called

diagnosed with

complete her work and being aggressive. “I believe

earlier?”

autism, ADHD and

they were good teachers,” Tara said. “They just weren’t

speech and language impairment, Tara’s daughter Johné (pronounced

T

equipped to deal with a child like Johné in the regular

This time, the school district proposed transferring

classroom.”

Johné back to public high school. That’s when Tara called Legal Services, and Maggie LaMore, again.

LSEM attorney Maggie LaMore was able to advocate on Johné’s behalf and the school district agreed to

“Miss Maggie was just so outstanding. It was like she

JahNAY) completed

pay for a transfer to a therapeutic school that was

was fighting for her own kids. There was no judgment,

her elementary and

experienced in students like Johné who have multiple

no ‘well you screwed up so you deserve to be kicked

middle school grades,

diagnoses. But, it wasn’t a good fit for Johné. “They were

out of school.’ There was just, ‘let’s find a solution that

but high school has

nice people, but they just didn’t have the structure

works for Johné ’,” Tara said. “She always had a plan A,

been another story.

Johné needed,” Tara said. But because Johné had

B, and C.”

already qualified for special services, Tara was able to ara is a devoted mom; pictures of her children adorn the walls: 10th grader Johné and her twin sister Johneisha, and four older siblings. Tara

works fulltime as a Receptionist at a local nonprofit, and spends her free time enjoying being a mom and grandmother. Her apartment is where all the neighborhood kids feel free to drop in.

She’s also not shy about discussing Johné’s challenges.

“I know her behavior sometimes isn’t acceptable,” Tara said. “But these schools have a responsibility to let me know when things aren’t going well. I can’t help discipline her at home if I don’t know there’s a problem at school.”

LSEM first helped Tara and Johné in 2013, when Johné wasn’t doing well in the public high school.

get her transferred to another therapeutic education

Maggie was able to get Johné placed at Great Circle,

program on her own.

formerly Edgewood, in a program that specializes in therapeutic education.

“She did really well at that program,” Tara said. “It was a great program, but unfortunately it closed this year.”

“They’ve just been fantastic with Johné,” Tara said.

Johné had to transfer to yet another therapeutic school.

“It’s ‘we have this issue and here’s how we’re handling

Tara was candid with school administrators.

it’ not ‘come get your daughter’. I can’t tell you what a relief that is. Five schools in two years would be hard

“I told them about the past issues. I asked specifically

for any kid, much less one with Johné’s challenges. I’m

how they’d handle it. They said they had a progressive

just so grateful LSEM and Maggie were there to help.”

discipline system and not to worry about it,” Tara said.

Tara enrolled Johné and hoped for the best. Week one went by with no calls from school. Week two went by, again it seemed there were no issues. “Then one day I get a call telling me to come and pick Johné up, she’s been suspended. When I said it seems harsh to suspend a child for their first offense, they said it was

Annual Report 2014 | Page 6

SERVICES & PROGRAMS Advocating for Our Rights Consumer Law Program

Handles certain debtor/creditor problems, including deceptive and fraudulent sales practices, car repossessions, and predatory lending practices.

Housing Law Program Helps clients avoid homelessness by handling landlord/tenant problems, subsidized or fair housing issues, home ownership and foreclosure matters, and restrictions on occupancy.

Investing in Our Children

Children’s Legal Alliance Program Provides legal and social services support for children with disabilities and homeless children to ensure their educational needs are met.

Medical-Legal Program Works with medical-care and other providers, including schools, to help children with a variety of civil legal issues affecting their health, particularly enrollment of uninsured children in a health insurance program, available free under Medicaid or at low-cost premiums under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Keeping Our Families Healthy & Strong Advocates For Family Health Program

Family Court Program (St. Louis County) Helps reunify families and avoid unnecessary foster care through legal and social service support for parents in child protection cases. Legal advocacy helps prevent any wrongful termination of parental rights.

Protecting Our Vulnerable Elder Law Program

Assists those aged 60+ with a variety of civil legal issues relating to their safety and well-being and other legal problems, including guardianships and simple wills, powers of attorney and healthcare directives.

Immigration Law Program Helps lawfully-present immigrants successfully integrate and stabilize through assistance with family visa petitions, citizenship, and aid to victims of human trafficking/domestic violence.

Legal Advocacy for Adults with Mental Illness (LAAMI) Program Helps persons with serious mental illness, referred by community partners, with a wide variety of civil legal needs to assist with recovery and stability.

Youth and Family Advocacy Program

Helps families with children and pregnant women navigate Medicaid Managed Care programs to receive the care they need.

Seeks to break the cycle of homelessness and instability in the lives of vulnerable youth and families in St. Louis County through legal services and supportive case management.

Public Benefits Program

Strengthening Our Community

Helps disabled, elderly and needy families with Medicaid, TANF, Food Stamps, Missouri Family Support Division benefits and other benefits, including, to more limited degrees, Social Security and Medicare problems.

Preserving Our Families

Lasting Solutions Family Law Program

Page 7 | Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

they seek to permanently end violence in their lives.

Addresses holistically the many issues that affect victims of domestic violence and their children, by strengthening and supporting survivors of abuse as

Community Economic Development Program Provides business legal assistance and education to entrepreneurs who are low-income, as well as to non-profit entities serving low-income populations.

Rural Outreach Program From offices in Union and Hannibal and their surrounding counties, we address a wide range of civil legal issues for rural persons with lowincomes.

Bridging the Justice Gap

TO KEEP A PROMISE Terrie’s son Jack,

and enrolled in a two-year Culinary Management

She worked up the courage to apply for benefits.

a US Marine, once

Program at Le Cordon Bleu. Jack deployed to Iraq

“I remember feeling so low thinking that I even

made her promise

twice during those California years, but when he was

needed to ask for help,” Terrie said. “I come from

stateside it gave this close mom and son treasured

humble beginnings. We worked for everything we

time together. Meanwhile, she was building another

had, and I brought my son up with that same work

successful career, this time as Chef at the Pasadena

ethic.”

that if anything happened to him, she would go on, fearless and

Recovery Center, where Celebrity Rehab was filmed with Dr. Drew Pinsky.

successful. It’s a

She made three separate visits to the benefits office, many more phone calls, and no one was calling her

promise LSEM is

It was at the end of his second tour in Iraq that Jack

back. “I couldn’t believe after everything I’d been

helping her keep.

was killed in a training accident.

through, that I couldn’t get anyone to even call me back” she said. That’s when someone recommended

Devastated, Terrie brought Jack home and buried

she reach out to Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

y the age of 20, Terrie had survived an

him at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. She

(LSEM).

abusive, violent father, a brutal sexual

continued to work as a professional chef, opening

assault, and an unhealthy marriage and

two popular St. Louis restaurants. She joined the

“I kept really good notes.You don’t manage 200

a divorce. Because of physical trauma from the

Gold Star Mothers and started trying to rebuild her

people and not learn how to document. I just turned

assault, she had been told she would never have

life.

it all over LSEM,” she said.

out she was pregnant. “I thought, this could be your

“But everything after I lost my son was just like a

“If everyone just did the right thing by people, we

chance to have your miracle child. And I did. And he

huge tiller. It churned up and brought back all of the

wouldn’t need Legal Services,” Terrie said. “It’s

was.”

trauma I thought I had put behind me.” The stress

horrible that on top of everything else, it felt like

complicated her health issues, which complicated

a three-ring circus to get benefits. But once Legal

She went back to school, graduated at the top of her

her stress; her doctors asked her to consider

Services got involved, I saw progress.” Six weeks

class, and started a successful sales career. When

applying for disability benefits.

later, her application for benefits was approved.

B

children and so she was surprised in 1986 to find

She’s grateful that LSEM was here to help.

Jack was just six years old, she remarried and settled in Kirkwood.

“My doctors told me I needed to rest and focus on my recovery,” she said. “I eventually realized, if I was

“My days are easier now thanks to Legal Services,”

Eventually her second marriage ended. Jack joined

going to keep my promise to Jack, I needed to get

she said. “Eventually I hope to go back to work. But

the Marines, and Terrie moved to Los Angeles to

help.”

for now, every day I wake up, it’s keeping a promise

be nearby. She decided to fulfill a lifelong dream

to my son.”

Annual Report 2014 | Page 8

16,402

10,612

4,435

Family Members

Women

Missourians served

8,494

In 2012,

1,331

Children

5,790

685

client cases closed, representing...

97

%

Succes rate representng almost

>>>

Did You Know?

Clients over the age of 60

9

$

MILLION in monetary benefits, an average of

Men

96

1,554

$

>>>

Per client

11.7 percent of Missouri’s

1.5 million families were distinguished

below poverty Nearly 82,000 of these

as falling level.

families lived in St. Louis County, and

%

Earned less than 200% of federal poverty

Federal POVERTY Guidelines

another

55,000 lived in St. Louis

City. (Source: Kaiser State Health Facts)

14%

of Missouri children who

are eligible for Medicaid are

not

enrolled. This gap in enrollment translates to more than 150,000 uninsured children in

$11,770

Missouri. (Source: Kaiser State Health

$15,930

41st in the number of homeless children and

Facts)

for individuals

for a family of 2

Missouri ranks

41st in the percentage of children who

2014 LSEM Cases by Program

Racial Demographics

31% Domestic Violence

47.4% African-American

27% Health

44.8% Caucasian

18% Housing

3.5% Hispanic/Latino

6% Disability/Benefits

1.8% Asian

5% Education

2.5% Other

5% Consumer 8% Immigration & Other Page 9 | Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

$20,090 for a family of 3

12% poverty

are homeless. Approximately of children living in

in Missouri are homeless. (Source:

$24,250 for a family of 4

Source: http://aspe.hhs.gov/ poverty/15poverty.cfm

National Center for Homeless Education, June 2007)

Bridging the Justice Gap FOR THOSE WHO NEED SAFETY & SUPPORT “My aim is for listeners to use the story I tell to

Peter Danielsons remembers her case as a bit less

validate themselves and never give up on their

cut and dry than that. “Gladys’ husband was more

dreams. ‘A True Story’ by Mark Twain is about a

than making her life difficult,” said Danielson, staff

woman who was a slave when her husband and

attorney at Hannibal’s LSEM. “He put her through an

seven of her children were sold away from her. She

emotional roller coaster. He couldn’t deal with the

kept a positive attitude and in the end one of her

fact she had had a stroke and he didn’t like the home

children found her. I love it because it gives people

health aide looking out for her. It took a year to get

an example of what can happen when you never

to trial because he would agree to something, and

give up hope. I tell children this story because I

then never follow through on anything he agreed to.”

think it helps them figure out who they are and who Golden years are supposed to be just that: golden. But what do you do when someone you’ve cared for and loved for more than 40 years becomes someone who doesn’t care for you, and abuses you? You turn to LSEM for help.

G

they want to be. And the next time someone tries to

April 2014 was the trial and that is when things

bully them or call them names, they can remember

became even more difficult. Gladys’ ex-husband

this story I tell and remember who they are.”

blamed everything on the home health aide and continued to refuse to cooperate. Peter had to file

But none of that helped when her husband of 41

repeated actions to get him to comply with the

years had a drastic personality change and became

requirements of the divorce and property division,

mean and threatening. It all started after Gladys had

but was able to get the case concluded a year later.

ladys is a local icon. A master storyteller

a stroke several years ago. Her home health aide

who has traveled the world, her ‘day’ job as

began to notice his mental abuse, and stepped in,

“It worked out as well as I had hoped,” Gladys said.

a 72-year-old in retirement is storytelling at

which of course only infuriated Gladys’ ex-husband

“I was so nervous. I had never been to court before.

more.

Peter helped me through it all. He said everything

Mark Twain’s boyhood home in Hannibal. She’s one of those people who knows everybody in town, and everyone knows her.

was going to be alright, and it was.”

Who do you turn to for help when your first instinct is to hide your trouble? Gladys didn’t know what to

Thinking back to when she decided to ask for

An artist and a teacher, Gladys earned an

do, and then someone suggested she call Peter at

help, Gladys said “I thought about my storytelling

undergraduate degree in Psychology and a

LSEM’s Hannibal office.

and what I had been trying to teach others. That is

graduate degree in Education, but as a child, she

what made me decide that I had to do something

grew up listening to her great-grandmother’s

“I never did find out what was wrong with my ex-

about my own situation. I had to show people that

stories. Gladys has turned that talent, learned at

husband. All I know is, he got mean. I went to Peter

storytelling really helps. Peter helped me do that

her great-grandmother’s knee, into a 35-year career

and he said he could help me, and he did,” said

when he told my story for me."

that has taken her all over the world, and earned her

Gladys. “I got a divorce and that was that.”

an honorary Doctorate in Humane Studies from the University of Missouri.

Annual Report 2014 | Page 10

Bridging the Justice Gap

THROUGH YOUR GIFTS OF SUPPORT

LSEM takes the management of every gift dollar very seriously and is committed to transparent, conservative stewardship of these important funds. Our Finance & Audit Committee of the Board of Directors regularly meets with LSEM staff to review periodic financial statements and assist with the annual independent audit.

LSEM is an LSC funded entity; this important source of funding generally provides up to 30% of our total annual budget. However, nationally this funding has dropped 46% in the last two decades, while the estimated client population has risen 21%. As with any government funding, it can fluctuate from year to year.

The balance of funding is provided from a variety of sources. We rely on local, state and federal grant dollars but also public and private foundations, and we enjoy generous support from individuals throughout our service area, both through United Way as well as our own fundraising efforts. Every source of funding is important; every source helps provide critically important programs and services.

Reflected in the 2014 revenue numbers are also Cy Pres* awards. This important source of funding is helping LSEM bridge the financial challenges of fluctuating government and grant funding.

Key financial metrics are highlighted on the opposite page; the independently audited 2014 Financial Statements are available by request. *Cy Pres awards result from a surplus of undistributed funds in class actions and are awarded subject to judicial discretion. LSEM shares equally in Cy Pres awards with the three other legal aid programs in Missouri.

2014 Ending Net Assets: Page 11 | Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

$10,066,132

Bridging the Justice Gap

THE FINANCIALS REVENUE 2014

2013

LSC Grant

$1,958,043

19%

$1,819,733

25%

Other Government Grants

$2,428,243

24%

$1,922,451

27%

Foundation Grants

$1,122,320

11%

$765,308

11%

$662,005

7%

$673,443

9%

$2,109,523

21%

$440,264

6%

Individual Donors

$389,554

4%

$603,831

8%

Special Events

$197,598

2%

$194,325

3%

Donated Volunteer Services

$1,183,104

12%

$683,892

9%

Investment & Other Income

$36,868

0%

$50,217

1%

Attorney's Fees*

$85,080

1%

$54,946

1%

$10,172,338

100%

$7,208,410

100%

United Way Law Firms - Chairs & Cy Pres

TOTAL REVENUE, GAINS & OTHER SUPPORT

EXPENSE

2014

Program Services

2013

$6,475,224

84%

$5,655,697

83%

Administration

$737,370

10%

$744,171

11%

Fundraising

$469,586

6%

$433,818

6%

TOTAL EXPENSES

$7,682,180

$6,833,686

*Attorney's Fees are generated from the Consumer Law Program where the opposing party may reimburese us for cost of representation.

Auditors: RubinBrown LLP | Insurance Advisors: Daniel & Henry | General Counsel: Daniel K. Glazier

Annual Report 2014 | Page 12

Bridging the Justice Gap

VOLUNTEER LAWYER PROGRAM

F

or more than 30 years, LSEM has been able to leverage the power of a large network of volunteer lawyers to serve thousands of low-income and elderly Missourians. The Volunteer Lawyer Program (VLP) offers more than 400

area attorneys the opportunity to directly impact LSEM clients through pro bono representation.

Managed by a full-time Director and supported by two paralegals, VLP manages case referrals and provides direct support to VLP attorneys. Some attorneys regularly take multiple cases, year in and year out; some attorneys take the occasional case. Some attorneys assist with community education or outreach site consultations to clients facing difficult circumstances. Regardless of the number of cases each VLP lawyer takes on and how they choose to serve, every VLP lawyer is a critical part of LSEM’s ability to deliver services.

14.8 7,714 Types of VLP Cases

133

volunteer hours of legal work 45% Family law

new volunteers added

14% NPO Assistance

37% Housing cases handled

by VLP

Page 13 | Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

11% Housing

39% Family 5% Juvenile

510

hours of legal work per case

7% Income Maintenance

6% Guardianship work for adults

How VLP Hours Break Down

with Disabilities & Minors 5% Immigration 4% Wills, Advanced Directives, Power of Attorneys & Name Changes

1% Individual Rights

1% Consumer & Benefits,

11% Other

14% Various Other

Bridging the Justice Gap

THROUGH PRO BONO SERVICE

Mark considers himself someone who tries to make the world a better place. One of the ways

of translating those words into real action through

of LSEM’s Volunteer Lawyer Program. “These

support of volunteerism, “ Mark said. “Participating

individuals have already been victimized by their

in the VLP helps enrich you as a person, which

abuser. They’re traumatized and often scared. We’re

benefits your practice and helps develop you as an

able to provide immediate assistance and put a face

attorney.”

to the assistance they can get from LSEM.”

There are many ways Mark could volunteer as

While Mark was encouraged to volunteer by his

part of the Bryan Cave program. He participates

leadership at Bryan Cave, he’s known about LSEM

in Bryan Cave’s tutoring program at a local St.

and the important work we do before attending law

Louis Public School. He founded his own 501(c)(3)

school. His father, Mark Keaney, Sr., was also a St.

organization to help orphaned children in Africa

Louis attorney and a VLP member.

obtain meaningful educational opportunities. He also makes time for LSEM’s VLP and our efforts to

“My dad was an attorney at Lewis Rice for over 40

help victims of domestic violence.

years, and was involved in the VLP for decades,”

he does that is through LSEM’s Volunteer Lawyer

Mark said. “I chose LSEM in part because of

Program. He counts himself fortunate to work

“I help coordinate Bryan Cave’s involvement on an

him. When my dad was awarded the [F. William]

for a law firm that makes giving back a priority.

important pro bono domestic violence initiative at

McCalpin award in 2010 for his years of volunteer

A

the domestic violence docket in St. Louis County,”

service to LSEM, I gained a deeper appreciation of

graduate of St. Louis University Law School,

Mark said. “The prospective clients we see in

and respect for the incredible, behind-the-scenes

Mark Keaney Jr. is a lifelong St. Louisian.

court – almost always women and children – come

work of the staff attorneys at LSEM and the attorneys

As one of the St. Louis Business Journal’s

to court having filed a petition seeking safety for

who participate in the VLP.”

2014 class of Thirty Under Thirty and a third-year

themselves and their children. All too often they

associate in commercial litigation at Bryan Cave,

have no representation, and no idea about how the

“My dad was and still remains my role model. He

he’s someone you’d expect to have a pretty busy

order of protection process works. We are on hand

demonstrated that attorneys could be thoroughly

professional life. So it’s remarkable the amount of

to step outside the courtroom with them, listen to

dedicated to providing excellent client service

time Mark devotes to making the world a better

their situation and provide important information for

in the private sector while also remaining deeply

place. One of the ways he does that is through

that day’s hearing.” From there, the attorneys get the

committed to serving the less fortunate members of

regular participation in LSEM’s Volunteer Lawyer

petitioner’s contact information and connect them to

our community through the VLP.”

Program (VLP).

LSEM for more extensive services.

“A central tenet of Bryan Cave’s philosophy is

“It’s critically important that we have these attorneys

giving back to the community. They do a great job

in court for that docket,” said Jim Guest, Director

Annual Report 2014 | Page 14

OUR DONORS We could not achieve our mission of justice for all without the generous support of friends and donors from within our service region and even around the country.

Special thanks to each donor for making a difference in the lives of our clients.

Donations of $250 or more received in 2014. Please accept our apologies for any errors and omissions.

Corporations, Foundations & Other Entities A. J. Bitker Charitable Foundation American Direct Marketing Resources, LLC ASC Foundation Association of Corporate Counsel - St. Louis Association of the Open Mind & Spirit Buffalo Township United Fund City of St. Louis Cohen Hilberry Architects, Inc. Commerce Bancshares Foundation Daughters of Charity Foundation of St. Louis Deaconess Foundation Emerson Charitable Trust Franklin County Area United Way Gannett Foundation Herbert D. Condie, Jr. Family Foundation John & Marcia Goldman Foundation Legal Services Corporation Lents & Associates MasterCard Matching Gifts Program MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger Mid-East Area Agency on Aging Missouri Bar Foundation Missouri Civil Legal Services Fund Missouri Department of Public Safety Missouri Department of Social Services Missouri Foundation For Health Mo HealthNet Monsanto Monsanto Fund MonsantoTogether Montgomery Area United Way

Page 15 | Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

National Business Institute PNC Foundation Robert Wood Johnson Foundation St. Louis Area Agency on Aging St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund St. Louis County Port Authority St. Louis Development Corporation St. Louis Economic Development Partnership St. Louis Mental Health Board The Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Co. United Way in Hannibal United Way of Greater St. Louis United Way of the Mark Twain Area US Department of Health & Human Services US Department of Justice William S. Barnickol Foundation Women’s Initiative for Health and Safety Law Firms Atlas Settlement Group, Inc. Baker, Sterchi, Cowden & Rice, L.L.C. Bauer & Baebler, P.C. Brown & Brown Brown & Crouppen Bryan Cave LLP Cantor & Burger Capes, Sokol, Goodman & Sarachan, P.C. Carmody MacDonald P.C. Cervantes & Associates Childress Ahlheim Cary, LLC Dempsey, Dempsey & Moellering, P.C. Dentons

Diekman & Leightner Dobson, Goldberg, Berns & Rich, LLP Dowd & Dowd, P.C. Dowd Bennett LLP Drivers Defense Counsel Faerber & Anderson, P.C. Farrell & Martin Friedman, Weitzman & Friedman, PC Goldblatt & Singer, PC Gray, Ritter & Graham, P.C. Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. Guilfoil, Petzall & Shoemake, L.L.C. Hartnett Gladney Hetterman, L.L.C. HeplerBroom LLC Herzog Crebs LLP Husch Blackwell, LLP Juristat Karll Law Center, LLC Korein Tillery, LLC Kortenhof McGlynn & Burns, LLC Kriegel & Ituarte, PC Lashly & Baer, P.C. Law Office of John S. Wallach, P.C. Lewis Rice, L.L.C. Martin, Malec & Leopold, P.C. Matthews Edwards LLC McMahon Berger Meyerkord & Meyerkord, LLC Newman Bronson & Wallis O’Brien Law Firm P.C. Onder, Shelton, O’Leary & Peterson, LLC Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, P.C. Pedroli & Gauthier, LLC Perron Law Firm, PC Polsinelli PC Polster, Lieder, Woodruff & Lucchesi, L.C. Ponder-Bates Law Firm, LLC Riezman Berger, P.C. Roberts, Wooten & Zimmer. L.L.C. Ryan R. Cox and Associates, L.L.C. Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch & Champion, LLC Sandberg, Phoenix & von Gontard, P.C. Schlichter, Bogard & Denton Senniger Powers Shands, Elbert, Gianoulakis & Giljum, LLP

Spencer Fane Britt & Browne LLP Stinson Leonard Street LLP Stone, Leyton & Gershman The Campbell Law Firm, LLC The Holland Law Firm The O’Grady Law Firm The Rabbitt Law Firm, LLC The S. E. Farris Law Firm The Simon Law Firm, P.C. Thompson Coburn LLP USA&M Midwest, Inc. Walther/Zwibelman Law Associates, PC Williams Venker & Sanders LLC Individuals Mr. & Mrs. Theodore D. Agniel Mr. & Mrs. Raymond L. Alonzo Mrs. Ketrina Bakewell Mr. & Mrs. Dan Ball Ms. Doris J. Banta Mr. Stuart R. Berkowitz Ms. Suzanne Besnia & Mr. Victor Richey Mr. Michael G. Biggers Mr. Charles W. Bobinette Ms. Ellen Bonacorsi & Mr. Thomas Kinsock Mr. David E. Brown & Ms. Cheryl Green Ms. Kim M. Brown Ms. Angelina Burnett Mr. Clement E. Burns, Jr. Mr. Harold Burroughs Mr. J. Powell Carman Mr. & Mrs. Gerard T. Carmody Mr. Kevin Carnie Ms. Elizabeth C. Carver Mr. John J. Casey Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Cassetta Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth M. Chackes Mr. T. Jack Challis Ms. Debbie S. Champion Mr. Daniel E. Claggett Mr. J. Bennett Clark Mr. & Mrs. J. Michael Clear Mr. William L. Cole Mr. & Mrs. Laurence K. Condie, Sr. Ms. Cathryn A. Conrad

Ms. Alice E. Conway Mrs. Rosemary Cooper Mr. & Mrs. Anthony G. Corey Hon. Kathianne Knaup Crane & Mr. David D. Crane Senator & Mrs. John C. Danforth Mr. & Mrs. Jerome A. Diekemper Ms. Doreen Dodson & Mr. Dana Spitzer Hon. Margaret Donnelly & Mr. David R. Riedel Mr. James R. Dowd Mr. & Mrs. Don M. Downing Mrs. Kay Drey Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Edwards Mr. Joel B. Eisenstein Mr. & Mrs. Charles S. Elbert Mr. Harold A. Ellis Mr. Robert Endicott Mr. & Mrs. David E. Everson Mr. Jonathan Feldmann Mr. & Mrs. Thomas F. Feldmann Ms. Carol Ann Fichtelman & Mr. Philip C. Berwick Hon. & Mrs. Edward L. Filippine Mr. James N. Foster, Jr. Mr. Ryan Furniss Mr. Ameer Gado Mr. Michael A. Gerritzen Mr. & Mrs. John L. Gianoulakis Prof. Roger Goldman & Ms. Stephanie Riven Ms. Victoria I. Goldson Mr. Joel K. Goldstein & Ms. Maxine I. Lipeles Mr. Keith J. Grady Ms. Patricia D. Gray Mr. Thomas R. Green Mr. Michael Greenfield & Ms. Claire Halpern Mr. Gerald Greiman & Ms. M. Susan Carlson Mr. Dale A. Guariglia Mrs. Millicent B. Guerri Ms. Peggy Guest & Mr. Frank Hamsher Mr. & Mrs. Michael P. Gunn Mr. & Mrs. Will Gust Ms. Jennifer Gustafson Mr. & Mrs. Robert T. Haar Mr. & Mrs. Aaron Haber Ms. Nancy Hamilton & Mr. Jim Butler Mr. Myles Hansen Mr. David M. Harris & Ms. Michele Lowe

Annual Report 2014 | Page 16

Ms. Mary S. Hawker Ms. Virginia E. Heagney & Mr. James P. Tobin Mr. Robert Healey Ms. Lisa A. Herder & Mr. Edward J. Hejlek Mr. & Mrs. Robert Herleth Mr. & Mrs. Dale Hermeling Mr. Peter W. Herzog, III Hon. & Mrs. Philip M. Hess Ms. Anne W. Hetlage Mr. & Mrs. Theodore H. Hoffman Mr. James P. Holloran Ms. Lisa Hoppenjans Dr. Robert G. Hughes & Dr. Linda J. Shaw Mr. James B. Huguenin Mr. & Mrs. Thomas C. Hullverson Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lewis Jackson Mr. Izek Jasper Bob & Sandy Johnson Ms. Rebecca A. Kaley Mr. Jeffrey J. Kalinowski Mr. James A. Kearns, III Mr. & Mrs. Douglas L. Kelly Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence J. Kettenbach Jr. Ms. Pauline T. Kim & Mr. K. Philip Lee Mr. Nicholas Kohl Ms. Brenda G. Kuelker Mr. Richard H. Kuhlman Mr. Cullen K. Kuhn Mr. Joel N. Lander Mr. & Mrs. Paul G. Lane Mr. Mark B. Leadlove Mr. & Mrs. Charles F. Lehman Ms. Paula J. Lemerman & Mr. Stewart Shilcrat Mr. & Mrs. Don G. Lents Hon. & Mrs. Stephen N. Limbaugh, Sr. Ms. Kathryn Elliott Love Mr. & Mrs. John C. Madden Mr. Kenneth J. Mallin Mr. James F. Malone & Ms. Kay Quinn Malone Mr. Jerome R. Mandelstamm & Ms. Carolyn A. White Mr. Randy Mariani & Ms. Patricia Redington Mr. & Mrs. Murry A. Marks Mr. & Mrs. Eric D. Martin Ms. Linda M. Martinez Mr. & Mrs. James McConnell

Page 17 | Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

Hon. Donald L. McCullin Mr. Michael B. McKinnis Ms. Maureen A. McMullan & Mr. Marty W. McConnell Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey T. McPherson Hon. Mary Ann L. Medler Mr. Charles E. Merrill & Ms. Carol A. Rutter Ms. Christine F. Miller Mr. & Mrs. George Miller Ms. Judy Miniace Ms. Elizabeth C. Minogue Ms. Sarah Molina Mr. & Mrs. McPherson D. Moore Mr. & Mrs. Stephen C. Moore Mr. & Mrs. Todd I. Muchnick Mr. & Mrs. Joseph G. Nassif Mr. & Mrs. Thomas K. Neill Mr. & Mrs. Michael N. Newmark Mr. Robert L. Newmark Mr. & Mrs. James L. Nouss, Jr. Mr. John C. O’Brien Mr. Timothy G. O’Connell & Ms. Elizabeth McNulty Mr. & Mrs. William E. Odell Ms. Jacqueline O’Donnell Ms. Mary Beth Ortbals Ms. Paula Pace Hon. Lisa K. Page & Mr. Edward L. Page Mr. Steven J. Poplawski Mr. & Mrs. Maury B. Poscover Mr. Steven L. Groves & Ms. Linda C. Powers Ms. Countess W. Price Mr. & Mrs. Keith A. Rabenberg Mr. Robert J. Radice Mr. & Mrs. Edward H. Renner Mr. & Mrs. John F. Risberg Ms. Marian B. Rosen & Mr. Jon Goldberg Mr. Edward M. Roth & Ms. Jeanne F. Philips-Roth Mr. & Mrs. Michael Roth Mr. & Mrs. Bruce D. Ryder Mr. Michael G. Schappe Mr. & Mrs. Christopher J. Schmidt Mr. Michael A. Schwartz & Ms. Clara Perry Mr. & Mrs. Robert G. Schwendinger Mr. William F. Seabaugh Mr. & Mrs. Donald J. Sher Mr. & Mrs. James W. Sherby

Ms. Shulamith Simon Mr. Peter A. Smith Mr. & Mrs. Stephen R. Snodgrass Mr. & Mrs. Ralph K. Soebbing Mr. & Mrs. Daryl F. Sohn Ms. Bettina J. Strauss & Mr. Stephen G. Strauss Mr. Kenneth H. Suelthaus Mr. Kevin A. Suffern Hon. Richard B. Teitelman Mr. & Mrs. Harvey M. Tettlebaum Mr. & Mrs. Walter W. Timm Mr. & Mrs. Simon P. Tonkin Mr. & Mrs. Thomas P. Traube Ms. Mary Beth Tripp Mr. & Mrs. Peter D. Van Cleve Mr. & Mrs. David A. Van Mierlo Mr. Navid Vazire & Ms. Elizabeth Sepper Mr. Aaron M. Vogel Ms. Elizabeth Vollmar Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth K. Vuylsteke Ms. Amy Wachs & Mr. Timothy Schedl Mr. John L. Walker Mr. Bart D. Wall Mr. Franklin F. Wallis Mr. Brian C. Walsh Mr. T. Michael Ward & Ms. Susan H. Schaberg Hon. E. Richard Webber, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Charles A.Weiss Mr. & Mrs. John M. Welge Ms. Dorothy L. White-Coleman Mr. & Mrs. Daniel E. Wilke Ms. Gayle C. Williams & Hon. Michael Jamison Mr. Keith Williamson Mr. & Mrs. James M. Wire Mr. Alvin A. Wolff, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Donald L. Wolff Ms. Sabrina M. Wrenn Mr. Drew H. Yaeger Mr. & Mrs. Alan S. Kwiatek

To apply for services: Call Intake at 800/444-0514 Visit www.lsem.org and click ‘Get Help Now’ To volunteer in VLP: Call Jim Guest at 314/256-8707 Visit www.lsem.org/volunteer To make a gift: Call Teri Chadwick 314/256-8742 Visit www.lsem.org and click ‘Support Us Now’

Annual Report 2014 | Page 18

Non – Profit Organization U. S. Postage

PAID

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

St. Louis, MO Permit No. 7194

Serving 21 counties in Eastern Missouri Pursuing Justice, Strengthening Lives

Main Office: 4232 Forest Park Avenue St. Louis, MO 63108 (314) 534-4200 (800) 444-0514

Hannibal Office: 801 Broadway PO Box 1276 Hannibal, MO 63401

Union Office: 20 South Church Street Suite C Union, MO 63084

Branch office: Hannibal, MO

Serving 21 counties in Eastern Missouri Adair Clark Franklin Jefferson Knox Lewis Lincoln

Macon Marion Monroe Montgomery Pike Ralls Schuyler

Scotland Shelby St. Charles St. Louis St. Louis City Warren Washington

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri Main office: St. Louis, MO Branch office: Union, MO