Legacy of Justice Campaign Case Statement

LEGACY OF JUSTICE CAMPAIGN

A CASE FOR SUPPORT VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE

THE LEGACY YOU PLANT TODAY WILL HELP JUSTICE FLOURISH IN NEW JERSEY

A LEGACY OF JUSTICE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED IN NEW JERSEY In his bestselling book Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson astutely concludes, “The opposite of poverty is not wealth. The opposite of poverty is justice.”

At Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) we attempt to disrupt the effects of poverty by ensuring access to justice. In 2024, we have a transformative opportunity to seed justice in the Garden State.

Visionary donors David J. Bershad and Mindy A. Cohen are challenging our community with a game-changing matching opportunity that will cultivate justice for decades to come. They planted the first seed with an incredible $500,000 gift to launch an endowment at VLJ. But their generosity goes even further with an additional $500,000 challenge grant. We need you to unlock that match! With the help of our community, VLJ will start our endowment in its first year with an astonishing $1.5 million—a pivotal milestone in ensuring the longevity of this organization.

An Ambitious Plan to Ensure Justice Established in 2001, VLJ has grown into a leading statewide provider of legal services, touching the lives of thousands of New Jerseyans each year. The demand for legal help continues to grow, and an endowment is VLJ’s strategic response to this increasing need.

This endowment is more than a “rainy day” fund; it kicks off an ambitious, coordinated effort to increase racial and economic justice initiatives beginning with two areas of law that disproportionately impact Black and Hispanic New Jerseyans—consumer debt and driver’s license restoration. VLJ’s goal is to hire full-time attorneys to tackle these overlooked legal issues that impact thousands of New Jerseyans and create barriers to stability and prosperity.

Your Role in Tilting the Scales of Justice By contributing now, not only will your gift be matched, but you will be an inaugural donor to this transformative campaign, cementing your role as a champion for justice. You can make your full gift now or pay it off over 5 years if preferred. It will take all of us to tackle structural issues like poverty, racism, and economic disparity, but we know this community is up for the challenge of creating a more just New Jersey. You can help tilt the scales of justice in favor historically marginalized and underserved by the legal system.

UNDERWRITING JUSTICE CAMPAIGN

TOGETHER WE WILL BUILD A JUST FUTURE

VLJ’S MISSION AND IMPACT At VLJ, our mission is to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. For over two decades, we have been at the forefront of the battle for racial, social, and economic justice in New Jersey. What makes us different: we do this work together with a community of volunteers and supporters like you.

2023 Impact - Preliminary Numbers Cases Tackled: 1,900+ People Impacted: 4,000+ Diverse Representation: 84% BIPOC, 63% Women Volunteers Mobilized: 475+ Services Valued at: $1.3 Million+ Volunteers Double Your Investment VLJ’s dedicated pro bono volunteers and community partners stand out as pillars of support, with the value of their services effectively doubling our annual budget. In 2023 alone, over 475 volunteers contributed their time and expertise, creating a positive ripple for justice that resonated throughout the state.

Advocating for Systems Change VLJ’s commitment to ensuring justice goes beyond the courtroom and the organization is a driving force for systemic change in New Jersey. We’ve spearheaded reforms for tenants, those with criminal records, students, and survivors of human trafficking. Your donation not only helps individuals and families, but it is an investment in a more just and equitable society.

Together, we can create a legacy of hope and justice.

CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP David J. Bershad, Chair Donald Cussen RBC Wealth Management Michael Griffinger

Jaclyn Kramer Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Kaitlyn Stone Barnes & Thornburg LLP

“INCREASINGLY, I WAS RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF HOPEFULNESS IN CREATING JUSTICE.” BRYAN STEVENSON, JUST MERCY

YOUR GIFT WILL PROVIDE HOPE AND EXPAND JUSTICE IN NEW JERSEY

INVESTMENT FOR A POSITIVE CHANGE Meet “Jasmine,” a remarkable individual whose life took a positive turn thanks to the legal work of VLJ. With your support, together we can create more success stories like Jasmine’s.

Jasmine had a years-old criminal record, but had turned her life around.

She wanted to expand her employment opportunities, secure stable housing for her family, and set a course for prosperity. She came to VLJ for help expunging her record and with our assistance was finally able to put her past in the rearview mirror.

Jasmine shared, “Due to my expungement, I was able to pass the criminal background check and enroll in nursing school. After nursing school, I was also able to pass the background check necessary in order to work in a hospital. I have been working at a local hospital as a nurse for almost a year and a half as a result. None of this would have been possible without having my record expunged. I went from making less than $30,000 a year to nearly tripling my salary in a matter of months!”

Your contribution to VLJ’s Legacy of Justice Campaign is an investment in positive change.

Thanks to the transformational gift from David J. Bershad and Mindy A. Cohen, every dollar you donate in 2024 will be matched, effectively doubling the reach of your generosity.

There are various levels of support available, and all pledges can be paid over 5 years if needed, making it convenient for you to contribute at a level that aligns with your capacity.

The Legacy of Justice Campaign is just the start to an endowment that will ensure the longevity of VLJ, justice for thousands of New Jerseyans, and prosperity for clients like Jasmine.

THE RIPPLES OF HOPE WE CAST CREATE WAVES OF CHANGE

WAYS TO GIVE Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations to VLJ are taxdeductible to the extent allowable by law.

VLJ accepts gifts of cash, checks, and credit cards. Checks can be made out to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice and mailed to PO Box 32040 Newark, NJ 07102.

VLJ accepts gifts of appreciated stock and required minimum distributions (RMDs) on IRAs. Donating stock or RMDs is a tax-friendly way to support VLJ. If you’d like to pledge your support over 3-5 years, please complete the enclosed pledge form. Payments may be made annually or monthly to your credit card or as an auto-debit from your bank account.

In some cases, we may consider estate gifts toward the endowment campaign. Please contact Jaclyn Kramer at 973-755-4120 for more information.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECOGNITION IN VLJ'S LEGACY OF JUSTICE CAMPAIGN All levels: Name in VLJ’s Annual Report

$50,000

$2,500+: All the above, plus recognition on the donor wall (digital or permanent)

$25,000

$5,000+: All the above, plus recognition on VLJ’s website

$10,000

$7,500+: All the above, plus an invitation to endowment campaign kickoff luncheon.

$7,500

$10,000+: All the above, plus an invitation to the endowment campaign wrap-up celebration

$5,000

$25,000+: All the above, plus onetime recognition at VLJ's annual golf outing $50,000: All the above, plus one-time recognition at VLJ's annual gala

$2,500 $1,000

THE PROMISE OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM CAN BE MADE REAL FOR EVERYONE

“For [more than] 20 years, VLJ has been a guide for so many facing housing, food, and economic insecurity. I thank Volunteer Lawyers for Justice for the work that it has done and the work it continues to do.”

-Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch

“I am a huge fan of VLJ. You all have shown that you affirm [your clients’] humanity and elevate them through the work that you do; that a little bit of legal work can have a transformative outcome in repairing broken lives and helping people on the pathway to true redemption.”

-U.S. Senator Cory Booker

@ VLJNJ

P.O. BOX 32040 NEWARK, NJ 07102

@ VLJ_NJ

VLJ@VLJNJ.ORG

@ VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE WWW.VLJNJ.ORG

(973) 645-1955