The Charitable Arm of the Birmingham Bar Association

The Birmingham Bar Foundation serves as the charitable arm of our Association. Established in 1994 as a non-profit corporation, the Foundation functions to promote and support charitable work of the Bar and activities in furtherance of justice and legal education.  You may contact the Birmingham Bar Foundation at 2021 2nd Avenue North, Birmingham Alabama 35203, (205) 251-2231, bbfound@bellsouth.net.

Jazz Fest 2010

Please plan to join the Foundation on Saturday, May 1, 2010 for this year’s gala fundraiser with a New Orleans theme – Jazz Fest 2010!  The event will be Saturday, May 1, 2010, 7:00 p.m. at the Veranda, 2222 Highland Avenue South.  There will be cajun and creole cooking, open bar, Jazz Band and mystic entertainment.  Tickets or sponsorship levels are listed below.

To order tickets or become a sponsor, please contact the Bar Foundation at 205-251-2231 or bbfound@bellsouth.net or the event chair Mike Freeman at 205-226-3432 mfreeman@balch.com.  Or, you may send your check noted for tickets and/or sponsorships to Birmingham Bar Foundation at 2021 2nd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203.

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Juror Handbooks In Memory of John Nathanael "Nat" Bryan, Sr. (1960 – 2008)

Attorney Nat Bryan was a zealous advocate for his clients, a generous supporter of the Birmingham Bar Foundation and a devoted husband and father.  His untimely death in 2008 was a loss to all who knew him.  Nat served as a Foundation officer and board member from 2004 through 2006.  In 2005 Nat worked with the Courts of 10th Judicial Circuit to create the first Birmingham Bar Foundation Juror Handbook.  This handbook was the first guide provided to jurors since the State of Alabama stopped funding jury service guides in 1992.  A second edition of the Birmingham Bar Foundation 10th Judicial Circuit Juror Handbook was published in 2007.

Presiding Judge Scott Vowell has been instrumental in editing and revising the handbooks citing the guide as a great tool "to assist citizens in serving their important role in preserving our Constitutional rights to a jury trial in Civil and Criminal cases.  The justice system works best when jurors are informed of and fulfill their duty as the fact finder in cases pending before the Courts."  The Juror Handbooks help jurors fulfill these responsibilities.

In January 2009 the third edition of the Juror Handbook was published in memory of Nat Bryan.  The Foundation honors Nat and his memory by recognizing his contribution towards making jury service easier and simpler for the citizens of Jefferson County.  Since 2005, the Foundation has provided 43,000 Juror Handbook copies to be distributed to citizens reporting for jury duty.  The Foundation is also honoring Nat’s memory by providing wireless internet access in the Jefferson County Jury Assembly Room for use by jurors waiting for jury service.

Please contact the Birmingham Bar Foundation at 2021 2nd Ave. North, Birmingham, AL 35203, (205) 251-2231 or bbfound@bellsouth.net to find out how you can participate in the Nat Bryan Memorial Fund designated for the Juror Internet and Handbook projects.

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Alabama Appellate Courts’ Oral Arguments

2010 Appellate Courts’ Reception
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Saint Paul Cathedral Life Center - Great Hall
2120 3rd Avenue North (enter Great Hall on 4th Ave. North)
Tickets - $25.00 per person

2010 Oral Arguments of the Alabama Supreme Court and Court of Civil Appeals
Thursday, October 21, 2010
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Wright Center – Samford University
800 Lakeshore Drive
Oral Arguments are free of charge and open to public

The 6th annual convening of the Alabama Appellate Courts in Birmingham is set for October 20-21, 2010.  Please make your plans to attend the reception welcoming the Alabama Supreme Court and Court of Civil Appeals town on Wednesday, October 20th at St. Paul’s Cathedral Life Center.  Also, on Thursday, October 21st the Courts will be in session hearing oral arguments at Samford Wright Center.  Students from area schools and members of the legal community and the public are invited to attend the arguments.  The Appellate Courts and the attorneys representing parties in the cases always bring an engaging presentation of Alabama’s judicial system at work.  For more information, contact Committee Chair Leslie Barineau at 205-251-9200 or the Bar Foundation at 205-251-2231 or bbfound@bellsouth.net.  The events are sponsored by the Birmingham Bar Foundation and Cumberland School of Law.  Reception tickets and Oral Arguments information are available now by contacting the Bar Foundation.

See the highlights of the 2009 Appellate Courts’ Reception.

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Charitable Equipment Program

Designed to match law firm surplus equipment and furniture with needy charitable groups, CEP is a conduit matching equipment available to needs in our area.  Lawyers benefit by having a quick, easy, user-friendly way to dispose of unused office items while supporting the charitable work of the Foundation.  Also, lawyers may claim a charitable deduction for the fair market value of items passed on to needy organizations.  Please contact 205-251-2231 or bbfound@bellsouth.net with items you have to donate or call if you know a charity in need of office equipment.

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Memorial Scholarship Fund

A special way to honor a loved one, the Memorial Scholarship Fund allows family and friends to pay tribute to a Birmingham attorney, his or her spouse, child or friend.  Written acknowledgements to all contributors and the surviving family member are sent.  Your gifts provide funds for annual law school scholarships presented by the Birmingham Bar Association.  Please include with your contribution the name, relationship and address of the person to whom your gift can be acknowledged.

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Grants

Approximately $63,980.00 was awarded in 2009 to charitable causes as follows:

Alabama Center for Law and Civic Education	$600.00
Arthritis Foundation (Young Lawyers Section)	$10,000.00
Birmingham Volunteer Lawyers Program	$6,316.66
Children’s Village Back to School Bash (Public Service Committee)	$2,262.61
Cumberland School of Law (Memorial Scholarship)	$2,000.00
Firehouse Shelter (Young Lawyers Section)	$255.74
Hands On Birmingham	$500.00
Jefferson Rehabilitation & Health Center Ketona (Public Service Committee)	$3,000.00
Legal Aid Society of Birmingham	$5,316.66
National Children’s Advocacy Center (Alabama State Bar Family Law Section)	$9,000.00
Service Juris (Public Service Committee)	$3,728.42
The Bell Center (Young Lawyers Section)	$10,000.00
UAB PreLaw Program	$500.00
University of Alabama School of Law (Memorial Scholarship)	$2,000.00
Wilmer Hall (Alabama State Bar Family Law Section)	$4,000.00
Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham (YWCA Voices Against Violence)	$500.00
Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham (Alabama State Bar Family Law Section)	$4,000.00

Please contact the Birmingham Bar Foundation at 2021 2nd Ave. North, Birmingham, AL 35203, (205) 251-2231 or bbfound@bellsouth.net for more information about the grant application process.

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Board of Directors 2010

Leslie R. Barineau, President
Michael D. Freeman, Vice President
Georgia S. Haggerty, Treasurer
Arnita B. Foster, Secretary
Anne Lamkin Durward, Immediate Past President

Jennifer M. Bedsole
Lee R. Benton
Pamela J. Blalock
Augusta S. Dowd
Michael D. Ermert
Tyler K. Forsythe
Leatha K. Gilbert
Anthony A. Joseph
Erin E. May
Virginia P. Meigs
Derrick A. Mills
George M. (Jack) Neal, Jr.
Andrew S. Nix
Lindsey M. O’Dell
Harlan I. Prater, IV
Frances King Quick
Gregory S. Ritchey
Allison O’Neal Skinner
Alfred F. (Buddy) Smith
Deborah Alley Smith
R. Henry Taliaferro
Susan S. Wagner
Jason D. Woodard

C. Logan Hinkle, Board Attorney
Michelle L. Crunk, Liaison, BBA Public Service Committee


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History

In 1994 the Birmingham Bar Foundation was incorporated as the charitable arm of the Birmingham Bar Association by and it’s initial board of directors including President Ronnie Noojin, Vice President Edgar Elliott, Secretary Treasurer Bill Clark, Edward Allen, Andrew Campbell, Bill Dawson, Tim Dillard, Warren Lightfoot, Rodney Max, Carol Sue Nelson, Alton Parker, Lee Pittman, Ferris Ritchey, III, Bill Rose and Tom Woodall.  During that same time, the Birmingham Bar Association under the leadership of President Bill Clark and President Elect Fred Ingram, was exploring purchasing property located on 2nd Avenue North and known as the Drennen Building in which to house its operations.  Bar Association leadership determined that the Foundation would purchase and renovate the building.  A plan was formed whereby Bar Association members would be asked to participate in a Capital Campaign and pledge $100 per year for five (5) years to pay for the $1.2 million building project.  The Bar Association would be the Foundation’s major tenant.  Many firms and attorneys renewed their pledges for additional years and gave generously to the building campaign.  Through these gifts the mortgage was paid in full in January 2003.  A donor recognition wall stands in the Bar Center lobby paying tribute to these many generous gifts.

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