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