™ THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF CLEVELAND 2016 ANNUAL REPORT “The first duty of society is justice.” — Alexander Hamilton In 2016, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland staff, board, volunteers, in partnership with our supporters, impacted nearly 18,000 people — including veterans, the elderly, foster youth, and single mothers — who share in common the burden of living with low income. Without free legal assistance, these clients faced daunting barriers to their safety, shelter, and economic stability. We thank you for being a vital part of an engaged community, and for taking up the work of balancing the scales, establishing fairness for those who are most in need. In the words of Alexander Hamilton, “The first duty of society is justice.” And we did that duty. We pursue justice under the leadership of our Board, one-third of whom know the devastation of poverty firsthand. For example, one Legal Aid Board Member has experienced homelessness. Several Board Members have fought to get their children the educational services to which the law entitles them, but schools turned a deaf ear. One Board Member lives in public housing, advocating for her fellow residents. Another is a U.S. Veteran who knows the scars and pride of military service. These board leaders keep us grounded in our community and focused on our clients. By working toward justice for our community’s most vulnerable, Legal Aid alleviates poverty and makes our society fairer – and stronger as a result. We are proud of our work to bring justice and fairness to our community in 2016. You should be as well; this is work we could not do without your partnership! Colleen M. Cotter, Esq. Executive Director The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland 2 IN 2016, LEGAL AID IMPACTED 17,769 PEOPLE 7,459 total cases handled = 6,122 Cases Handled & Closed + 1,337 Cases Continued into 2017 ™ including 1,462 cases handled by volunteers and 137 advice clinics Legal AID’S SUCCESS IN 2016 INCLUDED: Increased assets and income, and reduced debt by $15.7 million for clients REMOVED SECURED PREVENTED PREVENTED barriers to eduction in safety in % % % % 68 of foreclosures 92 of evictions 84 of cases 98 of cases PEOPLE CLIENT DEMOGRAPHICS 2016 OUR STAFF: % % % % 40 Attorneys 46 of all households 18 of all 29 71 helped included clients were Male Female 27 Support Staff CHILDREN OLDER ADULTS OUR SUPPORTERS: (60+) 2,720 Pro Bono Attorneys 474 Volunteer Attorneys Engaged % 54 In-House Volunteers 494 cases involved 83 of households served 230 Volunteer Law Students U.S. VETERANS. MAKE LESS THAN These cases IMPACTED 1,467 Individual Donors $25,000/year 878 PEOPLE % % % % RACE/ETHNICITY 56 BLACK 34 WHITE 7 HISPANIC 3 OTHER CASES BY COUNTY CASES BY PRACTICE 2016 2016 % 5 Consumer 7% Ashtabula Lake Health-Education- 20% Work-Income- % % 1 Immigration 22 76% Geauga Cuyahoga Family % % 17% 37 Housing 10 % Lorain 1 4% Other Other Legal Aid uses the power of the law to ensure access to basic needs and lift people out of poverty. Thanks to thousands of supporters and community partners, Legal Aid provides services that improve clients’ safety and health; promote education and economic stability; secure decent, affordable housing; ™ and ensure that the justice system and government entities are accountable and accessible. The mission of The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland is to secure justice and resolve fundamental problems for those who are low income and vulnerable by providing high quality legal services and working for systemic solutions. 2016 FINANCES REVENUE AND OTHER SUPPORT 2016 2015 Legal Services Corporation (LSC) $2,290,097 $2,300,369 Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation (OLAF) $2,311,520 $2,327,148 Donations and Private Grants $1,687,665 $1,568,238 Donated Services $857,541 $947,098 Other Government Grants $612,101 $408,231 United Way $325,075 $303,117 Partner Agencies (contracts for legal services) $199,622 $220,982 Other Income $270,060 $216,851 TOTAL REVENUE $8,553,681 $8,292,034 EXPENSES 2016 2015 Program Services $6,767,597 $6,742,990 Support Services $1,370,136 $1,321,308 (administration & development) TOTAL EXPENSES $8,137,733 $8,064,298 Excess of Revenue over Expenditures $415,949 $227,736 Beginning Net Assets $6,274,555 $6,046,819 NET ASSETS as of year end $6,690,504 $6,274,555 BREAKDOWN OF NET ASSETS 2016 2015 Unrestricted -Net Investment in Property $2,978,809 $2,918,474 -Board Designated Endowment $15,188 $14,094 -Board Designated Reserve Fund $3,292,297 $2,823,520 $6,286,294 $5,756,088 Temporarily Restricted $289,085 $403,417 Permanently Restricted $115,125 $115,050 NET ASSETS $6,690,504 $6,274,555 4 Legal Aid uses the power of the law to ensure access to basic needs and lift people out of poverty. Thanks to thousands of supporters and community partners, Legal Aid provides services that improve clients’ safety and health; promote education and economic stability; secure decent, affordable housing; and ensure that the justice system and government entities are accountable and accessible. 2016 Legal AID DONORS We are grateful to members of our ten-year giving society (noted with an “*”) and those donors in our five-year giving society (noted with a “+”). These donors and their consistent support deserve special recognition. We welcome our first-time givers (noted with a “#”) to the Legal Aid Family. BARRISTER SOCIETY Richard Dean BENEFACTORS OF JUSTICE David and Nancy Hooker + INDIVIDUAL GIFTS: $10,000+ Carolyn Buller and William Doll * INDIVIDUAL GIFTS: $500 - $999.99 Liz Huber * Matthew and Megan Dooley # Laurie Humphrey + Anonymous Ashley and Bill Edwards + Anonymous (4) William Jacobs + S. Lee Kohrman + Stephen and Jennifer Fazio + Kemper and Julianne Arnold Bryan and Michelle Jaketic John Moran + Michael and Rhonda Feldman # Susan Audey and Eugene Clair + John Jenkins # Richard and Patricia Pogue * Robert and Laura Fogarty + Lynn Ballard Ashley Jones-Sabree Martin and Lisa Gates + Susan Beck + Jennifer Jontz JUSTICE LEADERS Steven and Gail Goldfarb * Susan Becker * Jim and Terry Juliano + David Goodman and Barbara Hawley * Benjamin Beckman and Alison Day Bernard Karr INDIVIDUAL GIFTS: $2,500 - Gordon and Martha Beggs + $9,999.99 Judge Burt and Bunny Griffin Kendall Kash # Patrick and Ruth Haggerty + Mark and Rebecca Bennett + James Keating Brent Ballard Harlan Hertz and Colette Gibbons + Cipriano and Gina Beredo Ellen Keller + Ann Bergen * Laura Hong William and Ann Beyer Eduardo and Jessica Kim + Douglas Brown + Judge Michael E. Jackson John Biernacki James and Sandra Koenig + Frank and Wendy DeSantis + Candace Jones * Matthew Brady + Alan and Susie Kopit + Philip and Dana Fastenau + Marvin and Leslie Karp + Michael and Cynthia Brittain + Samuel and Deborah Laferty + Judge Nancy Fuerst and John Burke * Amy Kellogg * Leslie Brown Thomas and Karen LaFond + Karen Giffen + Steve Kestner # Senator Sherrod Brown and Dennis and Kim Lansdowne + Calvin Griffith + Matthew and Linda Klaben + Connie Schultz Karen Lee + Richard and Jessica Gurbst * Kathleen Kordeleski Phil Calabrese and Mary Bynum * David Lenz + Kerin Kaminski + Ellen and John Kramer Julie Callsen and Brad Pohlman Diane Leung + Dena Kobasic + Ernest and Helen Lallo Stephen and Cheryl Cheatham + Raymond and Wendy Ling David and Martha Kutik + Wilbur Leatherberry and Vincent and Carolyn Cheverine Janet Lowder and David Kincaid John Lewis + Diane Phillips-Leatherberry * Jennie Church + David Lowe + Rita and Charles Maimbourg * James Lowe * Michele and Christopher Connell + Richard and Margaret Margolis + Edward and Kimberley Moore + Heather and Jason Lutz + James Cooper + Michael and Linda Marhofer Kenneth Moore and Cynthia Holland * Damond and Lori Mace + Patrick Daugherty Stephen and Nancy Markus + Thomas A. Piraino, Jr. and Raymond and Nancy Malone + Patricia Decensi # Eileen and Kenneth Mathews Barbara McWilliams # Judge Richard and Carol Markus + Steven Dettelbach and Karil Bialostosky Rebecca Ruppert McMahon + Joseph Rodgers John and Mary McGowan + Dominic and Julie DiPuccio + Douglas and Jani McWilliams + David and Julia Tocco + Hugh and Sue McKay + James and Sara Doan + Michael and Ellen Meehan Neil Vakharia and Michael Mumford * Leslee and David Miraldi * Breaden Douthett # Russell Meraglio, Jr. # George and Barbara von Mehren + Howard and Jane Mishkind Timothy Downing and Ken Press Gale and Gerald Messerman * Christopher Williams and Matthew Nakon Daniel and Paula Dreyfuss + Michael Meuti Cynthia Mog * Philip Oliss and Rachel McQuade-Oliss Robert and Kim Ducatman + Trent and Irene Meyerhoefer Lawrence Oscar and Jeanne Shatten + Jill Dugovics Anne Meyers CHAMPIONS OF JUSTICE Richard and Jacqueline Panza * Jeffrey and Amy Dunlap + Ronald Mills + Richard and Alice Petrulis + Gary and Pamela Ebert Peter and Kristin Morrison INDIVIDUAL GIFTS: $1,000 - Andrew and Leigh Fabens $2,499.99 Stacey Picard and Mark Maus + Jack and Charlotte Newman Ann and Gerard Porath Melissa and Todd Federman # Jared Oakes + Anonymous (2) Geralyn Presti and John Sedor * Robert Fedor, Jr. Aaron O’Brien + Daniel Abrams and Nan Cohen Betsy Rader and David Watson * Emily Fiftal and Jonathan Birkes + Stephen and Bonnie O’Bryan + Ilah Adkins + Julie and Peter Raskind Angela Foraker Judge Diane M. Palos + David Alden + Robert and Judith Rawson * Carol Fox Zachary and Deborah Paris Jason and Shruti Aring * R. Thomas and Meg Harris Stanton Richard and Robbin Garcia R. Jeffrey and Martha Pollock * Mark Belasic + Judge Joan and Roger Synenberg * Lynn Gattozzi + Robert Ranallo # Cynthia Binns Christopher and Aimee Thorman John and Claudia Gherlein Janet Rath Colaluca