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.

Bunny Bag Wine Tasting to Benefit Children of Domestic Violence

Thursday, February 26, 2009
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Village Wine Market – English Village
2020 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, AL  35223
Admission:  $20 per person payable at the door by cash/check to Birmingham Bar Foundation.
Sponsorships: $250 - Special Recognition & Admission for eight (8) guests.

The Women Lawyers Section of the Birmingham Bar and the Birmingham Bar Foundation have again joined forces to purchase Bunny Bags for children of domestic violence.  The bags were designed by the American Bar Association and contain items of information and comfort for children who are victims of domestic violence.  Plan now to raise awareness and funds for the project by attending the Bunny Bag Wine Tasting on Thursday, February 26th at Village Wine Market from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

The Young Lawyers Section began the Bunny Bag Project in 2000 when Birmingham was chosen by the ABA Young Lawyers as one of three groups to be a part of the national pilot distribution of Bunny Bags.  Since 2005, Bunny Bags have been purchased by the Women Lawyers Section and the Bar Foundation and distributed through the Bessemer Domestic Violence Court and the Birmingham YWCA.

More Bunny Bags are now needed, so please mark your calendar for the Wine Tasting fundraiser on February 26th.  Tickets are $20 per person cash or check payable at the door.  Sponsorships are $250 and include admission for eight (8) and special recognition.  Please contact the Bar Foundation at (205) 251-2231 or bbfound@bellsouth.net or Leatha Gilbert at (205) 870-5500 for more information.

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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

2009 Appellate Courts– Reception
Wednesday October 7, 2009
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

2009 Oral Arguments of the Alabama Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals
Thursday October 8, 2009
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 5th annual convening of the Alabama Appellate Courts in Birmingham is set for October 7-8, 2009.  Please make your plans to attend the reception welcoming the Alabama Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals town on Wednesday, October 7th at St. Paul’s Cathedral Life Center.  Also, on Thursday, October 8th 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.

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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

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 2009

Anne Lamkin Durward, President
Leslie R. Barineau, Vice President
Michael D. Freeman, Treasurer
Georgia S. Haggerty, Secretary
Ferris S. Ritchey, III, Immediate Past President

Charles W. Allen, Sr.
LaBella S. Alvis
Jennifer M. Bedsole
Lee R. Benton
D. Sims Crawford
C. Taylor Crockett
Augusta S. Dowd
Cathy Jones Eades
Michael D. Ermert
Scott W. Ford
Arnita Brown Foster
Leatha K. Gilbert
Gregory H. Hawley
Rhonda S. Hood
Anthony A. Joseph
Erin E. May
Eunice Holt Morrow
Frances King Quick
Gregory S. Ritchey
John D. Saxon
Allison O’Neal Skinner
James R. Sturdivant
Marda W. Sydnor
R. Henry Taliaferro
Martha Leach Thompson
William B. Wahlheim, Jr.
Susan S. Wagner
James S. Ward
C. Logan Hinkle, Board Attorney
Richard S. Walker, 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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