Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education

We are thrilled to announce Mike Vallone, Procurement and Facilities Director at the State Bar of Arizona, as our July Volunteer of the Month!

Mike has consistently gone above and beyond to support the Foundation. From ensuring we had a dedicated workspace during office renovations to coordinating essential security upgrades, Mike's dedication and proactive approach have been invaluable.

His efforts didn't stop there — Mike has continuously included us in building decisions and facilitated seamless transitions for Foundation operations. From installing water service in our conference room to enhancing office security with new locks and badge readers, Mike has always exceeded our expectations.

Mike, your sunny demeanor and unwavering support have not gone unnoticed! The Foundation extends a heartfelt thank you for all you do. Congratulations Mike!

Mark your calendars for Constitution Week 2024! This exciting volunteer opportunity connects attorneys and judges with Arizona classrooms. Please contact [email protected] to learn more and sign up.

https://www.azbf.org/awards/memorials/schubert-memorial

Happy 20th anniversary Lara! Lara's hard work and passion have made a significant impact, and her guidance has been invaluable in shaping the foundation's success over the years. Please join us in congratulating and thanking Lara for her contributions and leadership!

Happy Independence Day from your friends at the Arizona Bar Foundation! 🎉

Today, as we enjoy family time and fireworks, let’s also celebrate the spirit of community and justice that defines our work. At the Foundation, we are committed to our mission of Promoting Access to Justice, from preparing Arizona youth for civic responsibility to providing access to justice for Arizonans most in need!

We invite you to join us in fostering a more informed and equitable Arizona. Learn more about how you can support the foundation here: https://www.azbf.org/get-involved/volunteer

Thank you to everyone who attended our 2024 Awards Luncheon and congratulations to all of our award winners!

Photos by Elaine Kessler

Meet our Volunteers of the Month: Kristy James-Kuehn and her incredible students from Desert Ridge Jr. High School! They volunteered their time to review LawforKids.org and Kids Voting Arizona booklets, sharing valuable feedback to enhance youth civic education. Their enthusiasm and insight will impact generations of Arizona students. Thank you Kristy and Desert Ridge Jr. High Students for your outstanding commitment!

The Kids Voting Arizona Leadership Council (KVLC) participated in their youth summit earlier this month. KVLC is dedicated to instilling lifelong voting and civic engagement habits in students, in turn boosting adult voter turnout.

Students delve into topics such as voter registration, making informed voting choices, and the significance of active participation in elections. Thank you to all participants, mentors, and teachers who made the KVLC Youth Summit a successful event! Together, we are empowering a generation of civic minded students.

We are thrilled to share an article from Arizona State University News, highlighting the incredible efforts of Arizona middle school students as they tackled community challenges through public policy at the 2024 Project Citizen State Showcase.

From addressing environmental concerns to advocating for social justice, these Maryvale students are leading by example and demonstrating the importance of civic engagement.

Mark McCall, Legal Services Innovation Manager for the Arizona Supreme Court, has volunteered with the Foundation and Project Citizen for many years. “After leaving a PC showcase, I am always optimistic for the future,” said McCall. “I appreciate the hard work and dedication of teachers who go beyond the standard curriculum to engage their students in civic learning...More importantly, they see where they fit in the system as citizens who partake in dialogue and contribute to the process in a meaningful way,” he said. “Students who participate in Project Citizen are more likely to participate in civic processes as adults.”

Read the full article here:

Maryvale students tackle community challenges through public policy lens in statewide showcase at ASU | ASU News Local middle school students saw their civics lessons go beyond textbooks as they proposed real policy solutions at a recent competition at Arizona State University.

Today we are shining the spotlight on a volunteer whose dedication and expertise have made a significant impact on our Wills for Heroes program!

A huge thank you to Marsha Goodman, our May Volunteer of the Month, for her invaluable contributions to ensuring that our first responders receive crucial care and support through their wills.

When our program needed assistance in reviewing and updating its forms to reflect the most accurate laws and user-friendly language, Marsha answered the call without hesitation. Her expertise in probate law and her commitment to service were evident as she meticulously reviewed our documents, offering insightful suggestions to enhance clarity and accessibility.

Thanks to her dedication, our program is better equipped to serve the brave individuals who tirelessly serve our communities. Thank you Marsha for embodying the spirit of volunteerism and making a difference in the lives of Arizona's first responders!

Thank you Quarles & Brady LLP for becoming a sponsor of our annual awards luncheon! Join us next week! https://www.azbf.org/foundation-awards-luncheon

Happy 11 years at the Foundation! Francisco Ortega

Thank you Papetti Samuels Weiss McKirgan LLP for becoming a Guardian Ad Litem sponsor!

Learn more about our award winners and how to purchase tickets here: https://www.azbf.org/foundation-awards-luncheon

Congratulations to

Brad Lorenz as the May 2024 Faculty of the Month!

It is with great pleasure we recognize Officer Brad Lorenz for facilitating not one, but two LRE academies this year. Officer Lorenz’ positive attitude about setting aside time to meet for lesson planning and being available to answer questions during the development process was vital to our success. His expertise with laws and working with students brought those lessons to life. Prevention is one of the goals of the School Safety Program and Officer Lorenz is highly effective in presenting the law in a way that also illustrates how to equip students with the necessary skills to avoid legal or social consequences. Officer Lorenz consistently visits classrooms and teaches LRE lessons to his students, which was evident during our academies. This allowed him to share his experience in the classroom with other officers and offer supportive guidance and advice. Thank you, Officer Lorenz, for serving as LRE Academy faculty and your extraordinary work!

Visit Brad’s feature here: https://lawforkids.org/educators/featured-faculty

Congratulations to Andrew Meissen - our 2024 Mark Santana Law Related Education Attorney! Come celebrate his amazing work at our annual awards luncheon June 13th: https://www.azbf.org/foundation-awards-luncheon

Congratulations to our Lyons Den awardees!
https://www.azbf.org/awards/george-lyons-award

Congratulations to Bell Bank , this year's George Lyons Partnering IOLTA Institution awardee. Join us in recognizing their work at our annual awards luncheon on June 13th at the Sheraton Wildhorse Pass. https://www.azbf.org/foundation-awards-luncheon

Join the Modest Means Project to provide affordable legal aid to community members in need. Learn more and apply here: https://ow.ly/Vqyh50RHiM0

The Modest Means Project needs attorneys to provide low-cost assistance to individuals who cannot afford to pay full-price but are not eligible for free legal service programs.⚖️ For more information, visit https://ow.ly/Vqyh50RHiM0

Thank you J.S. Held for being a Guardian Ad Litem sponsor! Join us at our annual awards luncheon! https://www.azbf.org/foundation-awards-luncheon

Congratulations to the Eliot Spalding Foundation - this year's Bouma Philanthropy awardee! Come to our annual awards luncheon to recognize their amazing work! https://www.azbf.org/foundation-awards-luncheon

Thank you Osborn Maledon for being a Guardian Ad Litem sponsor! Join us at our annual awards luncheon! https://www.azbf.org/foundation-awards-luncheon

Congratulations to Shawnna Riggers, this year's Foundation for Justice awardee. Join us in recognizing her work for change at our annual awards luncheon on June 13th at the Sheraton Wildhorse Pass.
https://www.azbf.org/foundation-awards-luncheon

We are excited to share the results of this year's Project Citizen State Competition! These students showcased exceptional civic engagement and critical thinking skills to address important issues in our community. Congratulations to all participants for their hard work and dedication to creating positive change.

Congratulations to our Ross awardees!
https://www.azbf.org/awards/johnjrossaward
https://lawforkids.org/educators

Arizona middle school students presented their portfolios outlining public policy solutions to issues in their communities today at the 2024 Project Citizen State Showcase. Many thanks to the volunteers who made this civic education event a success! Thank you for generously donating your time to empowering Arizona students and nurturing civic engagement.

We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution promotes civic competence and responsibility in Arizona youth. Rainbow Valley Elementary School hosted a We the People mock congressional hearing event! Students prepared and presented statements before a panel of community representatives who acted as congressional committee members. Thank you to our dedicated educators and great work to our future leaders!

Congratulations to our Law Related Education Officer of the Year! Thank you for inspiring and educating youth!
https://lawforkids.org/school-safety-program
https://www.azbf.org/awards/lre-officer-of-the-year

Congratulations to Gloria Goldman, this year's William E. Morris Pro Bono Services awardee. Join us in recognizing her volunteer service at our annual awards luncheon on June 13th at the Sheraton Wildhorse Pass.
https://www.azbf.org/foundation-awards-luncheon

Congratulations to Arizona's Veritas Preparatory Academy for their outstanding performance at the National High School Mock Trial competition last weekend!

Great story showcasing the Teen Court program and
South Mountain High School!

Teen Court program helping Arizona youth avoid jail time Teen Court has been giving Arizona kids in the system a second chance for decades.