Bar Foundation GrantsThe Bar Foundation Board of Directors provides grants to worthwhile nonprofit entities to improve the administration of justice and the provision of legal services to West Virginia’s citizens. In 2020, the Bar Foundation Board of Directors approved a grant to Mountain State Justice, the statewide organization which provides significant litigation and civil legal services to underserved West Virginians. In the photo above, Bar Foundation Board member, WVU College of Law Professor Marjorie McDiarmid, on the left, discusses the benefits from the grant funds with Mountain State Justice staff members in their Morgantown office. From left to right are, Office Manager Brandie Huff, Attorney Michael Nissim-Sabat, and Paralegals Emily Lopez and Blue Sullivan. The grant stated that many West Virginians are not aware of services that are available to them due to limited outreach through materials and training sessions that focus on people with limited English proficiency or those with substantial hearing or sight impairment. Federal government figures show that approximately 350,000 state citizens have a vision or hearing disability. In addition, more than 47,000 West Virginians speak a language other than English in their homes. The grant funds have been utilized for interpretation services for client meetings, translation of legal documents, utilization of online accessibility services and translation of outreach materials. The COVID-19 virus pandemic delayed more specific immigration outreach, but a "know your rights training", by video, was set with individual consultations following via remote means.

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