Robert K. Kraft Invests $100,000 in Local Non-Profit Serving Homeless and Low-Income Veterans

BOSTON - June 23, 2015 - PRLog -- Veterans Legal Services, the primary provider of free legal services to homeless and low-income military veterans in Greater Boston, announces its receipt of a challenge grant award of $100,000 from Robert K. Kraft.

Over the last year, Kraft has surprised more than one dozen local non-profits with unsolicited grants of $100,000 each, identifying effective non-profits that would greatly benefit from catalyst giving. These grants fund specific needs at each non-profit to help local, innovative organizations reach the next level.

Kraft has funded a pro bono director position at Veterans Legal Services (VLS), which is a new position for the organization. The additional staff member will allow the organization to grow its volunteer attorney program.

“While VLS receives numerous offers of pro bono assistance from legal professionals, the capacity of its volunteer attorney program has been limited by our small staff’s ability to train and mentor these professionals, whose experience may be in corporate law—not the day-to-day struggles our clients face, like difficulty accessing subsistence benefits and services, putting a roof over their head, or keeping their family together,” said Sarah Roxburgh Lucyniak, Co-Executive Director at VLS. “This award and recognition from Mr. Kraft is a game-changer and will allow VLS to build the infrastructure to serve more veterans in need.”

With Kraft’s investment, VLS will retain Attorney Lynn Girton to serve as its new Pro Bono Director beginning in September 2015. A seasoned legal services attorney with over 30 years of experience, Girton has devoted her entire legal career to access to justice for low-income individuals. Before joining VLS, Girton served as Chief Counsel at Volunteer Lawyers Project and is a prior co-chair of the Boston Bar Association’s Military and Veterans Committee. She is an expert in leveraging the talent and pro bono resources of volunteer lawyers to maximize results for those who would otherwise go without the legal help they need.

“Lynn is a legend in legal services. She will be an amazing addition to the VLS team,” said VLS President Tim McLaughlin.

Kraft notified VLS of the grant award by personally making a surprise phone call to the co-directors. Kraft explained to the directors that he had learned of VLS’s work and he would like to join in its mission by investing substantially in the organization.

“When we received his phone call, there was hail coming down outside and the tough winter had made our clients’ issues more urgent than ever,” said Anna Richardson, Co-Executive Director. “When Mr. Kraft called to tell us about the grant award, it was like a huge ray of sunshine bursting through. We must have talked to him for a half an hour; he had so many thoughtful questions about VLS. It was so uplifting that someone in his position would show such genuine interest in our work.”

The organization will receive $50,000 per year for two years, and Kraft has challenged the organization, and the community at large, to match his gift. In a personal note to VLS, Kraft wrote:

“I want to thank you for being an advocate for our veterans who need our help here at home. As I’ve learned more about Veterans Legal Services, I’ve been impressed with the immediate results and the lifelong impact you achieve…[this gift] will serve as a matching challenge to help you raise new or increased giving from donors and funders…I can tell from your passion and energy that you will more than meet the challenge.”

VLS seeks to raise matching funds of $50,000 by August 2016 and an additional $50,000 by August 2017 to meet Kraft’s challenge.

To respond to the Kraft Challenge or to learn more, please visit www.veteranslegalservices.org.

About Veterans Legal Services:

Veterans Legal Services (VLS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering free legal services to homeless and at risk veterans in the Boston area. VLS promotes self-sufficiency, financial security and stability for this population by providing comprehensive and accessible legal services. By locating legal clinics at homeless shelters and service centers, VLS reaches those who would likely otherwise go without the help they need. VLS serves over 350 veterans per year at the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home, Massachusetts Stand Down for Veterans, and other community events for veterans and deploying and returning troops. For more information, please visit www.veteranslegalservices.org (http://www.shelterlegalservices.org).