Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Names Dannielle Leigh as Director of Development

Sept. 19, 2011 - PRLog -- Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) of Newark, N.J. has named Dannielle Leigh as its new director of development. A resident of Rutherford, N.J., Leigh possesses broad expertise in fundraising and grantwriting, having worked for the Menendez for Senate campaign and Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey (PPMNJ) previously.

VLJ provides comprehensive pro bono legal services to economically-disadvantaged adults, children, and families in New Jersey to ensure fair and equal treatment within the legal system. Established in 2001, VLJ has grown from a grass roots effort of 30 volunteer attorneys in Essex County to a state-wide 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with six staff attorneys and more than 1,500 volunteer attorneys providing free legal services to thousands of clients each year.

Prior to joining VLJ, Leigh was the vice president of development and external relations for PPMNJ of Newark, N.J. At PPMNJ, her responsibilities included managing a multi-million dollar budget; increasing the organization's visibility with donors, community organizations, and media contacts; and designing and directing a comprehensive fundraising program including major gifts, planned giving, foundations, direct mail, events and public funding.

Previously, she was the owner of Bright Side Fundraising Consultants of Park Ridge, N.J. In this capacity, Leigh assembled fundraising systems for multiple campaigns and organizations on local and national levels. In addition, she served as the finance and fundraising director for Menendez for Senate, where she wrote and planned the $20 million fundraising effort for the candidate's 2006 Senate campaign. In 2006, Leigh also held the record in Congress for the most amount of money raised in a single quarter.

"Dannielle's breadth of development experience is second to none," said Karen Sacks, Esq., founding executive director of VLJ. "Throughout her career, she has proven herself as both a strong team player and smart, results-oriented leader. We are thrilled to have her join us at VLJ."

Leigh graduated with her bachelor's degree in political science from Rutgers College, with an undergraduate certificate from Rutgers' Eagleton Institute of Politics. She is a member of the National Society of Fundraising Executives and Women in Financial Development. The former commissioner of the West Paterson Board of Adjustments, Leigh received West Paterson's "Resident of the Year" Award in 2003.

Since its inception, VLJ has concentrated on the areas of greatest need for low-income individuals including bankruptcy, family law, special education, and consumer law. VLJ also focuses on helping low-income Essex County residents with criminal records address the civil legal barriers that serve as obstacles to their successful community reintegration with its Newark Reentry Legal Services (ReLeSe) program. Through direct in-house representation as well as through referrals to volunteer attorneys, ReLeSe assists its clients with driver's license restoration, resolution of long out-standing municipal matters, modification of child support orders, and the expungement of criminal records.

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About Volunteer Lawyers for Justice: Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) provides comprehensive legal services to economically-disadvantaged adults, children, and families in New Jersey to ensure fair and equal treatment within the legal system. Programs include free legal counsel and advice, educational seminars on various legal matters, and direct representation for at-risk individuals facing critical civil legal issues. Established in 2001, VLJ has grown from a grass roots effort of 30 volunteer attorneys in Essex County to a state-wide 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with six staff attorneys and more than 1,500 volunteer attorneys providing free legal services to thousands of clients each year.