Beatrice Grace, a new lawyer, 2015 UO Law School graduate and proud member of OWLS, is a grateful recipient of two OWLS Foundation grants during her final year of law school — the Armonica Law Student Grant (2014) and the Vernellia Randall Bar Exam Grant (2015) — for the financial relief they brought her family: Last year, my family and I were entering a real crisis. At the end of my last year of law school, the ability to study for the bar presented a huge hurdle. I had no way to pay my bills, my rent. I was looking at having to work 12-hour shifts in the ER while trying to study and raise my two children as a single parent. Not passing the bar was an unthinkable option. It would have been a terrible hardship for my family. We had all worked so hard to get me to this point. I am the first person in my family to go to law school and the first person in my family to get an advanced degree. Now, this last mile seemed for all practical purposes impossible. For the first time, I … [Read more...] about Beatrice Grace Thanks the OWLS Foundation for Supporting Her Dream
OWLS Foundation Congratulates OWLS Awards Recipients!
The Hon. Jill Tanner, Recipient of the Justice Betty Roberts Award: OWLS Foundation is very pleased to congratulate the Hon. Jill Tanner, who received the Justice Betty Roberts Award from Oregon Women Lawyers (OWLS) on Friday, March 11, 2016. Jill is a Board Member of the OWLS Foundation, a past Board Member of OWLS, past President of the Mary Leonard Law Society (Salem-area chapter of OWLS) and a very active contributor to OWLS, the Oregon State Bar and many other professional and civic organizations. She recently retired from the Oregon Tax Court, where she was the first woman Presiding Magistrate from 2002 to 2015. The Justice Betty Roberts Award is given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to promoting women in the legal profession and in the community. Jill certainly exemplifies the values and contributions for which Betty Roberts was a role model. We are very proud and gratified to have Jill on the OWLS Foundation Board! Kellie Johnson, Recipient of … [Read more...] about OWLS Foundation Congratulates OWLS Awards Recipients!
OWLS Foundation Celebrates the 2015 Armonica Grants Recipients
The Hon. Jill Tanner of the Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation gathered on November 19, 2015 with recipients and judges to celebrate our Armonica Grant recipients in Salem, Oregon. Congratulations to the grant recipients: Nena Nolan and Jennifer Streeter. In addition to receiving $1000.00 for textbook costs, these recipients were matched with Judges Cheryl Pellegrini and Lynn Nakamoto who will each serve as their respective student's mentor for a year. Members of the Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation gathered on November 6, 2015 with recipients and judges to celebrate our Armonica Grant recipients in Portland, Oregon. Congratulations to the grant recipients: Mei Tsai and Christine Bushnell. In addition to receiving $1000.00 for textbook costs, these recipients were matched with Judges Youlee Yim You and Adrienne Nelson who will each serve as their respective student's mentor for a year. Members of the Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation gathered in November 2015 with … [Read more...] about OWLS Foundation Celebrates the 2015 Armonica Grants Recipients
OWLS Foundation pledges to be a founding supporter of Marion County CourtCare
The Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation has pledged $10,000 as a founding contributor to the campaign to establish the Marion County CourtCare project. The campaign is being spearheaded by the Mary Leonard Law Society, the Marion County chapter of Oregon Women Lawyers. This project will improve the access to justice for litigants by providing day care for their children during the time the litigants need to appear in court. … [Read more...] about OWLS Foundation pledges to be a founding supporter of Marion County CourtCare
Grant Recipient Pays it Forward
A few thoughts from 2009 Armonica Law Student Grant recipient Jacqueline Alarcón: I have been an attorney since 2011; however, my involvement with OWLS goes back to my second year as a law school student (2008-2009), when I was awarded the Armonica Law Student Grant by the OWLS Foundation. As part of that award, I was to be appointed a judicial mentor and attended the OWLS Roberts & Deiz Awards Dinner. I was paired with the Honorable Darleen Ortega who has provided me with invaluable mentorship and has helped define the type of attorney I am and want to be. The Roberts & Deiz Awards Dinner is a special event for me as two influential women have been awarded the Mercedes Deiz award, specifically; Armonica Gilford was awarded the Mercedes Deiz award in 1997 and Judge Ortega in 2011. I have served on the OWLS Fall CLE Committee, and the OWLS 25th Anniversary Committee, and currently serve on the OWLS Roberts & Deiz Awards Dinner Committee. In addition to my involvement … [Read more...] about Grant Recipient Pays it Forward
Foundation Board Member Jill Tanner Recognized as “Woman of Achievement”
The OWLS Foundation congratulates Hon. Jill Tanner, who received the Woman of Achievement award from the Oregon Commission of Women on May 2, 2015. At the event, the awards were presented by Oregon Governor Kate Brown and Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum. Several Foundation Board members attended the luncheon. … [Read more...] about Foundation Board Member Jill Tanner Recognized as “Woman of Achievement”
OWLF Joins OCF Endowment
By Kat Kogan, OWLF Board Member. The Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation (OWLF) is proud to announce that it has joined the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) as an Endowment Partner. With this step, OWLF becomes one of many charitable organizations to take advantage of investing its endowment within OCF's large and diversified portfolio under high-quality investment management at reasonable cost. In addition, OWLF and its donors may now turn to OCF for professional advice and assistance with complex gift transactions. … [Read more...] about OWLF Joins OCF Endowment
Armonica Grants Awarded to Law Students by Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation
By Traci Ray, OWLF Board Member The Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation (OWLF), the 501(c)(3) sister organization to Oregon Women Lawyers, is proud to announce the 2014 Armonica Law Student Book Grant recipients. The OWLF focuses on educating and supporting women and minorities in order to further their access to and participation in the justice system and funds four grants including the Armonica Law Student Book Grant, the Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant, the Justice Betty Roberts Leadership Conference Grant, and the Janis Hardman Medical Support Grant. This year, the Foundation is thrilled to fund six Armonica Law Student Book Grants, and the awardees are as follows: Jayme Mori from Willamette Law School, and Judge Nelson’s mentee, says that “The Armonica Book Grant will help me pay for a bar review course to prepare for the Oregon State Bar exam. Additionally, the grant will serve as a reminder and motivation to continually support women and minorities in the legal community. … [Read more...] about Armonica Grants Awarded to Law Students by Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation
Kim Sugawa-Fujinaga Will Receive Oregon State Bar Award
The OWLS Foundation congratulates Kim Sugawa-Fujinaga, who will be presented with one of the Oregon State Bar's President's Diversity and Inclusion Awards at the Bar's annual Awards Luncheon on Thursday, December 4, 2014. The Award recognizes Bar members who have made significant contributions to the goal of increasing minority representation in the legal profession. Congratulations to Kim, who served on the OWLS Foundation Board from 2010 to 2014. … [Read more...] about Kim Sugawa-Fujinaga Will Receive Oregon State Bar Award
Katherine H. O’Neil Volunteer Service Award Winner Named
The OWLS Foundation congratulates Kathryn Smith Root who received the OWLS Katherine H. O'Neil Volunteer Service Award, named after OWLS' founding president, on September 26, 2014, during OWLS' Fall CLE. Kathy has worked tirelessly on behalf of OWLS and the OWLS Foundation, and she currently chairs the Foundation's Advisory Board. Congratulations, Kathy! … [Read more...] about Katherine H. O’Neil Volunteer Service Award Winner Named
