The Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Foundation announces the Pledge Partnership 2011-2013, a 3-year program supporting the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association's Volunteer Legal Services Program. The Pledge Partnership 2011-2013 succeeds the Foundation's Pledge Partnership 2008-2010 and 2003-2007 Major Gifts Campaign, which have raised $250,000 over the past 8 years from our local legal community to ensure the stability and growth of the TPCBA's volunteer attorney program.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association's VLS Program is considered one of the best in our state, due to the outstanding response of our Pierce County community in recognizing the importance of providing effective low-income civil legal services and the continued need to provide both financial and volunteer support to the TPCBA VLS Program.

Renewal of prior pledges and solicitation of new pledges is especially critical in 2011 because the recession has resulted in cuts to the VLS Program's annual IOLTA grant, while the need for low-income civil legal services is at an all-time high.

Pledges may be made by individuals, firms or businesses. The amount of your annual pledge is entirely up to you, and will not change over the next 3 years. Your pledge dollars stay in Pierce County and pay directly for basic operating expenses of the VLS Program. You may pay your pledge at any time of the year and will receive a receipt for tax purposes. You will receive significant publicity as a participant in the Pledge Partnership 2011-2013.

For more information, contact Laurie Davenport at the Foundation office, (253) 572-5134, vls@tacomaprobono.org, 621 Tacoma Avenue South, Suite 303, Tacoma Washington 98402, or any current member of the Foundation Board.