I am delighted to announce the creation of the Hofstra Law School Global Impact Fund, a campaign to support students working domestically and internationally on worldwide causes. The Global Impact Fund will contribute financially to Hofstra's Law Brigades, Legal Emergency Aid Project, and Public Justice Foundation organizations. Read on to learn more about how to contribute and the impact of these groups!
Supporting the Fund:
The Global Impact Fund will be supported solely through the donation of used textbooks to Hofstra Law. Donated books will be resold to the Hofstra Bookstore for recirculation to future law students. The funds raised by reselling the books will be distributed through the Global Impact Fund to beneficiary organizations.
How to Participate:
To participate, students, faculty and staff can drop off unwanted textbooks to the new Global Initiatives & Multicultural Affairs Office in room 307 of the Law School. Book collection for the fall semester will begin on Wednesday, December 8 and end on Wednesday, January 12, 2011. At the time of donation, make sure to leave your name, Hofstra ID number, book titles, and email address with Joanne Masci, who will process the intake. Please try to donate unwanted text books as early as possible, preferably in December after exams, to make sure they are quickly recycled onto the Bookstore's shelves for spring semester. Text books from all disciplines taught on the collegiate level will be accepted.
Beneficiaries of the Fund:
1. Law Brigades - Hofstra Law Brigades is a chapter of a larger umbrella organization called Global Law Brigades. The organization collaborates with legal professionals to work with developing communities on their legal necessities and elaborate projects to implement legal empowerment strategies. The Law Brigades work alongside community members to help them address legal issues and provide solutions. The organization currently focuses on projects in Panama to alleviate poverty and foster human rights and community development.
2. Legal Emergency Aid Project - The Legal Emergency Aid Project is dedicated to providing legal assistance to victims of disasters across the United States and abroad, including victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Members have traveled to New Orleans over spring break to provide legal assistance on a variety of issues, including FEMA claims, insurance claims, social services benefits, mortgage foreclosures, criminal justice matters, housing for displaced residents, voters' rights, immigrant labor, and access to counsel.
3. Public Justice Foundation (PJF) - The Public Justice Foundation is the Law School's public interest law student organization. PJF annually raises funds to support summer fellowships for Hofstra students. These fellowships enable recipients to take low or nonpaying jobs in the public sector that they otherwise would be unable to accept due to financial constraints. The money raised through the Global Impact Fund's book collection will specifically support PJF summer fellowships for students working around the world on global causes.
4. Law Libraries in Developing Countries - Books that cannot be resold to the Hofstra Bookstore or other organizations will be donated to a law library in a developing country. Providing legal texts, even old editions, to a law library can serve as an educational resource to advance principles of democracy and the rule of law. So, feel free to donate any and all books you no longer need - we have a use for all contributions!
Benefits to You:
1. Increase in Used Books Available at the Bookstore - Donating to the Global Impact Fund guarantees your classmates next semester and in the future a supply of books to buy at a discount rate in the Bookstore. The more people that donate, the more used textbooks that will recirculate - potentially saving you and your classmates money.
2. Charitable Contribution Tax Deduction - For those of you interested, donated books are treated as gifts-in-kind to Hofstra Law School. At the time you donate, you will be asked if you want a tax deduction letter generated for you. The letter will indicate the titles of the books and you can work with your tax professional to estimate the fair market value of the total donation.
3. Support Students - If the above reasons to donate don't appeal to you, hopefully the personal satisfaction of supporting Hofstra Law School students does. Students in the beneficiary organizations help in major relief efforts, work on important global causes, and change the world - all while representing Hofstra Law's pursuit of global impact!
I strongly believe that if every law student and faculty member donates at least one book a semester, the Fund could significantly increase the financial support to and impact of the beneficiary organizations. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly. Best of luck on your final exams!
Jeffrey A. Dodge, Esq.
Assistant Dean for Global Initiatives & Multicultural Affairs
Hofstra Law School
121 Hofstra University, Suite 244
Hempstead, New York 11549
(O) 516.463.0417
(F) 516.463.1017
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