Pro Bono Net Awarded Empowerment Grant from Motorola Mobility Foundation

July 10, 2012 - PRLog -- Pro Bono Net has been awarded a $15,000 Empowerment Grant from the Motorola Mobility Foundation to increase the reach and impact of the LawHelp network of nonprofit legal information portals. Developed by Pro Bono Net in collaboration with local partners around the country, http://www.LawHelp.org offers free legal aid referrals, know-your-rights information and a variety of self-help tools.

The grant will be used to develop web apps that can syndicate key self-help and referral content from LawHelp sites to social media and partner websites, as well as the websites of other organizations that assist low-income people, including community based organizations, community offices of elected officials, youth and family services, homelessness and housing organizations, libraries and social service organizations.  The development of LawHelp was made possible by funding from the Legal Services Corporation’s Technology Initiative Grants program to legal aid groups in 30 states.

The grant recognizes the important work and mission of Pro Bono Net, a nonprofit leader in innovative programs that increase access to justice, and its network of legal aid partners across the country.  Pro Bono Net partners with legal aid organizations to promote collaboration and maximize their impact on justice issues; connects lawyers with resources to increase pro bono involvement; and provides critical legal assistance and information directly to the public.

“We are pleased to win an Empowerment Grant from the Motorola Mobility Foundation,” said Liz Keith, LawHelp Program Manager at Pro Bono Net.  “These funds will help us make it easier for those facing potentially life-altering issues such as eviction, domestic violence and consumer debt to find information about their legal rights and programs offering assistance.”

Pro Bono Net will partner with Texas Legal Services Center, which manages TexasLawHelp.org, to develop the web apps. “TexasLawHelp.org provides essential civil legal information and referrals to more 300,000 Texans each year,” said Paula Pierce, Managing Attorney, Texas Legal Services Center. “These innovative apps will ensure our resources reach an even broader audience through social media and nonprofit websites with similar missions to serving the legal needs of the underserved.”
 
Empowerment Grants support U.S.-based nonprofit organizations in the development of mobile applications to enrich the communities they serve. This year, 42 non-profits received Empowerment Grants to engage in a wide variety of outreach activities, ranging from technology-literacy education and app boot camps to collecting data for research projects to peer mentoring for students through the use of technology.

“The Empowerment Grants program allows organizations to infuse technology into their communities,” said Eileen Sweeney, director of the Motorola Mobility Foundation. “On behalf of Motorola Mobility, I’d like to sincerely congratulate this year’s exceptional and inspiring group of grantees.”



About Pro Bono Net
Pro Bono Net is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to justice through innovative uses of technology and increased volunteer lawyer participation.  Pro Bono Net uses innovative web-based platforms—www.probono.net, www.lawhelp.org, and www.lawhelpinteractive.org—to recruit and support volunteer lawyers and provide direct information and tools for self-representation to low-income communities.   Pro Bono Net has also developed Pro Bono Manager, pro bono practice management software that helps AmLaw 200 law firms increase pro bono participation, manage pro bono caseloads more efficiently, and raise internal and external awareness of pro bono efforts.  For more information, please visit www.probono.net.

About Motorola Mobility Foundation
The Motorola Mobility Foundation is the charitable and philanthropic arm of Motorola Mobility. With employees located around the globe, Motorola Mobility seeks to benefit the communities where it operates. The company achieves this by making strategic grants, forging strong community partnerships, fostering innovation and engaging stakeholders. The Motorola Mobility Foundation focuses its funding on education, community, health and wellness and disaster relief. For more information, on Motorola Mobility Corporate and Foundation giving, visit Motorola.com/give.