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November 6, 2026
Access to justice can be life-changing for individuals and families facing some of life's most difficult challenges. Through its grant program, the Columbus Bar Foundation continues to invest in organizations that provide essential legal support, advocacy, and education for vulnerable members of our community. Grant recipients like Catholic Social Services, Community Mediation Services, and Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio demonstrate the far-reaching impact these Foundation investments have across Central Ohio. This GivingTuesday, you can help extend that impact by supporting the Columbus Bar Foundation and the organizations making a difference in our community.
Supporting Immigrant Families Through Trusted Legal Assistance
Through the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center, Catholic Social Services expanded access to essential legal services for members of the immigrant community. Over the past several months, the organization provided free immigration legal assistance to 159 individuals, representing nearly $47,000 in legal services that would otherwise have been out of reach for many families.
Additionally, Catholic Social Services protected 40 families from immigration-related scams, helping ensure they received accurate legal guidance from trusted professionals rather than bad actors seeking to take advantage of their circumstances. These services helped Central Ohioans navigate an increasingly complex legal system with greater confidence while reducing their vulnerability to misinformation and exploitation.
Preventing Housing Instability Before It Becomes Homelessness
Stable housing is often the foundation for economic security and family well-being. Through its eviction prevention efforts, Community Mediation Services (CMS) assisted nearly 1,000 individuals facing imminent eviction over the past 6 months. Of those served, 71% were able to maintain their current housing, while the remaining 29% gained additional time to secure alternative housing and plan their next steps.
CMS also prioritized education as a tool for prevention. Nearly 350 individuals received information and guidance on understanding the eviction process and strategies for avoiding eviction altogether. By equipping residents with this knowledge, CMS empowers individuals to make informed decisions and take steps toward maintaining stable housing, even long after an immediate crisis has passed.
Addressing the Complex Legal Needs of Domestic Violence Survivors
For survivors of domestic violence, legal challenges rarely occur in isolation. Recognizing this reality, Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) used grant funding to help survivors address a wide range of interconnected issues affecting their safety and long-term stability.
LASCO assisted survivors in maintaining safe housing, securing critical public benefits and income, addressing consumer debt resulting from financial abuse, protecting the well-being of their children, and understanding and exercising their legal rights. Beyond individual case assistance, LASCO helped establish a more responsive and accessible network of support that enables survivors to address challenges earlier and more effectively.
Building a More Just Community
The work of these organizations demonstrates how access to legal services intersects with everyday challenges, from housing and immigration to family safety and financial stability. Through strategic grantmaking, the Columbus Bar Foundation helps ensure that individuals facing legal obstacles have access to the guidance, advocacy, and resources they need to move forward with confidence.
Your support helps make this work possible. By donating to the Columbus Bar Foundation this GivingTuesday, December 1, you help sustain programs that protect families, strengthen communities, and expand access to justice throughout Central Ohio. Thanks to an anonymous donor, collective GivingTuesday contributions will be matched up to $5,000, essentially doubling your impact.
On December 1, give with purpose. Give for access. Give for opportunity. Give for a stronger Central Ohio.
Leah Dotson, Development & Engagement Manager
Columbus Bar Foundation