American University

06/03/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/03/2025 14:00

Fundraising for the Common Good

Thanks to support from their fellow Eagles, Washington College of Law students will provide critical services to underrepresented and marginalized communities this summer.

This year, the WCL Equal Justice Foundation (EFJ) raised about $15,000 to help students pursuing public interest internships. The Office of Public Interest will distribute that money via 29 stipends for students taking on unpaid work.

"Being able to access funds makes things like taking an unpaid public interest summer internship possible, especially for people who don't come from means," said Tabitha Pitzer, WCL/JD '26, who was part of this year's EJF fundraising effort.

Since it was established in 1989, the student-run EJF has awarded more than 1,000 stipends to address a nationwide justice gap for underserved communities to access the legal services they need.

In 2022, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) found that 92 percent of civil legal needs for low-income Americans-a population of about 50 million people-went unmet. Each year, about 50 percent of requests for legal help submitted to LSC-funded organizations are turned away due to limited resources.

With public defenders managing overwhelming caseloads, law students can step in and provide a big boost to clients who need legal assistance-all while gaining valuable professional experience.

EJF's creative fundraising efforts aimed to make those opportunities possible for Eagles. In October 2024, student volunteers transformed a Yuma Building faculty and staff lounge into a thrift shop. Over nearly a week, more than 200 clothing items were sold. All items-including designer suits and blazers, skirts, dress pants, shirts, shoes, and jewelry-were priced between $5 and $25, helping law students complete their courtroom wardrobes on a budget.

"Professional clothes can get very expensive, especially if you're trying to network and schmooze in DC," said Delisha Thompson, WCL/JD '27, who stopped by and scored three dresses. "You do have to look your best, and it's definitely a concern for a lot of incoming students."

In March, a night of jazz and elegance included a silent auction. Many items were donated by law professors, who offered the chance to win experiences playing Trivial Pursuit, going out to karaoke, or to a Michelin-star lunch with faculty.

Other prizes included club seats to a Washington Nationals game, weekend getaways, and a round of golf with WCL interim dean Heather Hughes. Participants could bid online, in-person, or make donations directly to EJF.

"Almost more than the value in dollars we raised was the value in students seeing how much professors care about them, especially those in the public interest field," said Public Interest/Public Service Scholar Zev Braun, WCL/JD '26, who was part of a team that organized the event. "The auction really demonstrated that this matters more than perhaps just those 10-week internships. It can shape your whole career."

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