Barbara McDowell and Gerald S. Hartman Foundation Advocacy Grant

Barbara McDowell and Gerald S. Hartman Foundation Advocacy Grant

Funder: The Barbara McDowell and Gerald S. Hartman Foundation

Award Amount: $25,000

Status: 2018 award (historical grant); LSA was one of six recipients totaling $150,000

Other 2018 Recipients: Children's Rights, Bazelon Center, The Public Interest Law Center, The Children's Advocacy Institute, and The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law

Focus Areas

• Advocacy focused on systemic legal issues affecting low-income populations
• Food assistance/SNAP benefits issues
• Public benefits advocacy
• Government accountability and policy change

Specific Project

• Litigation and advocacy against the Alabama Department of Human Resources
• Addressing wrongfully discontinued government food stamps (SNAP benefits) over a two-year period
• Pursuing proper notification requirements regarding ABAWD (Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents) rule exemptions
• Changing policies regarding how ABAWD rules affect low-income clients

Project Leadership

• Larry Gardella, former LSA Director of Advocacy and retired longtime advocate (spearheading project)
• Michael Forton, Director of Advocacy, LSA
• Felecia Pettway, Managing Attorney, Selma office
• Mary Jane Oakley, Staff Attorney, Dothan office

Foundation Information

Established: 2009

Foundation Mission: Improve the economic well-being and social conditions of disadvantaged persons and groups throughout the United States

Foundation Focus Areas: Grants to tax-exempt organizations promoting systemic impact in:

Civil rights

Low-income housing

Political asylum

Domestic violence

Immigration

Children's rights

Voting rights

Purpose of Award

• Support advocacy efforts for poor and vulnerable clients with public benefits
• Enhance LSA's advocacy efforts
• Recognition as one of the most well-known public interest law organizations in the nation

Contact Information

• Legal Services Alabama
• Phone: 866-456-4995
• P.O. Box 20787, Montgomery, AL 36120
• Website: legalservicesalabama.org