With over $2.6 million in grants awarded by the SC Bar Foundation this fiscal year alone, it is easy to see the good we are doing in the world. And the Civil Legal Needs Assessment confirms that our grantees are good stewards of these funds. It is an easy time to sit back and think “we did it!” And yet the Civil Legal Needs Assessment also provides some startling data about the dire need for civil legal services, which is summarized in the following quotes.

"As a board member and now as president-elect of the SC Bar Foundation, I am proud to be a part of providing at-risk and under-served communities meaningful access to justice. I encourage all members of the SC Bar to include the SC Bar Foundation when planning annual donations and to commit in 2024 to learn more about how the SC Bar Foundation improves the lives of South Carolinians throughout the year!"

As of Feb. 1, Sydney Gardner is the new director of finance and development at the South Carolina Bar Foundation.

Sydney grew up in South Carolina, and graduated from Presbyterian College with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in history in 2017. In 2021, she earned a master’s degree in public service and administration, graduating summa cum laude from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.

Save the Date for our Columbia Cocktails in the Courtyard event. It will be held on Tuesday, May 14 at Seibels House & Garden.

This gathering presents a unique opportunity to connect with fellow legal professionals, exchange insights, and forge valuable relationships in a relaxed and elegant atmosphere. Sip on exquisite cocktails, enjoy live music, and engage in enriching conversation with colleagues in the Columbia area.

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Contact sydney.gardner@scbarfoundation.org.

Susan Dunn, Charleston attorney and longtime legal director of ACLU of South Carolina, has received the 2024 DuRant Distinguished Public Service Award for meritorious service to the law and community, awarded by the South Carolina Bar Foundation.

 The DuRant Distinguished Public Service Award was established in 1980 in memory of Charlton DuRant, a Manning attorney who served as state senator and special associate justice of the S.C. Supreme Court. This award is one of the most prestigious statewide honors that members of the Bar can bestow on a fellow attorney. Recipients are nominated by their professional peers and selected by the South Carolina Bar Foundation Board.