Updated from 7/11 print edition*
The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New
York (LASNNY) moved in June to a new location
at 40 New St., Saratoga Springs.
LASNNY, which is the successor organization
to the Legal Aid Society of Albany, provides free
civil legal services and education to low-income
upstate New Yorkers.
Officials said the new location will allow
the staff to provide the residents of Saratoga,
Warren and Washington counties easier access
to services.
“The Legal Aid Society provides an invaluable
service to the many low income members
of our community who are in need of civil legal
advice and counsel,” said Mayor Joanne Yepsen.
“I am very pleased that they will continue to be
a presence in our city and I applaud the work
they are doing, day in and day out.”
The acquisition and rehabilitation of the
new property proved to be a challenge the
Upstate New York legal community was willing
to take on. To date, the campaign has reached
a total of $145,000 in donations, thanks to a
challenge grant and match campaign initiated
by the Warren County Bar Foundation to the
Warren County Bar Association, officials said.
LASNNY hopes to raise an additional
$121,000 from members of the bar and the
community at large.
The Foundation, originally planning to
match funds up to $15,000, increased its
pledge by $5,000 when it saw the remarkable
response from its members, officials said. The
challenger, the Warren County Bar Association,
met its $20,000 match for a total gift of $43,000
to the campaign.
James T. Towne Jr., principal at Towne, Ryan & Partners PC, and his
wife Sue, kicked of the fundraising campaign with a donation of
$25,000. To keep the momentum going, an additional $20,000 one-to-one
challenge match was made by the Townes and E. Stewart Jones, partner at
E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy to members of the Saratoga Bar
Association.
.
“When you realize the tireless work the
LASSNY attorneys and staff undertake each day
on difficult and challenging matters on behalf
of the area’s most economically disadvantaged,
it was an easy task helping raise funds for this
great organization,” said Towne.
The overall campaign is succeeding in driving
down the 15-year mortgage on the property,
which will lend not only to a considerable
savings over the life of the loan and necessary
renovations, but also allow for a greater
focus on providing quality legal services, the
organization said.
The new location also houses LASNNY’s
Private Attorney Involvement staff, including
Michele Sleight, Cheryl Dedes and Drew Wagner.
The program oversees the work of pro-bono
attorneys throughout LASNNY’s service area.
The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New
York provides free civil legal services and
education to and advocacy for people with low
income or other barriers to accessing the legal
system. It secures basic needs, protects and
preserves legal rights, provide equal access to
justice and seek fairness and dignity for clients.
It has a staff of 76 in five offices in the region,
serving 16 counties and the St. Regis Indian
Reservation.
To donate to the Saratoga Springs Capital
Campaign, people can visit www.lasnny.org.
The Saratoga Springs office number is 587-5188.
*Updated 7/17 from July 7/11 print & on-line edition to clarify headline and donor details.