UC Davis School of Law Receives $60,000 Grant from Verizon Foundation

For the second time, the UC Davis School of Law Family Protection and Legal Assistance Clinic is the recipient of a grant from the Verizon Foundation.  The new grant for $60,000 will go toward operating expenses and allow the clinic to investigate uses of technology to aid more victims of domestic violence.

Under the clinical legal program, UC Davis law students represent victims who otherwise could not afford an attorney.  The Woodland-based clinic represents clients in an average of 79 cases per year, helping victims of domestic violence and their children to obtain restraining orders, custody orders, and the financial support necessary to allow these families to go on with their lives without the threat of further abuse.  The clinic performs vitally needed work as the only entity providing free legal representation to low-income victims of domestic violence in Yolo County, where 18.4 percent of the population lives below the federal poverty level. 

Working with Professor Krystal Callaway Jaime and the Family Protection Clinic staff, UC Davis School of Law students have changed lives, offering protection from abusive situations, reuniting children with parents, facilitating financial support for families in crisis, and more.  At the same time, the students learn valuable lessons as they hone practical skills on behalf of real clients.

In 2008, the Family Protection and Legal Assistance Clinic received a grant of $35,000 from the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic branch of New York-based Verizon Communications.  UC Davis School of Law alumnus and Verizon vice president for legal and external affairs Steve Zipperstein ‘83 and Verizon vice president for strategic programs Elva Lima were instrumental in facilitating both grants.  Verizon has been a corporate leader in the issue of domestic violence prevention for over a decade.  The Verizon Foundation has a strong focus on preventing domestic violence and improving survivors' quality of life.  The Verizon Wireless HopeLine phone recycling program collects and donates wireless phones and equipment to assist victims of domestic violence, giving them an immediate connection to help whenever and wherever they need it.

Kevin R. Johnson, dean of UC Davis School of Law, said: "We are greatly pleased to strengthen our partnership with Steve Zipperstein, Elva Lima, and the Verizon Foundation, whose grant will allow us to further the important work of the Family Protection and Legal Assistance Clinic.  The clinic not only provides extraordinary, real-world experience for law students, but also impacts real lives in the community.  Once again, we thank the Verizon Foundation for its generous support."

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