From Vision to Reality: The San Diego County Bar Foundation's Inception and Impact
Ann Parode-Dynes Turning Necessity into Action is still committed to the foundation's mission after 45 years.
Plato said, “necessity is the mother of innovation” and that is exactly how the San Diego County Bar Foundation was created. Just as there is now, in the 1970’s there was a profound need in San Diego County for legal services for the historically underserved populations, and those without financial means to hire private lawyers. Appointed by the San Diego County Bar Association President, Ann Parode-Dynes chaired a committee tasked with creating a solution to address the demand on the bar association to provide legal services and support to those without financial means to hire lawyers. The San Diego County Bar Foundation was born in March 1979 to accept tax-deductible donations and fund non-profits carrying out the mission of the Foundation in “providing access to justice for the underserved in San Diego.” A simple mission to address a complex problem.
With the guidance of Ann Parode-Dynes, and her committee including the late Greg Knoll, the Foundation was formed as a non-profit arm of the San Diego County Bar Association with the intent to accept individual and law firm donations to “pool” the money and donate it through an application process. Parode-Dynes served as the president of the newly formed San Diego County Bar Foundation to ensure its success. The Foundation was able to raise nearly $70,000 in the first couple of years of its existence, and it donated just as much as it raised to address services for children in juvenile court, domestic violence victims, legal services for seniors and support of legal services for the superior court.
Based on the legacy started in 1979, today the Foundation has been able to raise and donate almost $390,000 in total grants in 2023. Every donation counts, every dollar amount of any size matters, and every ticket purchased to the Evening in La Jolla, all support provided access to justice. The Foundation remains the efficient and reliable way for law firms and individuals to trust their donations are making the most impact by researching the non-profits helping ensure the underserved have access to justice.