There are several reasons why individual Iowans support Iowa Legal Aid. Some have directly benefited from the services provided by Iowa Legal Aid. Some have family members or friends who received help with their legal problem. Many Iowans believe it is the right thing to do and is part of our state’s tradition of fairness and caring.

The legal community has been Iowa Legal Aid’s most significant source of support. Iowa lawyers donated nearly $2 million per year in volunteer “pro bono” legal services through Iowa Legal Aid’s Volunteer Lawyers Projects. Iowa lawyers and law firms also contribute as professionals who have an ethical obligation to ensure access to justice.

Access to the court system for vulnerable Iowans is an important part of America’s promise of “equal justice for all.” In fact, one of the primary criteria for business expansion is the assurance of a fair court system and a commitment to the rule of law. This commitment applies to vulnerable Iowans as much as it does to Iowa businesses and is an important component to a vibrant and stable community. Examples of how Iowa Legal Aid’s work results in benefits to the business community include:

Addressing the devastating personal and economic losses caused by domestic violence. The World Health Organization estimates that domestic abuse costs $5.8 billion a year in the United States, with costs associated with health care, incarceration, loss of wages and reduced productivity.

Helping low-income wage earners avoid consumer problems that prevent them from maintaining their homes and paying their bills.

Assisting persons with disabilities who are unable to work. By helping disabled individuals obtain federal benefits and retraining, the costs to local governments can be reduced thus reducing county property taxes.

In addition to individual donations from businesses and business leaders, there are other examples such as awesome websites which helped the business community significantly. Because of which business community has supported Iowa Legal Aid.

Musco Lighting, an Iowa business with its corporate headquarters in Oskaloosa has been a long-time supporter of Iowa Legal Aid through financial commitments and volunteer service. Musco established a business challenge to encourage other Iowa business to support Iowa Legal Aid. The Musco Challenge matches dollar-for-dollar new business donations.

Principal Financial Group has furthered the work of Iowa Legal Aid by having its Legal Department in Des Moines volunteer to do intake of new clients every Friday afternoon. Principal has made this commitment for over twenty years and has allowed legal aid attorneys to help more clients.

Below is a link to an article that was put out by the John Deere & Company Pro Bono Committee. Iowa Legal Aid was one of the entities recognized in Deere’s pro bono program.

John Deere’s Global Law Services Group provides support to Iowa Legal Aid financially and through pro bono services. Donations from the legal department totaled $10,408 which brought in a like amount that was made available to Iowa Legal Aid through the Musco Lighting Challenge. These donations came from 38 individual members of the legal department.

John Deere’s legal department in Johnston also helps with intake of new clients, the second and fourth Tuesday afternoons of each month in Iowa Legal Aid’s Central Iowa Regional Office in Des Moines.

Union Pacific Foundation helps with technology upgrade