SLLS Receives $1.8 Million Gift from MacKenzie Scott
Posted on: March 21, 2024
For Immediate Release
Date: March 21, 2024
Contact: Laura Tuggle, ltuggle@slls.org, 504-529-1000 x 270
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Receives $1.8 Million Gift from MacKenzie Scott
New Orleans, LA—Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) recently received a $1.8 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving, part of her pledge to donate most of her wealth back to society. This is SLLS’ single largest donation in its history. The funds will help SLLS increase access to justice for vulnerable low-income people across southeast Louisiana.
SLLS strives to break down legal barriers and make fair and equal access to justice possible for the people who need it most. Free civil legal aid can help vulnerable people with life’s most basic needs, like protecting families from domestic violence, helping seniors keep their homes, recovering from disasters, ensuring people living with disabilities have stable lives, and securing access for all to our system of justice.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, SLLS has received several awards and recognitions for its innovative response to meeting client needs in challenging conditions. Our New Orleans Right to Counsel eviction diversion project was lauded by the White House for its high success rate. SLLS’ Homeless One Stop Legal Clinic team received the 2023 Louisiana State Bar Association Innovation in Legal Services Award.
“Civil legal aid is an often overlooked but essential solution to stabilizing families in crisis,” said SLLS Executive Director Laura Tuggle. “Many families in Louisiana are still struggling with economic losses from COVID-19, Hurricane Ida, and challenging economic conditions. This unprecedented gift will help us continue to drive innovative solutions to bridge the justice gap.”
About Southeast Louisiana Legal Services
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) fights for fairness in the justice system. We provide free civil legal aid to low-income people across 22 parishes in southeast Louisiana. We have six offices: Baton Rouge, Covington, Hammond, Harvey, Houma, and New Orleans. Our mission is to achieve justice for low-income people in Louisiana by enforcing and defending their legal rights through free legal representation, advocacy, and community education. For more information about SLLS, visit www.slls.org and follow us on Facebook (@SLLShelps).