Posted September 28, 20203:00 pm
Written by Jeremy Nobile in Crain's Cleveland Business on 09/29/2020.
One of The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland's biggest annual fundraising events, a summer festival-style concert known as Jam for Justice, was moved to a COVID-19-safe online format this year, and there's still one more performance to catch and various ways to support the nonprofit agency that's been busier than ever amid the economy-rattling pandemic.
In light of the coronavirus outbreak, Jam for Justice has been streaming a few performances by bands — appropriately filled with Ohio lawyers and judges — from House of Blues Cleveland, where the event is typically held in June.
The streams have been hosted on Legal Aid Cleveland's Facebook page, where those interested can tune in for free and find details about past bands.
The last performance will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, and includes Faith & Whiskey, a group featuring Ohio Supreme Court Justice Michael Donnelly. They've been averaging about 300 viewers per performance.
This year's Jam for Justice has helped raise nearly $70,000, but Legal Aid can use every cent it can get as staffers field more requests for help.
Amid the pandemic, legal aid groups predicted they would see a surge in asks for help as the $600 unemployment bonuses ran out, especially from individuals facing eviction. In a typical year, legal aid groups on average turn away every other person who asks for help as they prioritize cases for indigent people and their children who are facing immediate risks to health, safety or welfare.
In the past two months, requests for legal help on housing and employment issues alone have increased 39% and 22%, according to Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.
Go to the society's Facebook or Jam for Justice pages for more information.
Here are some other ways to support The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, per the organization:
- Make a gift at www.lasclev.org/2020jamtickets
- Buy a $115 ticket for the 50/50 raffle at www.lasclev.org/115raffle (as long as tickets last)
- Snag a VIP stay-at-home ticket for $50 and receive a "Cleveland in a Box" — which includes a Legal Aid mask and other treats — to enjoy during the livestream.
Click here to read the full article in Crain's Cleveland Business.