About the Fund
Harreen Bertisch Justice for Children Endowment Fund of The Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County (est. 2017)
The Legal Aid Society is a private, nonprofit law firm dedicated to ensuring equal access to the justice system for the low-income, at-risk and traditionally underserved residents of Palm Beach County. We began in 1949 with just one attorney whose function was to give free legal advice to the economically disadvantaged and to refer any court litigation to members of the Palm Beach County Bar Association who handled cases on a voluntary, no-fee basis. Nearly 70 years later we now provide advice, consultation, education and representation free of charge to over 8,000 individuals and families throughout Palm Beach County each year.
Our services address a broad range of legal needs through the following program areas: Family Advocacy, Children’s Advocacy, Individual Rights Advocacy, Elder Advocacy, Health Advocacy, and Community Outreach. Our 21 diverse projects are designed to give the underserved and vulnerable members of our community a voice in the judicial system, including families in crisis, elderly individuals, individuals with disabilities, persons living with HIV/AIDS, victims of domestic violence, the homeless, the working poor, undocumented immigrants, military veterans, indigent individuals with no local family, individuals caring for minor relatives, victims of wage dispute, and foster children and youth.
To learn more about the Legal Aid Society, please visit their website HERE.
If you are considering making a bequest to the Investment in Justice Endowment Fund of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, we recommend the following language:
Bequest Language
I hereby give, devise and bequeath _________ and No/100 dollars ($DOLLARS)… OR
I hereby give, devise and bequeath ____ percent (___%) of my total estate, determined as of the date of my death,…
…to the Investment in Justice Endowment Fund of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, a nonprofit organization located at 700 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL, 33401.
If you would like information about other ways to give, including gifts that provide you with immediate tax deductions, income for the rest of your life and preferential treatment of capital gains taxes, click HERE or call the Foundation at 561-659-6800.
Legal Aid Society honors Harreen Bertisch with new Community Foundation fund
Bertisch, LASPBC’s longtime director of development and spouse of the organization’s Executive Director Robert Bertisch, tragically lost her life on October 12, 2022. She touched all corners of her community, and in response to her passing, LASPBC received gifts totaling $145,000 from over 400 donors made in her honor.
Bertisch had a lifelong goal to help those less fortunate, with a special place in her heart for children. She was loved for her genuine kindness and dedication to making her community and the world a better place for all. LASPBC’s goal is to create a fully endowed staff position dedicated to children’s issues funded through the new endowment.
“We are grateful to the community for their support and it is only fitting that we name the endowed fund after Harreen,” said Michelle Suskauer, president of the board of LASPBC. “She would be proud to know that her legacy will be to help children in need. As we continue to mourn her loss, we hope by creating this fund we honor all the good work she has done to make a real difference in the lives of children in Palm Beach County .”
“We are honored to partner on this endowment fund in memory of such a remarkable person,” said Danita R. DeHaney, president & CEO, Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. “Harreen is a shining example of the importance of providing access to justice for all and we are thankful for the opportunity to help celebrate her life and advance our shared mission to make a difference in the communities we serve.”
