“It is fun to attend events emphasizing Oregon’s community of newer lawyers.”
–Kelsie Crippen, CEJ Associates Committee member 2021-2023
Mission
The Campaign for Equal Justice works to increase the availability of free legal help for low-income Oregonians in need. The CEJ supports legal aid as they work to keep people housed, keep them safe from domestic violence, and help them access support systems.
Your support helps the Campaign:
- operate an annual fund drive powered by nearly 300 volunteers;
- raise awareness about access to justice among lawyers and other communities around the state;
- work with lawyer volunteers and bar organizations to increase state and federal funding for legal aid; and
- operate an endowment fund to preserve the future of legal aid.
The CEJ has raised more than $35 million for legal aid in our annual fund drives over the last 34 years. We bring the legal community together to increase access to the justice system. Please join us.
If you would like to get involved, contact CEJ at office@cej-oregon.org or 503-295-8442. Thank you for your help!
“CEJ provides an opportunity to get to know and work with new people and build lasting relationships.”
–Sophie von Bergen, Co-Chair Associates Committee
“Legal aid and the CEJ promote access to justice, which every attorney should care about.”
–Logan Naccarato, Associate on Lane County Committee
The CEJ is thrilled to welcome Jeremy Aliason as the new Executive Director of Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO).
Jeremy graduated from the University of Oklahoma and Lewis & Clark Law School, after which he pursued a career as an advocate for Native American rights. Jeremy is a member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and also belongs to the Muscogee people with Filipino heritage on his paternal side. He is the first Native American appointed to lead LASO. Jeremy began his LASO career as a staff attorney in the Hillsboro Regional Office. After a stint away, he returned as a staff attorney for the Native American Program, and continued his commitment to serving the legal needs of underrepresented communities. His extensive legal career includes notable roles such as the Executive Director of the National Native American Bar Association.
"This is more than a job; it's my dream role."
Jeremy is “thrilled to be at the helm of this incredible legal aid organization, leading a team with a mission that truly matters. Every day, I have the privilege of supporting our dedicated staff and making a tangible impact. I confidently assert that I hold the most rewarding position in Oregon.”
Iván Resendiz Gutierrez, LASO's Board Chair and Hiring Manager for the LASO Executive Director role tells us that “[Jeremy’s] passion for providing legal services to underrepresented communities and thoughtfulness are just what LASO needs to overcome the numerous challenges facing our legal aid programs.”
Jeremy succeeds Executive Director Janice Morgan, who retired in October after serving 11 years as Executive Director and 25 years in total at LASO.
Justice for Maxwell
Maxwell is an eight-year-old with autism who had outgrown the largest commercially available car seat that fully buckled him in. The car seat’s chest piece and headrest sat too low, and Maxwell was able to unbuckle himself. Maxwell’s mother Charity didn’t think it was safe to drive him in the car anymore, but that meant he would be confined to home, against his therapy plan to get out into the community and interact outside his immediate family.
Charity couldn’t afford the specialty car seat that would allow her to transport him safely, and their OHP insurance for low-income Oregonians denied their request to cover the seat. Charity wanted to try to appeal, but didn’t have much hope that she would win.
Luckily, Maxwell’s pediatrician knew about legal aid, and found them help for their upcoming hearing. Charity couldn’t believe she was going to have a lawyer by her side. “Having a lawyer come to these appeals isn’t a normal thing because they are for people on OHP - people who can’t afford lawyers. Having a lawyer made them think about my request more than they normally would.” Their legal aid lawyer only had a few weeks to prepare, but jumped right in and assembled a team of experts to testify about the necessity of the car seat and its safety.
Charity won her appeal and OHP agreed to cover a car seat for Maxwell. This case not only helped Charity and her son, but changed the OHP rule so they will now cover car seats for other families as well!
" Having a lawyer made them think about my request more than they normally would.”
What is Legal Aid?
Civil legal aid ensures fairness in the justice system. It provides essential services to low-income and vulnerable Oregonians who are faced with legal emergencies and can’t navigate the system on their own. To the average person, our legal system is a maze. That's why lawyers are trained to guide their clients through the system.
Legal Aid Provides:
- free civil legal services to low-income and elderly Oregonians;
- brochures, court forms, and self-help materials to help people navigate our justice system;
- a website with accessible legal information available to all Oregonians; and
- resources to help stabilize families and prevent a further slide into poverty.
Pro Bono Opportunities
Legal aid needs your help! To learn more about opportunities in your area, contact legal aid's Statewide Pro Bono Manager, Jill Mallery at: jill.mallery@lasoregon.org
Legal Aid Case Types
(by percentage)
Legal Aid Funding Sources
Legal Aid in Oregon
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There is 1 legal aid lawyer for every 5,000 low-income Oregonians who can’t afford a lawyer
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More than 381,000 unique visitors found free and up-to-date legal guidance at oregonlawhelp.org in 2023
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More than 27000 clientsserved directly in 2023
0
counties served(that's all of them!)
0%
of low-income Americans reported receiving no legal help for their civil legal problems
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communities withlegal aid offices
Marissa
Marissa did not know what to do. She and her three children were about to lose their home. After a tumultuous breakup, her longtime partner attempted to misuse landlord-tenant law to evict them from their shared home, claiming that not only Marissa, but their three mutual children, were just tenants.
With representation from legal aid at trial, Marissa was able to get the eviction case dismissed.
She no longer fears that she and her children will be evicted from their home.
James
James has severe type-2 diabetes and struggled to properly manage his blood glucose levels. The Oregon Health Plan (OHP) denied him a cheaper, yet more effective, blood glucose monitor to control his diabetes. Doctors get better information from continuous monitoring, it is easier for patients because they can avoid the frequent blood testing otherwise required throughout each day, and it is even cheaper for the insurer! James needed a lawyer to help him make the argument.
Luckily, a legal aid attorney was available to convince OHP to approve the more effective method for long- term use.
Since then, James’ health has greatly improved due to better continuous management of his blood glucose levels.
Congratulations to Our 2023 Award Winners!
Associate Award
Paul Matthias-Bennetch
Paul Matthias-Bennetch is a litigation attorney at Holland & Knight in Portland focusing on complex commercial litigation. He worked with his colleague and co-chair of the Midsize Firm Partners Committee, Sara Heskett, to ensure Holland & Knight had a great fundraising year with a 12% increase in their total firm giving and 100% attorney participation. Paul is a committed and engaged member of CEJ’s Associates Committee and went above and beyond this year. Congratulations Paul and thank you for your hard work!
Midsize Firm Award
Ring Bender LLP
Ring Bender had a fantastic fundraising year with a 51% increase in their total giving and per capita giving over last year and 100% attorney participation. Efforts were spearheaded by Managing Partner Tina Hein and Associate Sage Ertman. Thank you, Ring Bender, for your excellent work this year!
Large Firm Award
Perkins Coie
Perkins Coie improved in every category compared to last year. Per capita giving increased by 38%, total giving increased by almost $13,000, and donor numbers increased. Danielle Benderly, CEJ Board Treasurer Julia Markley, Adrianna Simonelli, and their whole team made an outstanding contribution to the firm’s success. Thank you, Perkins Coie, for your incredible support!
The Justice Cup: Central Oregon
Central Oregon won the Justice Cup as the region with the highest percentage of lawyers giving. More than 28% of Central Oregon’s lawyers donated, and their regional luncheon had double the turnout from last year.
The Central Oregon Steering Committee was chaired by Peter Werner, and included CEJ Board President Kathryn Olney, Judge Dan Ahern, Howie Arnett, Ari Halpern, Frances Mann, Stephanie Marshall, Jamie Svisco, Adam Smith, and Chloe Thompson. Congratulations to Central Oregon!
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The Equity Cup:
Lane County
Lane County won the Equity Cup with almost 22% of Lane County’s lawyers donating to CEJ. They raised 6% more money than last year, and had a 40 person increase in event attendance. Lane County’s Steering Committee was co-chaired by Todd Johnston and Ross Williamson, and included Felipe Alonso, Gerry Gaydos, Jennifer Geller, Kristie Gibson, Erika Hente, Jenny Jonak, Janice Mackey, and Logan Perrien Naccarato. Congratulations to Lane County!
Guardians of Justice
Firms/organizations of 2 or more attorneys that averaged $1,030 or more per attorney
Barran Liebman LLP
High Desert Law LLC
Keller Rohrback LLP
McDowell Rackner & Gibson PC
OnPoint Comm. Credit Union
Pickett Dummigan Weingart LLP
Piucci Law
Rogue Law Firm PC
Stoll Berne
Tarlow Naito & Summers LLP
Defenders of Justice
Firms/organizations of 2 or more attorneys that averaged $530 or more per attorney
Bank of America
Brophy Schmor LLP
CLEAResult Consulting Inc
The Corson & Johnson Law Firm
Dorsay & Easton LLP
Dunn Carney LLP
Farleigh Wada Witt
Holland & Knight
Markowitz Herbold
Oregon Supreme Court
Perkins Coie LLP
Precision Castparts Corp
Ring Bender LLP
Stoel Rives LLP
Tonkon Torp LLP
Two Spruce Law
Justice Council
Firms/organizations of 2 or more attorneys that averaged $330 or more per attorney
Aldrich CPAs & Advisors
Best Best & Krieger LLP
Boise Matthews LLP
Buchanan Angeli Altschul & Sullivan LLP
Center for Non-Profit Legal Services
Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP
Esler Stephens & Buckley
Foster Garvey PC
Gazzola & Warren PC
Haglund Kelley LLP
Hobbs Straus Dean & Walker LLP
Jacobson Thierolf & Dickey PC
Kit A Jensen Attorney at Law
Lane Powell PC
Mark J Lang Attorney at Law Pc
Miller Nash LLP
Murphy Law Group PC
Office of General Counsel Network
Samuels Yoelin Kantor LLP
Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt PC
Law Offices of Daniel Snyder
Swanson Lathen Prestwich PC
University of Oregon School of Law
Williams Kastner Greene et al
Wyse Kadish LLP
The Leadership Cup: Portland
Oregon Law Foundation and CEJ congratulate Portland on winning the Leadership Cup. The Leadership Cup is awarded to the legal aid region with the greatest number of new IOLTA accounts opened at Leadership Banks or Credit Unions.
This year, 86% of new IOLTA accounts opened in the Portland region were at Leadership Banks and Credit Unions. Congratulations to Portland for leading the way!
Where You Bank Matters!
If every Oregon lawyer moved their trust account to a Leadership Bank or Credit Union, nearly $3 million more would be available to help fund legal aid every year. Leadership institutions pay an interest rate that can be 300 times higher than some non-Leadership institutions. More than 3 out of 5 new IOLTA accounts are opened at Leadership Banks and Credit Unions, and more than 90% of the Oregon Law Foundation’s revenue comes from Leadership Banks and Credit Unions!
Legal Aid Highlights from Around the State
Each star indicates a legal aid office. Hover over the office to learn more about their work
Portland Regional Offices - Legal Aid Services of Oregon & Oregon Law Center
The Portland Regional Offices of Legal Aid Services of Oregon and Oregon Law Center serve the largest poverty population in the state. Homelessness and housing problems continue to be major legal issues for low-income clients in the region. Recent priority setting processes resulted in an enhanced focus on centering race equity in all of our practice areas.
Farmworker Program, Gresham Office - Oregon Law CenterFarmworker Program, Gresham Office - Oregon Law Center
Legal aid has farmworker program offices in Gresham, Hillsboro, Pendleton, Portland, and Woodburn. The OLC farmworker program is working on a collaborative project with Legal Aid Services of Oregon, NWJP, Raices de Bienestar, Centro de Servicios de Campesinos, UNETE, and our fiscal partner, Willamette Valley Law Project, to provide comprehensive services to farmworkers who have experienced labor and other abuses in the unlawful marijuana industry.
Pendleton Regional Office - Legal Aid Services of OregonPendleton Regional Office - Legal Aid Services of Oregon
The Pendleton office continues to provide services to seniors in rural communities through an AAA grant.
Columbia County Office - Oregon Law CenterColumbia County Office of Oregon Law Center
The Columbia County Office is part of the Hillsboro Regional Office Service Area, which serves low-income clients and seniors in Washington, Columbia, Clatsop, Tillamook, and Yamhill Counties. Most cases involve family law, with a focus on domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and child support; housing, with a focus on discrimination, subsidized housing, and advice to tenants; and public benefits issues.
Hillsboro Regional Office - Oregon Law Center
The Hillsboro Regional Office expanded its services to include immigration representation as a legal services provider through the Universal Navigation Program (SB 1543).
Lane County Legal Aid – Oregon Law Center
Lane County Legal Aid – Oregon Law Center
The Lane County office worked with Lane County to get funds for clients who can’t afford fingerprints and background checks for expungements.
Central Oregon Regional Office - Legal Aid Services of OregonCentral Oregon Regional Office - Legal Aid Services of Oregon
The Central Oregon regional office has partnered with NAPOLS to provide a monthly, inperson clinic at Warm Springs. The clinic brings the legal expertise of both offices together to provide assistance to tribal members in the areas of will drafting, estate planning, tenant rights, employee rights, protection from domestic violence, public benefits, and expungement of old convictions
Ontario Office - Oregon Law CenterOntario Office - Oregon Law Center
Ontario office staff work with Community in Action, who are partnering with the Housing Authority, on a project called Project Turnkey. Project Turnkey is a short term housing solution aimed at helping individuals that struggle with homelessness or substance abuse. It provides intensive intervention to help individuals overcome their difficulties, get housing vouchers, and transition into long term housing.
Douglas County Office - Legal Aid Services of OregonDouglas County Office - Legal Aid Services of Oregon
The Douglas County office took the lead in updating the Landlord Tenant Handbook, including its Spanish translation, and made sure it is available on-line and in legal aid offices. After doing a bilingual priority setting, the office is putting more focus on consumer law and on education law, including the rights of children with disabilities.
Center for Nonprofit Legal Services
The Center for Nonprofit Legal Services helped survivors of the Labor Day wildfires recover from predatory contractors who did not complete construction after receiving prepaid grants funds. The office is also focusing on work to protect unaccompanied minors and Ukrainian refugees.
Klamath Falls Regional Office - Legal Aid Services of OregonKlamath Falls Regional Office - Legal Aid Services of Oregon
The Klamath Falls office continues to focus on a large number of housing matters.
Grants Pass Office - Oregon Law CenterGrants Pass Office - Oregon Law Center
The Grants Pass office staffs the statewide Public Benefits Hotline and the Josephine County Senior Hotline.
Office priorities are family law, housing law, disability, discrimination, and Oregon Health Plan issues.
Coos Bay Office - Oregon Law CenterCoos Bay Office - Oregon Law Center
The Coos Bay office started a monthly walk-in clinic with Family Resource Services of Reedsport to give low-income residents of western Douglas County immediate access to an attorney free of charge.
Albany Regional Office - Legal Aid Services of OregonAlbany Regional Office - Legal Aid Services of Oregon
The Albany office started a program allowing law students to volunteer to provide paperwork assistance for people who need help filling out family law forms.
Lincoln County Office - Legal Aid Services of Oregon
Lincoln County Office - Legal Aid Services of Oregon
Housing remains the greatest challenge in Lincoln County where affordable housing is in short supply and homelessness, particularly among elders, is shockingly high.
Salem Regional Offices - Legal Aid Services of Oregon & Oregon Law Center
Salem Regional Offices - Legal Aid Services of Oregon & Oregon Law Center
The Salem Regional Office is continuing to partner with the Center for Hope and Safety and has made fruitful new connections with Bridges Oregon, a non-profit for Oregon's statewide deaf and hard of hearing community.
Farmworker Program, Woodburn Office - Legal Aid Services of Oregon
Farmworker Program, Woodburn Office - Legal Aid Services of Oregon
Legal aid has farmworker program offices in Gresham, Hillsboro, Pendleton, Portland, and Woodburn. The LASO farmworker program recently received a US Department of Labor Women’s Bureau grant to provide legal support to clients who experienced workplace sexual harassment.
McMinnville Office - Oregon Law Center
The McMinnville Office is part of the Hillsboro Regional Office Service Area, which serves low-income clients and seniors in Washington, Columbia, Clatsop, Tillamook, and Yamhill Counties. Most cases involve family law, with a focus on domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and child support; housing, with a focus on discrimination, subsidized housing, and advice to tenants; and public benefits issues.
Remembering Linda Clingan
Back in the Portland of 1990, Ira Zarov and Bob Joondeph, sweaty and wild-haired from a basketball game at the YMCA, ran into Linda Clingan in the downtown Safeway grocery store at 10th and Jefferson. Bob had been telling Ira about Linda, a fundraiser he had met who might be able to help Ira with his idea to start a statewide annual giving campaign in support of legal aid. Linda was working in fundraising development for the Oregon Symphony at the time.
She had worked for large foundations and establishment institutions, and had deep experience in the field. Ira was the head of Oregon Legal Services and was part of a coterie of idealistic legal aid lawyers who had come out of law school in the late sixties and early seventies who shared a vision of social change and progress. Somehow, when the institutional fundraiser met the wild-haired lawyers, a shared vision clicked into place.
Linda, Ira, and other founders came together to take up the cause of equal access to justice that we continue today. They were confident that private lawyers were believers too, and that they would contribute their time and resources. They met with the largest law firms in town and talked about their project, and quickly found a community of supporters and volunteers in the private bar.
In her time at CEJ, Linda pioneered a whole repertoire of fundraising ideas—musical comedies on legal aid themes, fundraising birthday roasts, dinners and receptions in honor of national leaders invited to speak in Oregon, and biennial legal aid open houses across the state, all in one day, to generate excitement and demonstrate broad-based regional support. Linda made it possible for national leaders to meet Oregon leaders. She drew lawyers, businesspeople, and legal aid clients into the community of legal aid supporters. She traveled, spoke, and befriended other state organizations that wanted to follow Oregon’s example.
Handwritten notes, home-cooked meals, and original handcrafted awards have been trademarks of her fundraising and advocacy. She was a firm believer in forming friendships with opinion leaders, lawyers, judges, and public officials and in extending warm recognition to those who share the ideal of equal access under the law. Under her leadership, the Campaign for Equal Justice raised $11 million in contributions for Oregon’s legal aid programs and won the bipartisan support of Oregon’s federal and state representatives.
On the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the Campaign for Equal Justice, Linda described feeling like a parent filled with pride. Her words are just as relevant today: The next 30 years will be at least as challenging as the last 30 years, or even any of the 14 years I was lucky enough to be the Executive Director. In that time, we haven’t changed the world, but we have made it a little bit better. When asked the question “How do you change the world?” Eleanor Roosevelt’s answer still applies: “In small places, close to home.” My blessing at 30 is to keep it up. There is so much more to do. You have the privilege of striving to make the world a better place, and you will.
Thank you, Linda, for all that you did to make the world better, and to make us what we are today. We will continue the work in your honor and in your memory
Call to Action
Give to the Campaign for Equal Justice. The best way to increase access to justice is to help legal aid afford more staff attorney positions. We suggest giving at least the value of 3 billable hours of your legal services a year.
Educate. Host a Campaign for Equal Justice CLE for one hour of Access to Justice credit for attorneys.
Endow Take simple steps to endow your annual gift to the Campaign's endowment fund.
Volunteer through one of legal aid's many volunteer lawyer projects and clinics, or join a committee to help the Campaign for Equal Justice raise money for legal aid.
Move your IOLTA account to a Leadership Bank or Credit Union - a financial institution that offers higher interest rates. If all lawyers took this step, funding for legal aid could increase by as much as $1.7 million, enough to fund several small rural legal aid offices. Find Leadership Banks at: www.oregonlawfoundation.org
Connect. Ask your law firm and bar group to make a financial contribution to CEJ, create a fundraiser on social media, and host a fundraising event.
Organizations that support the Call to Action include:
Association of Legal Administrators, Oregon Chapter
Federal Bar Association, Oregon Chapter
Multnomah Bar Association
Northwest Indian Bar Association
OGALLA, the LGBT Bar Association of Oregon
Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
Oregon Attorneys with Disabilities Association
The Oregon Chapter of the National Bar Association
Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Oregon Filipino American Lawyers Association
Oregon Hispanic Bar Association
Oregon Law Foundation
Oregon Minority Lawyers Association
Oregon Muslim Bar Association
Oregon Paralegal Association
Oregon State Bar
Oregon Trans Law Caucus
Oregon Trial Lawyers Association
Oregon Women Lawyers
We need help from lawyers, bar and legal professional associations, and the entire legal community to provide access to justice for low-income Oregonians. Please join us! For more information on how you can be involved, contact the Campaign for Equal Justice.
Samuel
Samuel earned non-taxable income by taking care of his mother, who had ALS. The IRS incorrectly adjusted his tax return and reclassified the income as taxable. Samuel was facing a $22,000 tax bill that he could not afford, and asked legal aid for help. Legal aid prepared an amended return, supplying proof of Samuel’s entitlement to nontaxable treatment.
The IRS continued to argue that the income was taxable, so legal aid kept working to help Samuel. They contacted the Taxpayer Assistance Service on his behalf. The Service agreed that the income was non-taxable, and directed the IRS to process the amended return.
Samuel was relieved of the obligation to pay a tax bill he didn’t actually owe and could not afford.
Janice
Janice lived in a rental apartment with her three children. The apartment needed many repairs, so Janice was looking for another place to live. In the meantime, the landlord was asking her to pay fees for damages that she wasn’t responsible for. She reached out to legal aid for help.
Legal aid contacted the property manager and disputed the charges, asking instead that the landlord make the necessary repairs. Legal aid also disputed thelandlord’s negative reference that was hindering Janice’s ability to find other housing. Once legal aid stepped in, the landlord began repairs and reversed the charges to Janice.
Her family ended up staying in the repaired apartment, avoiding the need to move..
Endow Now!
Planned giving creates a permanent, stable source of income for legal aid in Oregon and honors your lifetime commitment to justice.
Imagine What it Would Look Like if Funding for Legal Aid Was Secure
It is easy to participate: just name CEJ as a beneficiary or partial beneficiary of your IRA, retirement plan, or life insurance policy. In most cases all you need to do is fill out a simple form from the holder of your account or policy. Curious about the lump sum gift amount needed to ensure subsequent yearly distributions matching your current giving level? Check out the chart!
For more information, contact: ayla@cej-oregon.org or call 503-295-8442 and ask to speak to the Executive Director about endowing a gift.
| Annual Gift | |
|---|---|
| $250 | $5,000 |
| $500 | $10,000 |
| $1,000 | $20,000 |
| $2,000 | $40,000 |
| $2,500 | $50,000 |
| $5,000 | $100,000 |
| $10,000 | $200,000 |
| $25,000 | $500,000 |
| $50,000 | $1,000,000 |
Award Winner Randy Compton
The Campaign for Equal Justice is delighted to present the Henry H. Hewitt Access to Justice Award to Randy Compton, retired co-chairman of the Board of Pioneer Trust Bank and a steadfast supporter of access to justice. The Award was established in 2006 and is presented to individuals who exemplify unwavering commitment, leadership, and consistent efforts in advancing equal justice under the law for low-income Oregonians. Randy’s retirement from the Oregon Law Foundation marks the end of an era characterized by his extensive contributions to the legal aid community and his instrumental role in garnering support within the banking sector. As a longstanding member of the OLF board and a key advocate for the Leadership Bank and Credit Union (LBCU) program, Randy has played a crucial role in expanding access to justice in Oregon.
The LBCU program is a coalition of Oregon banks committed to offering higher interest rates on lawyer trust accounts held at their banks. These IOLTA funds are set aside for the benefit of legal aid and civil legal service providers, and the higher interest rates voluntarily offered by LBCUs add millions of dollars of funding to legal aid programs every year.
Randy graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance before going on to spend more than 40 years working at Pioneer Trust Bank. Randy has made sure that the bank remained rooted in its community, in the values of access to justice, and in family. Randy’s twin brother Mike, their father Stuart, and their grandfather Henry Compton have all been President, CEO and Board Chairs.
Randy joined the OLF Board in January 2001, and has continued to be an outstanding figure in both the financial and legal sectors. He has successfully bridged these fields, fostering collaboration and support for access to justice initiatives. He served as OLF Treasurer for many years, and helped the foundation successfully navigate the Great Recession to prevent grant funding from dramatically decreasing. Randy was also instrumental in convincing federal regulators to give Oregon financial institutions credit through the Community Reinvestment Act for their payment of above- market rates in the LBCU program. Those efforts have paid off: the OLF now gives out almost two million dollars in yearly grants and has twenty-two financial institutions participating in its LBCU program. OLF Executive Director Bill Penn tells us that “It is safe to say that Marion County has one of the highest percentages of lawyers banking at leadership banks because of Pioneer Trust Bank, and because of Randy specifically.”
CEJ is pleased to thank Randy for his lifetime of service and to recognize his work with the Henry H. Hewitt Access to Justice Award.
Outside of his work in the legal and banking communities, Randy also has a strong history of supporting nonprofits from many sectors and focus areas. He has volunteered for and served on the boards of numerous local charities and organizations and has given his personal support to nonprofits in many innovative ways. For example, when the Oregon Black Pioneers needed an office space, Randy offered space in the Pioneer Trust Bank building rent free because he believed in their mission to preserve and present the experiences of African Americans in Oregon. Randy served on the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Portland Branch from 2012-2017, and the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Head Office from 2018-2023, including Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee.