Multnomah Bar Foundation

The mission of the MBF is to increase the public's understanding of the legal system, to promote civic education, public participation and respect for the law, to improve the quality and administration of the legal system, and to support programs and projects related to the MBF's purpose.

Click here for a slide show overview of our mission.

Spread the Word

Please help the Multnomah Bar Foundation (MBF) educate our citizens about the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and the importance of juries. Please make a donation to the MBF and help us continue this important work.

Promoting Civic Education and Community Understanding of our Legal System

Founded in 2005, the Multnomah Bar Foundation (MBF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

The mission of the MBF is to increase the public's understanding of the legal system; to promote civic education, public participation and respect for the law; to improve the quality and administration of the legal system; and to support programs and projects related to the MBF's purpose.

The MBF has established two dedicated funds described below: the Civic Education Fund (formerly the MBA 100th Anniversary Community Gift Fund) and Multnomah CourtCare. For more information about the MBF, these funds or how to make a contribution, contact Pamela Hubbs at 503.222.3275 or pamela@mbabar.org.

For further information on the Foundation, please continue reading below and/or visit the following pages:

October Social Celebrates CourtCare and MBF Donors

MBA members enjoyed an evening of socializing at Markowitz Herbold Glade & Mehlhaf as the MBF celebrated CourtCare's 10th anniversary, the recent remodel of the physical space and a successful CourtCare campaign. Guests previewed the foundation's new civic education video series (more information follows) and met some of this year's grantees. Read more about the CourtCare remodel: Courthouse "Childcare Room" Remodel, The Bee: Aug 2, 2011; Pro Bono Renovation Brightens CourtCare Facility, Daily Journal of Commerce: June 16, 2011.


Peter Glade, MBF President, Cashauna Hill, MBF Director, Mary Louise McClintock, Kay Toran, Volunteers of America Oregon and Hon. Janice Wilson

2010 Social Celebrates Civic Education

Over 100 guests celebrated the MBF's fifth anniversary at a September social hosted by MBF President Tom Sand and Miller Nash LLP. The event gave the MBF Board an opportunity to thank donors, present plans for the development of a new civic education video series and introduce some past grantees including representatives from Classroom Law Project, Elders in Action, League of Women Voters of Portland and Oregon and MetroEast Community Media. Wine was provided by Scott Howard, Kivel & Howard LLP.

Click here for photos from the event.

2009 Inspiring Engaged Citizens conference

The MBF hosted representatives from Bus Project, City Club, League of Women Voters of Portland, League of Women Voters of Oregon, Oregon Community Foundation and Urban League to discuss opportunities to work together to create new programs to advance civics education in Multnomah County. Participants also included members of the MBF, MBA and YLS boards.

Future meetings will be used to brainstorm program and project ideas and hone the focus of the resulting coalition or partnership.


Inspiring Engaged Citizens conference - May 13, 2009
Standing from left:

Barbara Fredericks, Second Vice President, League of Women Voters of Portland; Howard Moriah, Director of Education and Marcus Mundy, President and CEO, Urban League of Portland; Charity Fain, Executive Director, City Club of Portland; Leslie Kay, MBA President; Michael Greene, MBF Development Committee Chair; Gwen Millius, Volunteer, City Club of Portland; Lucy Palmersheim, Development Director, Bus Project; Judge Adrienne Nelson, MBF President; Andrew Schpak, MBA YLS Immediate Past President.

Seated from left:

Betsy Pratt, President, League of Women Voters of Portland; Marge Easley, President, League of Women Voters of Oregon; Caitlin Baggott, Acting Executive Director, Bus Project; Jeff Anderson, Senior Program Officer, Oregon Community Foundation; Katherine O'Neil, MBF Board Director.