ATLANTA — Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) is proud to announce that it has been awarded $10,000 in grant funding by Norfolk Southern Corporation. This generous grant will support AVLF’s mission to create safe and stable homes by championing equal justice for all. The funds will be allocated to the organization’s innovative Standing with Survivors (SwS) Mobile Advocacy Program, which provides place-based legal support to victims of intimate partner abuse in Atlanta.
“This grant from Norfolk Southern Corporation is a significant boost to our efforts to support survivors of intimate partner abuse,” said Michael Lucas, Executive Director of AVLF. “With this funding, we can extend our reach and provide essential legal services to even more individuals in need, helping them achieve safety and stability. We are deeply grateful for Norfolk Southern’s commitment to our community and their partnership in our mission to fight for equal justice.”
The SwS Mobile Advocacy Program offers free, high-quality legal advocacy to low-income survivors of intimate partner abuse. With the support of this grant, the program will provide critical legal services to survivors and their children, including obtaining protective orders, divorces, child and spousal support, custody agreements, and other holistic services. This comprehensive approach ensures that survivors receive the necessary legal protections and support to achieve safety and stability in their lives.
The grant from Norfolk Southern Corporation will enable AVLF to fill a crucial gap in the provision of affordable, accessible, and culturally responsive legal services for victims of intimate partner abuse. By empowering survivors with the legal resources they need, AVLF is working to build a stronger, safer community for all.
The grant is part of two community programs launched by Norfolk Southern in 2023: the Safety First Grant Program, which seeks to advance safety organizations and initiatives, and the Thriving Communities Grant Program, which aims to promote economic opportunity, support vibrant community life, and provide equal access to basic necessities. Award recipients are selected annually from across the railroad’s 22-state network.
“With a history spanning more than 200 years across thousands of communities, Norfolk Southern is proud to be a part of the towns, cities, and states we serve,” said Kristin Wong, Director Corporate Giving at Norfolk Southern. “Norfolk Southern employees live, work, and play in every community across our network, and we are committed to seeing those communities thrive.”
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About Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
Serving Atlanta and Fulton County since 1979, AVLF is the largest provider of free legal services to two groups: low-income tenants and survivors of intimate partner abuse. Our mission is to create safe and stable homes and families by inspiring the fight for equal justice. We believe no one standing up for their rights should have to do it alone. Whatever our clients are up against, we’re here for them. At AVLF, ‘here’ means many things. It means beside them in court; at our downtown legal clinics nearly every Saturday of the year; in our two offices in the Fulton County Courthouse; in our communities’ schools; and in our clients’ homes. For more information, visit www.avlf.org.
About Norfolk Southern
Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S., serving a majority of the country’s population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.