Oklahoma Bar Foundation President’s Message

Dear Friend and Colleague:

The phrase “All the world’s a stage” begins a famous soliloquy spoken by the melancholy Jaques and is one of Shakespeare’s most frequently quoted passages. The phrase was already clichéd when Shakespeare wrote As You Like It around 1599.

All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages.
As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7

The Oklahoma Bar Foundation entered the stage in 1946, and this year celebrates a 61-year run of continued growth thanks to the generosity and support of many lawyers and the efforts of a dedicated staff. Actors with leading roles include the OBF Fellows, supported by members of the OBF Board of Trustees, our producer and director, Nancy Norsworthy, and her backstage crew, Marie Golloway and Tommie Lemaster. Everyone in this group deserves your applause.

OBF’s box office revenues have risen dramatically over the past few years, from $330,500 in 2000, to $1.24 million projected for 2007. Much of this revenue increase is attributable to the success of the IOLTA (Interest On Lawyers’ Trust Accounts) program. This year’s income from IOLTA should exceed $1 million. These funds enable the OBF to continue its mission and serve its charitable clients in ways that should make all Oklahoma lawyers proud.

Over the past year, the OBF has been fortunate to receive some very significant cy pres awards. Cy pres award are final surplus funds in class action cases, and sometime other types of court proceedings, that for any number of reasons cannot be distributed to all intended recipients. These awards enable OBF to expand its charitable mission, increase its overall grant awards and dramatically improve its capacity for new initiatives. Although the parties responsible for these cy pres awards wish to remain out of the limelight, they deserve Oscars for outstanding performances supportive of the OBF. Cy pres awards make a tremendous difference in the OBF’s ability to promote law-related causes and programs throughout Oklahoma, and we are very grateful to those who have helped to facilitate these awards.

So what happens to the money? I am pleased to report that OBF has exceeded the $7 million grant award level with a total of $7,471,074 awarded to date. The $7.5 million level will likely be topped by the close of the year. Looking back, in 2002 OBF celebrated the crossing of the $5 million award level. It took over 50 years to cross this threshold. Five years later that amount has grown to nearly $7.5 million (a 50 percent increase) thanks to the success of the IOLTA program and the generosity of attorneys from across Oklahoma. While it is impossible to estimate the number of people who have benefitted from the various programs supported by the OBF, it is fair to say that OBF supporters and contributors have helped make an important difference in the lives of many.

Even though the OBF already has a Fellows cast of over a thousand (1,451 to be exact), we are always looking for more talented new players. We want your support. If you are not already a Fellow, please join our troupe. A ticket to the Fellows program costs only $100 per year, paid over a 10-year period. Upon completion of the initial $1,000 pledge, you can move ahead as a Sustaining Fellow with an annual contribution of $100, or get a front row seat as a distinguished Benefactor Fellow for $300 per year. The OBF also has a special reduced payment plan for those newly admitted to the lawyer’s guild. The sign-up process is easy and all contributions are tax-deductible. You won’t break a leg. I hope you will continue to support the mission of the OBF if you are already a part of the supporting cast as a Fellow. If you are not yet a Fellow, please accept this invitation to join a special community of lawyers by becoming a Fellow today!

I am deeply appreciative of the support and encourage-ment I received this year from the officers and trustees of the OBF. In addition, I owe a personal debt of gratitude to our producer/director Nancy Norsworthy. Her commendable service keeps the OBF show on the road and the show running smoothly.

Sincerely,

Mark W. Curnutte