Our Mission
     The Long Beach Bar Foundation is a non-profit 501 (C) (3) charitable organization dedicated to strengthen the youth of the greater Long Beach community through juvenile crime prevention and diversion, scholarships, legal education and other charitable programs.

About the Long Beach Bar Foundation
     Since its inception in 1994, the Long Beach Bar Foundation has operated the highly successful SHORTSTOP Program, which diverts non-violent juvenile offenders ages 10-17 away from the juvenile justice system through legal education for juveniles and their parents. More

information about the latest fundraiser activities and events

SHORTSTOP: PressTelegram article on Shortstop SHORTSTOP: To watch a video about the Program created by the Long Beach Press-Telegram ARTSTART: Signal Tribune "art program" article ARTSTART: Gazette's "art program" article

includes Court Date Calendar download link

make a donation online or participate in one of the donation programs or premiums

to add (or remove) your email address on our LBBF news list please click here

"I think the SHORTSTOP Program is a great second chance to help kids out, as well as helping them realize the bad things they have done and also giving them a heads-up on what they are asking for when they break the law. What made me think a lot was the huge booklet we have to read for our first assignment. That really opened my eyes. A suggestion I have for the program is donate an informational booklet to the schools and see their reaction. Maybe this will reduce the number of juveniles doing bad things out on the streets, like stealing. This really opened my eyes, and I thank you for giving me a second chance." ­ Miguel

"I understand the [importance of] the SHORTSTOP Program. I don't think it was bad because this program will actually make you realize [a lot of] things. You won't think about small details like being locked up for your mistakes--it is part of the course--but you will think about bigger things like how much your parents love you (that's why they are here), sitting next to you because of you. That's one big thing you will lose, as well as losing your family. That's the thing I liked most about SHORTSTOP. It made me realize the importance of family. " ­ Anthony

Dear SHORTSTOP Friends & Supporters:

The Long Beach Bar Foundation (LBBF) needs your help in its continuing quest to educate first - time juvenile offenders through its juvenile crime diversion and intervention programs! A $500 gift helps one at risk youth stop short of crime and learn from past mistakes. The National Institute of Justice has found that deterring just one child from a life of crime saves society over $300,000 in crime related cost over a 10 year period.

Through its SHORTSTOP program, each year LBBF is able to help over 450 at risk youth. SHORTSTOP has an extremely successful track record. A Long Beach Police Department study concluded that 95% of the young people who completed the SHORTSTOP program did not re-offend during the subsequent 12 months. Recently, LBBF was featured in an article from the Long Beach Press-Telegram as part of their series "Inside Juvenile Justice". Here is an excerpt.

One boy who uses the moniker "Sneezy" wrote about how he sometimes felt he had an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other. "I listened to the devil," he wrote. He also articulated his willingness to change, his belief that he had let down his mother and his hope that she wouldn't blame herself for his mistake. I'm sorry, mom, he wrote, "Can you forgive me Mom? After reading the boy's essay aloud Laskoff the attorney asked for the mother to identify herself. A woman in the back row raised her hand, but she needn't have. Everyone knew who she was by the tears welled in her eyes.

This testimony illustrates the tangible difference SHORTSTOP can make in the lives of our most vulnerable citizens. As Judge Brad Andrews (Ret.) recently stated in the Press Telegram, "Any time you can take a kid and turn them around when they start down that path, it's good for everybody."

An important factor considered by many of the large foundations from which we seek grants is our record of receiving individual gifts from donors like you. With fewer public dollars being given to juvenile justice programs, it is imperative to continue receiving individual donations. Recently the Long Beach Community Foundation made a $25,000 grant to LBBF to allow us to start an art program as part of our juvenile crime diversion effort. Similarly, the California Community Foundation supported the development of a new strategic plan with a $25,000 grant this year. However, it is gifts from individuals like you, which make up the bulk of our revenue. The SHORTSTOP Program needs you to help fulfill the promise recognized by these prestigious foundations.

Sincerely,
Pamela Swindells, Esq., LBBF Board President
Valerie K. deMartino, Esq., LBBF Board Vice President