Anonymous donor pledges half a million dollars to Bay Area Legal Services
The gift will open a new endowment in honor of the nonprofit's retiring President Richard C. Woltmann
Richard C. Woltmann
Bay Area Legal Services has received a $500,000 pledge from an anonymous donor to establish the Richard C. Woltmann Endowment Fund. The gift honors Richard ‘Dick’ Woltmann’s 43-year tenure as president & CEO of Bay Area Legal Services.
Reflecting on Woltmann’s legacy, the donor stated, “I have known Dick Woltmann since his first days with Bay Area Legal. There is no finer person than Dick — with his compassion, common sense, vision, professionalism, and dedication — who could have managed and grown this agency. We all know this without a doubt.”
The donor also set forth a challenge for Bay Area Legal Services to collectively raise $167,000 toward the endowment, to which the donor will match on a 3-to-1 basis. This pledge represents the largest gift Bay Area Legal has ever received from a single donor.
“Please join me in doing our part to recognize a true gem of our community in a way that will continue to advance his efforts for years to come,” he continued. “Thank you for your past support, and especially now, for keeping Dick’s vision and hard work alive through your commitment to Dick’s endowment.”
Woltmann announced his intent to retire at the end of 2023. The Richard C. Woltmann Endowment will be held at The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. The fund will bolster a variety of comprehensive legal programs and services offered by Bay Area Legal, all geared toward fostering equal access to justice for vulnerable members of the community.
Last year, Bay Area Legal assisted nearly 14,000 individuals, families, and community groups throughout Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, and Sarasota counties.
To contribute or learn more about this initiative, visit bals.org/woltmann.
