Chemonics International, a private international development firm based in DC, announced a $100,000 commitment to Legal Aid today, as part of our Making Justice Real Campaign. It is the largest single donation in the Campaign’s 30-year history.

“Chemonics has been promoting meaningful change around the world for 45 years, but given the movement for racial justice happening in the District and around the country, we wanted to make a difference here at home,” said Jamey Butcher, President & CEO of Chemonics.

The donation will support Legal Aid’s efforts to provide free legal assistance for low-income DC residents and push for systemic change with the DC government and courts, all with an overarching purpose to end racial injustice in DC. In its Housing Law practice, for example, Legal Aid is fighting the impact of decades of segregation and racial discrimination, where property owners are providing unsafe housing, at prices predominantly black tenants can't afford, and then using the court system to evict them. Tenants who have a Legal Aid lawyer are eight times more likely to keep their homes.

“We are so appreciative of this significant new support from Chemonics, especially at a time when our client community is being disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 crisis, which came on top of years of worsening inequality in the District,” said Eric Angel, Legal Aid’s Executive Director.