ATLANTA – The Barnes & Thornburg Racial and Social Justice Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to The Boyce L. Ansley School in Atlanta, Georgia, a tuition-free, private school for children who have or are currently experiencing homelessness. The school aims to break the cycle of generational poverty by providing a high-quality academic program and collaborative family support that empowers children and families to thrive beyond their current circumstances.
“We are incredibly grateful to Barnes & Thornburg and the Racial and Social Justice Foundation for this grant and the opportunities it will bring to our students and their families,” said Ray James, head of school at The Boyce L. Ansley School. “Our priority is to provide students who have experienced or are currently experiencing homelessness with access to equitable and exceptional education, but we also offer therapeutic and social services, helping families remove barriers that are keeping them in the cycle of instability and poverty. With the annual cost for one student and their family exceeding tens of thousands of dollars, we are grateful for the support.”
The Boyce L. Ansley School is named in memory of Boyce Lineberger Ansley, a highly respected and beloved member and leader of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Ansley believed in the school before anyone else. When she passed away in 2016, the founding committee had just begun feasibility studies. To honor her legacy, the group named the school in her memory, opening its doors in 2018 on the ground floor of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. The Ansley School is currently the only school of its kind in the Southeast, and one of only a handful of similar programs in the United States.
“We are honored to support The Boyce L. Ansley School in its mission to guide Atlanta students and families out of the cycle of generational poverty,” said John T.L. Koenig, managing partner of the firm’s Atlanta office. “The education and services they provide are vital to achieving equitable outcomes.”
“A child’s well-being and educational success are frequently the collateral damage of homelessness, said Connie Lahn, president of the foundation and managing partner of the firm’s Minneapolis office. “Barnes & Thornburg and the Racial and Social Justice Foundation are proud to partner with The Boyce L. Ansley School in its commitment to advocating for racial and social justice in the local community and working to provide families with a stable foundation for future success.”
The Barnes & Thornburg Racial and Social Justice Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 2020 with financial support coming entirely through personal donations from the attorneys and business professionals in each of the firm’s offices. To date, it has granted more than $1.2 million to organizations in communities where Barnes & Thornburg has offices.
With more than 800 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, Boston, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, South Florida, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us at www.btlaw.com.
