Empowering Justice and Legal Education in Monterey County

Dear Colleagues and Community Members,

Hello! I’m writing to introduce the 2026 Board of Directors for the Monterey County Bar Foundation (“MCBF” or “the Bar Foundation”) and provide some background regarding the Bar Foundation’s history and purpose.  First, I must address the loss of MCBF Board Member Charles “Chuck” Des Roches.  MCBF grieves the loss of Mr. Des Roches, and extends our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, and colleagues. 

The work of MCBF would not be possible without its Board Members and here Mr. Des Roches deserves to be recognized.  It was due in large part to Mr. Des Roches’s philanthropic spirit and personal commitment to the greater Monterey County legal community that MCBF was reinvigorated in 2022.  Mr. Des Roches provided leadership and energy to MCBF, and served on the Board for more than four years.  He was deeply committed to the Bar Foundation’s success in charitable giving for justice-related causes, and we are forever grateful for his service and dedication.  Mr. Des Roches left an indelible mark on MCBF, and he will be greatly missed.  As we move forward, we honor Mr. Des Roches’s memory by continuing the work he championed. 

I am Alison L. Baker, current MCBF President, and I am joined on the MCBF Board by Past-President and current Secretary, Cynthia Negrete, Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Kuyper, Brian D. Call, Patrick S.M. Casey, Elizabeth R. Leitzinger, and Nicholas W. Smith.  Thank you to the 2026 Board for volunteering your time and energy to support MCBF’s mission of charitable giving for justice-related causes.

As many of you know, MCBF is the Monterey County Bar Association’s (“MCBA”) charitable arm.  The Bar Foundation was formed as a non-profit corporation in 1993, in response to a generous offer from local attorney and philanthropist David Sabih, Esq.  Mr. Sabih offered to make a gift of funds to support justice in Monterey County, and he offered the gift to MCBA.  As a non-profit professional association, MCBA could not accept a charitable donation, and so members of MCBA’s leadership acted quickly to create the Bar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.  The Honorable Susan M. Dauphine served as the Incorporator, and the original Board included the Hon. Susan M. Dauphine, Luis C. Jaramillo, Frank Hespe, the Hon. Albert H. Maldonado, Gwendolyn S. Buck, Ralph W. Thompson III, Thomas P. Bohnen, and Mary M. Grier.  The Bar Foundation is succeeding today through a strong relationship with MCBA and a focused commitment to local charities.  The Bar Foundation’s mission is “to provide and support law-related charitable projects in the areas of law-related education, pro-bono and other free legal services, and administration of justice.”

In the past year, MCBF made more than $13,000.00 in grants to Monterey College of Law Mandell Gisnet Center for Mediation and Conflict Resolution; Legal Services for Seniors; Monterey County Lyceum for High School Mock Trial; Rancho Cielo for Law Day; Veterans Transition Center; Cold Case Project of Monterey County; and Court Appointed Special Advocates (“CASA”).  MCBF extends its deepest gratitude to all its donors who make the grants possible.  Donors are individually acknowledged on our website, which is updated quarterly: https://mcb-foundation.org/donors/. 

MCBF has ambitious fundraising goals for 2026, and we ask for your continued support.  Please see our website to learn more about MCBF and the organizations we support.  MCBF posts quarterly updates regarding its grant recipients to keep our donors, supporters, and the public informed regarding where their generous donations are going. We also give recognition to our donors and repeat donors.

Finally, there are two vacancies on the board and you’re invited to email me at abaker@fandslegal.com if you are interested in becoming an MCBF Board Member.   

Thank you for your continued support!