ABI ANNOUNCES CONTRIBUTIONS FOR RELIEF FROM HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA

November 4, 2005, Alexandria, Va. – The American Bankruptcy Institute announced today that it has contributed $40,000 toward hurricane relief efforts in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The Alabama Law Foundation, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Mississippi Bar Foundation and the Texas Bar Foundation each received $10,000. The funds will be channeled by the foundations to a variety of legal aid organizations providing services to disaster victims.

“This has been an exceptional year of growth for the ABI and success in all aspects of our mission. It is important to share this success to assist those who have not been so fortunate,” said ABI President John D. Penn (Haynes and Boone, Fort Worth, Tex.).

During an ABI-sponsored luncheon at the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges in San Antonio, Penn presented four checks to bankruptcy judges from the affected states. The judges will forward the checks to the bar foundations in their respective states.

After a thorough examination of the situation in the Southern states affected by the disaster, the ABI Executive Committee determined that the presentation of funds to these state-based law foundations ensures that entities “on the ground,” who can best identify local priorities, will be distributing funds to those most in need. 

“We hope that the damage and destruction of lives and property is largely over. But as more needs are presented, we will consider making additional contributions,” said ABI’s President-Elect, Houston Bankruptcy Judge Wesley W. Steen.

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ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, non-partisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes more than 11,000 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders, turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional information on ABI, visit ABI World at http://www.abiworld.org. For additional conference information, visit http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html