Unclaimed Settlement Funds

Cy Pres Awards

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) welcomes cy pres, as well as court settlement awards. Cy pres awards allow unclaimed settlement funds from class-action suits to be distributed to organizations that are most likely to benefit or pursue the interests of the class. Court settlement awards come about when parties in a case agree that, as part of the settlement, one party will make a specified dollar contribution to a specific charity, and the court approves the settlement.

Greater Boston Legal Services is an appropriate recipient of both cy pres and court-approved settlement funds. Cy pres and court settlement awards will support the free legal assistance GBLS provides for low-income families and individuals to help them secure or preserve the most basic necessities of life - shelter, food, protection against violence, and subsistence income.

Awards can be unrestricted, for general support, or be designated to fund legal assistance for a particular population or a specific area of GBLS’ work.

  • People living in poverty
    • Women
    • Families
    • Elders
  • Victims of domestic violence
  • Victims of consumer fraud
  • Families facing destitution
  • Homeless families
  • Individuals with disabilities
  • Low-wage workers
  • Immigrants
  • Nursing home residents
  • Victims of torture
  • Access to and preservation of affordable housing
  • Access to emergency shelter
  • Access to illegally denied nutritional, medical or income benefits
  • Access to prescription drugs for elders
  • Access to job training for low-wage workers
  • Asylum & safe haven in the U.S.
  • Consumer fraud
  • Elder rights
  • Illegally denied wages
  • Nursing home residents’ rights
  • Protection from abuse

Please keep GBLS in mind when directing a Cy Pres or court settlement award. For further information, please contact Ana Cruz at 617-603-1565, or acruz [at] gbls.org (acruz[at]gbls[dot]org).