The New Orleans-based Louisiana Bar Foundation recently named Morgan City Attorney Robert “Bob” Fuhrer as chairman of that organization’s state-wide charitable and non-profit Bayou Area Community Partnership Panel.

The LBF has established nine regional chapters across Louisiana to identify community areas of need of LBA funding.

Funding comes from the Jock Scott CPP Grant Program, which is designed to foster collaborations, respond to arising community needs outside the regular grant process and encourage local involvement in the designation of grant funds.

The mission of the LBF is to preserve, honor and improve the state system of justice by funding, developing and promoting efforts which enhance the legal profession, increase public understanding of the legal system and advance equal justice for all under the law.

“I was very thrilled and honored to be named chairman of the Bayou Area committee,” Fuhrer said. “I was already serving on the committee as a member, and I am proud to now serve as chair.”

He said the organization is a branch of the Louisiana Bar Association and LBF District 9 covers St. Mary, Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.

Fuhrer is replacing James McClelland of Franklin, who was named to the LBA’s board of directors.

According to an LBF release, organizations in St. Mary Parish currently benefitting from about $2.2 million in partnership funding include Acadiana Legal Services, Chez Hope Inc., Louisiana Bar Association CPP grants and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services.

Numerous regional and state-wide organizations that operate in St. Mary Parish also received funding from the organization. Statewide, the LBF awarded $4.5 million in grant funding to organizations.

These organizations provided services such as free legal aid to women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, the newly unemployed, those facing the loss of their homes and those in need of guidance to secure food stamps.