Campaign Giving Opportunities
Your gift to Detroit Mercy Law matters. Charitable gifts are needed more than ever and make a real difference for our students.
Detroit Mercy Law is focused on increasing scholarships, restoring the Courtyard, and expanding the services we provide through our clinics. Together, these projects will attract and retain the most promising and diverse students, enhance their educational experience, and better serve our communities.
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Join our Mission of Educating the Complete Lawyer
Detroit Mercy Law integrates theory, doctrine, and practice throughout the legal education of our students and graduates lawyers who lead with a commitment to the pursuit of justice, service to others, and the highest standards of the legal profession. Our location in the heart of downtown Detroit and our longstanding Jesuit and Sisters of Mercy commitment to the community make us a unique law school.
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Campaign Goals and Initiatives
The Campaign goal is $2.5 million over three years in support of three projects: $1.5 million to the Courtyard, $1 million to endowed scholarships, and additional funding sought for law clinic program initiatives.
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Hear More About the Campaign
Learn more about the Detroit Mercy Law Giving Campaign and how you can get involved.
On this page: Courtyard Gifts | Scholarship Gifts | Clinical Gifts | Request More Information
The Courtyard is the front door to Detroit Mercy Law. Each year, hundreds of community members come through the Courtyard to enter our front doors. They attend lectures and religious events, participate in panel discussions for students and serve as adjuncts, moot court judges and guest lecturers. It is also a frequent entrance to the Ss. Peter and Paul Church.
The renovation will transform the space into a park-like setting where students, faculty, staff and the community – including parishioners of the Ss. Peter and Paul Church – can study, reflect, and connect with each other in the heart of Detroit.
“We are very pleased to be renovating the Courtyard space. We want to infuse a new sense of energy, warmth and pride in the Courtyard. We hope the space will become a location shared with everyone in the community.”
James Tamm ’85, Co-Chair, Campaign Volunteer Steering Committee
MAKE A GIFT
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View the Courtyard Renovation Project
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Recognition Opportunities
Donors who make a gift of $25,000 or more in support of the Courtyard will receive public recognition of their gift on campus. Below is a list of available naming opportunities.
Courtyard Naming Opportunities- Naming of the Courtyard $750,000
- Gated Entrance $500,000
- Landscape/Green Space Gardens $250,000
- Featured Courtyard Art $150,000
- Study Break Tables and Chairs $100,000
- Conversation Benches $50,000
- Courtyard Display Wall $25,000
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Courtyard Donor Recognition
With each donation we receive, we become all that much closer to our goal. Thank you to all of our Courtyard donors for making a difference through your compassion and generosity.
- Butzel
- Michael Cavanaugh '67
- Class of 1963 - "In memory of the deceased members of the class"
- Class of 1979
- Susan and William Gilbride, Jr. '84
- Patrick J. Hickey '84 and M. Kathleen O'Callaghan Hickey '84
- Michael J. Kelly '65
- Kerr Russell and Weber PLC
- Kitch - Attorneys & Counselors
- Charles Lotzar 1985 - The Lotzar Family
- Kathleen '76 and James '73 Mellon
- Maddin, Hauser, Roth & Heller P.C.
- The Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation
- Saad '80 and Lillian Nadhir
- John Rutherford - In honor of his parents Charles (1953) and Patricia Rutherford
- SOL Dean's Advisory Board Members
- Steven Sallen 1984
- James Tamm '85 and Kimberley Harrison
- The Wisniewski Family
The cost of educating the complete lawyer is an investment in our students that continues to rise. The majority of our students—75%— are the first in their families to attend law school, which makes the investments in additional support and services especially important to the success of our student body.
While 44% of our students receive scholarships, the average law school debt of our graduates is $114,000. Increasing scholarship funds will help attract and retain the most promising and diverse students, and decrease their dependence on loans, which will allow them to follow their passion in practicing law.
MAKE A GIFT
You may endow a scholarship of your own or contribute to one of the existing endowed scholarships.
Endow a Scholarship
Endowing a scholarship is a way to honor a person and ensure that funding is available in perpetuity. Endowed scholarship funds may be established with a minimum gift of $25,000 and paid over a three- to five-year timeframe. View other Endowed Scholarships here.
Contribute to an Established Endowed Scholarship
We invite contributions to these established endowed scholarships.
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Detroit Mercy Law Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship Fund
In March 2019, the Detroit Mercy Law Alumni Association launched its inaugural endowed scholarship fund. All 25 members of the Board of Directors made a gift to the new fund, reaching their initial fundraising goal of $100,000 within the first few weeks of the launch.
Gregory Thiess '79, chair of the Alumni Association Fundraising Committee, looks forward to increasing this endowed scholarship fund over the next three years and doubling the goal to $200,000 – hoping additional alumni will want to make an impact on students’ lives.
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David Williams II ’82 and Gail Carr Williams ’83 Endowed Scholarship Fund
Under the leadership of Judge Terrance Keith '84, the Detroit Mercy Law Association of Black Law Alumni was established in 2019 to serve as a voice and mentoring organization for black law alumni and students. One of ABLA’s priorities is to raise $1 million for this endowed scholarship fund for black law students.
"This is an enduring way to extend and enhance community scholarship. It is truly my sincere hope that many will support the ABLA with contributions to the scholarship with gifts of any size, deepening the legacy for the generations of Detroit Mercy Law black alumni to come."
Gail Carr Williams '83 -
Daniel J. Wright Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund for Child Welfare
The Daniel J. Wright Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Child Welfare assists students at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Maura D. Corrigan, Law '73, worked with Daniel J. Wright, Law '73, her classmate from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, while serving as the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. Chief Justice Corrigan tapped Mr. Wright in 2001 to lead Michigan's effort to upgrade the state's outdated child support payment system by federally-mandated guidelines. Mr. Wright succeeded, saving the state $178 million in what federal officials termed a "miracle." As head of the Supreme Court's Friend of the Court Bureau, and later, as head of the Court's Child Welfare Services division, Mr. Wright continued to work for Michigan's children and families, pioneering "adoption forums" to make it easier for children in foster care to find permanent homes and advocating for legislation that gave children more power in the legal decisions affecting their futures. For his achievements in child support and child welfare reform, Mr. Wright was honored by the state's creation of the Daniel J. Wright Award in 2011 to recognize outstanding advocates for Michigan's children and families.
"My hope is that students studying law, business or social work might develop their interest in child welfare as a career, inspired by the model of our friend and mentor Dan Wright, a wonderful leader in child welfare in Michigan state courts."
Maura D. Corrigan '73 -
Mary and Bruce Newman Class of 1969 Endowed Scholarship
The Mary and Bruce Newman Class of 1969 Endowed Scholarship was created in 2019 in memory of Hon. Bruce Newman '69 to serve students who demonstrate financial need or academic merit.
"It was the Jesuit philosophy that gave Bruce his strong code of ethics. Because of all the support from the University of Detroit Mercy and the School of Law, Bruce was able to help his family, the underprivileged, and the community throughout his lifetime.”
Mary T. Newman -
Professor Richard A. Seid Memorial Child Advocacy Endowed Scholarship Fund
In honor of their father Professor Richard A. Seid, Lenora Seid and Dr. Jerome Seid created the Professor Richard A. Seid Memorial Child Advocacy Scholarship to support students studying child advocacy. Professor Seid was Dean of Detroit Mercy Law from 1976 to 1979.
“As a deeply committed father himself, our dad believed passionately in the promise of our Constitution and rule of law to assure justice for families and children. We established the Professor Richard A. Seid Memorial Child Advocacy Endowed Scholarship Fund in our dad’s honor to support Detroit Mercy Law students who, like our dad, wish to devote their professional skills and compassion to protect the rights of vulnerable and often voiceless clients. We are very proud of our dad’s legacy of advocacy and grateful to Detroit Mercy Law for enthusiastically helping us maintain its vigor for the law school community, facilitating learning and principled work that he would so fulsomely endorse.”
Lenora Seid and Dr. Jerome Seid -
David C. Berry Memorial Endowed Scholarship for Intellectual Property Law
David started his distinguished legal career in Boston, MA where he was a partner at Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault. In 2002, he transitioned his career into academia when he became a professor and patent clinic director at Cooley Law School and later at Wayne State Law School. Most recently he was the Director of International Intellectual Property Clinic at University of Detroit Mercy Law School. He was also Of Counsel at Brooks Kushman.
David is a past Chair of the State Bar of Michigan Intellectual Property Law Section, was Chair of the Steering Committee of the Michigan Patent Bro Bono Project, and was on the board of directors of the Pro Bono Advisory Counsel. He approached his work with pro bono clients as tenaciously as he did all others. In this, and everything else, David believed in the equality of all people and leaves behind a legacy of generosity and kindness."We are honored to establish the David C. Berry Memorial Endowed Scholarship for Intellectual Property Law. We cannot imagine a better way to pay tribute to David and his dedication to his students."
Family of David Berry -
Dean Jelani Jefferson Exum Racial Justice Scholar Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Dean Jelani Jefferson Exum Racial Justice Scholar Endowed Scholarship Fund assists law students who are interested in using their legal careers to further social, economic, and/or legal justice for historically oppressed racial groups in the United States or internationally.
You may set up an expendable scholarship of your own or contribute to one of the existing expendable scholarship funds listed below.
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Raymond A. Booms 1976 Expendable Scholarship
Ray Booms '76 Expendable Scholarship Fund assists two hard-working, financially challenged students each year with preference for a second- or third-year law student with one recipient being a historically underrepresented student.
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Dennis L. Dabney Scholarship Fund
Dennis L. Dabney ’00 established the Dennis L. Dabney Scholarship Fund to support educational diversity at the School of Law, consistent with the University’s mission and admissions policy. This expendable scholarship fund annually benefits two to four students from a historically underrepresented population enrolled at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
Student Recipient Criteria
- Students enrolled full or, at least, half-time at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law;
- Students from a historically underrepresented population;
- Students who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States;
- Students demonstrate financial need or academic merit or other merit according to the guidelines established by the dean of the School of Law.
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Dalton & Tomich PLC Expendable Scholarship Fund for Land Use and Zoning
Daniel Dalton '90 is a graduate and long-time member of the Dean's Advisory Board at Detroit Mercy Law. An expendable scholarship fund has been established for law students wishing to pursue careers in Land Use and Zoning through the firm of Dalton & Tomich, PLC.
The Dalton & Tomich PLC Expendable Scholarship Fund for Land Use and Zoning is an expendable fund that benefits worthy and capable Detroit Mercy Law students. This will assist the students with financial aid, enabling their attendance at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. The Fund will allow Detroit Mercy Law to maintain the affordability and quality of its programs by offering greater financial resources to its students.
"I remember how appreciative I was to receive a scholarship as a law school student and am pleased to give back to the institution that played such a vital role in helping me develop the legal career I’ve built today. Speaking on behalf of our firm, we are happy to give this gift for the specific purpose of land use and zoning to assist future attorneys in pursuing legal work that is engaging, challenging and fulfilling.”
Daniel Dalton '90“I’m grateful to the professionals at Dalton & Tomich PLC for this generous scholarship and am confident it will be of great benefit to students with an interest in planning and zoning who want to continue their law education and practice in this area.”
Dean Jelani Jefferson Exum -
Ven Johnson 1986 Scholarship Fund
The Ven Johnson Scholarship Fund is an expendable fund that benefits two to four qualified University of Detroit Mercy School of Law students. The intent is to assist University of Detroit Mercy School of Law students with financial aid, enabling their attendance at the University’s School of Law. The Fund will allow the School of Law to maintain the affordability and quality of its programs by providing greater financial resources to its students.
Student Recipient Criteria
- Students must be enrolled full or, at least, half-time at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law;
- Preference for U.S. citizens;
- Preference for African American student or other minority student;
- Students must demonstrate financial need or academic merit or other merit according to the guidelines established by the dean of the School of Law.
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Patrick Meyer Expendable Scholarship for African Americans Fund
The Patrick Meyer Expendable Scholarship for African Americans Fund is an expendable fund that benefits worthy and capable Detroit Mercy Law students. The intent is to encourage the enrollment and retention of highly-qualified African American students in recognition of the high percentage of African-American citizens in Detroit, where the University is located. The Fund will allow Detroit Mercy Law to maintain the affordability and quality of its programs by offering greater financial resources to its students.
Student Recipient Criteria
- Scholarships are awarded only to African American prospective students;
- Prospective students must be admitted to Detroit Mercy Law;
- Prospective students must possess high entrance qualifications;
- To continue to receive the scholarship in years two and three, students must be enrolled full or, at least, part-time at Detroit Mercy Law.
- Scholarship funds that exceed tuition and University fees may be used for books, supplies or other living expenses.
Contributions to our clinics are investments in our students and community. Through our clinics, students serve hundreds of clients each year, providing thousands of hours of free legal services to those who otherwise may not have access. Our clinical program is one of a small number of required clinical programs in the country, which means that all students are guaranteed the opportunity to help a real client prior to graduation. This service to our students and community requires significant funding. Expanding the resources available to our clinics will strengthen the practical training our students receive and better serve those in need in our communities.
To learn more about this giving campaign, please reach out to a campaign volunteer or the Director of Development.
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Campaign Volunteer Steering Committee Members
We thank the members of our campaign committee who commit to serve in this important capacity. We look forward to a successful campaign together that strengthens Detroit Mercy Law.
Co-Chair: Meghan Kennedy Riordan '90
Principal, Kitch Law Firm
mkr@kitch.comCo-Chair: James Tamm '85
Partner, Kerr, Russell and Weber, PLC, Detroit, MI
JTamm@kerr-russell.comMaura D. Corrigan '73
Former Justice and Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court Of Counsel, Butzel Long PC
corrigan@butzel.comEugene Gargaro '67
Trustee of University of Detroit Mercy, President of Richard & Jane Manoogian Foundation, Taylor, MI
genegargaro1@gmail.comWilliam D. Gilbride '84
Of Counsel, Abbott Nicholson, P.C., Troy, MI
wdgilbride@abbottnicholson.comMatthew Guinta, AIA, '08, University of Detroit Mercy Architecture
Ss. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church Representative, Detroit, MI
guinta@gmail.comDesiree Marks '94 -CPA, MBA, JD '14
Fund-Raising Chair for the ABLA Board Senior Financial Analyst at Financial Assurance, Corporate Region – GM
desiree.a.marks@gm.comGregory G. Thiess '79
Member, Northern Michigan Resolutions PLC
Greg.Thiess@nmresolutions.comMichelle D. Johnson Tidjani '98
Sr. V. P., General Counsel and Corp Secretary, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI
mjohns55@hfhs.orgJoseph G. Vernon '05 Dual JD
Resident Manager, Miller Canfield, Detroit, MI
vernon@millercanfield.comMark Wisniewski '90
Chairman and CEO, Kitch, Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook PC, Detroit, MI
Mark.wisniewski@kitch.comJustin Zatkoff '14
General Counsel, Zatkoff Seals & Packings, Farmington Hills, MI
justin.zatkoff@zatkoff.com -
Contact the Director of Development
