Member Spotlight
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation and Mary Groth: Inaugural NCBF Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
It’s been over 7 years since we profiled the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation (CMBF) for our NCBF Member Spotlight. What better time to take a look again, as Mary Groth, a Cleveland-based legal visionary, an NCBF Past President, and recent retiree of CMBF, is recognized for embodying the enduring spirit of bar foundations nationwide.
Mary Groth, NCBF Past President & Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Awardee
As the inaugural recipient of the National Conference of Bar Foundations (NCBF) Lifetime Achievement Award, presented on October 15, 2025, Groth’s four-decade career has bridged justice gaps, fostered diversity, and ignited civic passion—leaving an indelible mark on Ohio’s legal landscape and beyond.
Mary Groth is history major turned trailblazing bar leader. Mary retired in June 2023 after 13 years as Director of Member and Donor Engagement at the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation (CMBF). Her journey began in private practice, evolved through roles as Assistant Bar Counsel handling disciplinary matters, and culminated in transformative leadership at CMBF from 2010 onward. Under her stewardship, the Foundation grew from a modest entity with three trustees and $35,000 in assets to a powerhouse with over 30 board members and a thriving endowment. Read Mary’s full story here.
CMBF’s Cleveland Legal Cooperative
Under Groth’s blueprint, CMBF exploded from $35K in assets (2010) to a thriving endowment with 30+ board members. Today, it unites legal, business, and civic leaders to fund:
- Rock the Foundation Gala (18th year): Star-studded fundraiser at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame fueling pro bono and diversity.
- Cleveland Legal Collaborative: Paid 18-month fellowships for early-career attorneys serving marginalized clients.
- Louis Stokes Scholarships: 8-week summer program launching underrepresented college students into law careers.
- The 3Rs Program: 20+ years of civics education—1,500+ attorneys engaging high schoolers district-wide.
Free Legal Clinics: Shelter, school, and court-based aid reaching thousands. - Halloween Run For Justice: Fun annual event boosting youth empowerment.
Legacy 150: Amplifying CMBA’s 1873 roots in equity and reform.
CMBF’s nationwide model delivers transformed lives and resilient communities. Explore CMBF today.
The National Conference of Bar Foundations proudly spotlights Mary Groth and CMBF’s beacon of service—join us at ncbf.org.