Mary Groth - NCBF Lifetime Achievement Award

Groth's tenure was defined by programs that bridged the justice gap, fostered diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, and educated future generations. Among her most celebrated contributions:

• Rock the Foundation Event: An annual rock themed gala (“rocktail attired suggested”) in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame city, now in its 19th year, which raises funds for the Bar’s “lawyers giving back” pro bono and community service programs. Including the presentation of the Richard Pogue Award for excellence in community leadership, this high-energy event has become a cornerstone of Cleveland's legal philanthropy.
• Cleveland Legal Collaborative: Supported by the 150th Anniversary Fundraising campaign, the CMBF helped launch this innovative fellowship program providing 18 months of paid mentorship for early-career attorneys. It equips participants with practical skills in practice management while prioritizing representation for underserved clients through fixed-fee, low-fee, or pro bono service, aimed at addressing gaps left by traditional legal aid.
• Louis Stokes Scholarship Program: One of Groth's deepest passions, this immersive summer internship and mentorship program focuses on introducing students, mostly first-generation college students and graduates of the Cleveland public schools, to careers in the law. Scholars are placed in paid internships in law firms, Legal Aid, the courts and law-related nonprofits, while also participating in group field trips, skill building seminars, and social programs designed to build networks and confidence. Named after the trailblazing Ohio Congressman Louis Stokes, a graduate of the Cleveland public schools, the program has inspired countless participants to successfully pursue higher education and careers in law or related fields. The program’s impact is reflected in the high percentage of participants who have earned college degrees and the many examples of those who have gone on to graduate from law school and build legal careers. In fact, Stokes Scholars alumni are now leading the program’s Oversight Committee, sharing their experiences with each new class of Scholars.
• Legacy 150 Initiative: To commemorate the CMBA's sesquicentennial, Groth focused on development and history. She devoted effort to raising funds to support the Cleveland Legal Collaborative, and in telling the Bar Association’s story, from its founding in 1873—predating both the Ohio and American Bar Associations—through special bar journal articles and “bar story podcasts."
• The 3Rs Program (Rights, Responsibilities, Realities): A civics education curriculum Groth helped create, is now over 20 years strong in Cleveland schools and adopted by other districts. It facilitates dialogue between high school government students and volunteer lawyers, judges and law students, using a uniquely developed curriculum focused on the U.S. Constitution, citizenship education, and tips to help students navigate their path after high school. Since the program started, over 1500 volunteers have participated, sharing their experience and engaging students in the classroom.

Groth's early role as Assistant Bar Counsel, honed her resilience. She recounted her first full day, focused on the work of the Judicial Selection Committee, arriving at 7 a.m. and leaving at 2:30 a.m., emblematic of the "roll-up-your-sleeves" ethos of Cleveland's voluntary bar. As a lawyer and self-described "historian," she worked to weave the city's legal heritage into modern advocacy for social justice, equality, diversity, and civics education.