Mass. Debt Relief Foundation Attorney Wins National Award

Attorney Richard S. Ravosa of the Mass. Debt Relief Foundation won the distinguished Paul H. Chapman award for founding and implementing the program, which helps low income Massachusetts residents who have suffered catastrophic financial setbacks get out of debt and obtain a fresh financial start.

The Paul H. Chapman award is given to only five recipients a year from a national pool of nominations by the Atlanta based Foundation For Improvement of Justice for the purpose of recognizing those individuals whose work improves the local, state, and federal systems of justice in the United States. Over $2,440,000 in cash awards have been distributed since 1986, and Attorney Ravosa has donated his $10,000 award to the Massachusetts Debt Relief Foundation.

The Foundation recognized Attorney Ravosa for his commitment and vision in launching and funding out of his own pocket nearly 100% of the costs of starting the MDRF since 2009, and for his work in representing Massachusetts residents free of charge who cannot afford to hire an attorney to file bankruptcy, but without bankruptcy relief, would be living in poverty or dangerously close to it.

In his address to the Foundation in Savannah Hall at the Four Seasons Hotel in Atlanta, he explained that the MDRF “helps people who are in a 100 foot financial hole with only a 50 foot ladder get out of the hole and get a fresh start.” Attorney Ravosa also said that he has begun the process to implement a national debt relief program for all 50 states to be as effective for debt relief as the American Red Cross is for disaster relief. Accompanying Attorney Ravosa to Atlanta were three of his staff who work on MDRF cases throughout the state, Attorney Maegan L. Hurley, Attorney Michelle L. Cote and Senior Paralegal, Cynthia R. Ravosa.