The term cy pres comes from a French phrase meaning “as near as possible.” Cy pres awards arise when residual funds from class action lawsuits, probate matters, or other legal proceedings cannot be distributed to all intended beneficiaries. Courts may direct these remaining funds to nonprofit organizations whose missions closely align with the interests of the affected class.
The UCSF Health and Human Rights Initiative (HHRI) is an appropriate recipient of cy pres awards because our work advances access to justice, health equity, and humanitarian protection for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Through our Human Rights Collaboratives, HHRI provides free forensic medical and mental health evaluations that serve as critical evidence in asylum and other humanitarian claims. Since 2019, HHRI has received more than 2,000 referrals from immigration attorneys and trained thousands of healthcare professionals through its educational programs.
A cy pres award to HHRI helps ensure that individuals fleeing persecution have access to life-changing medico-legal documentation while strengthening the network of clinicians, attorneys, and community organizations that support immigrant health.
If you, your firm, or someone you know is involved in a legal proceeding with potential cy pres funds, we invite you to consider nominating HHRI as a beneficiary. For more information, or to arrange a cy pres award, contact HHRI Program Manager, Cecilia Lipp at cecilia.lipp [at] ucsf.edu