The Florida Bar Foundation on December 7 officially changed its name to FFLA — which stands for Funding Florida Legal Aid — to underscore its mission of supporting critical civil legal aid programs.

“Funding Florida Legal Aid succinctly describes what we do, making it easier for everyone to understand the role we play,” said Murray Silverstein, FFLA president. “Though our name has changed, our mission, staff, board members, and operations remain the same.”

The organization is responsible for administering money swept from the interest earned on trust or IOTA accounts that attorneys use to store their clients’ money as civil legal aid grants. As part of that program, FFLA will distribute roughly $32 million in December to about 34 groups offering free representation to Floridians in need. It has also distributed $3.8 million in civil legal aid support this year.