In September 2016, Board member Judge Mary Ellen Williams resigned. Greg Castanias, a partner at the Jones Day law firm, where Barbara was a partner was elected in November 2016 to replace Judge Williams by a vote of the Board.

The Foundation received from the 2016 Grantees their year-end reports.

For 2017 the Foundation made grants at its September 2016 annual meeting to five organizations totaling $125,000.

The National Center for Law and Economic Justice (“NCLEJ”) sent a letter to Drinker Biddle on May 31, 2016, thanking Drinker Biddle for its efforts in conjunction with the Barbara McDowell Foundation in a ground-breaking case securing visual aids and assistance for visually impaired individuals seeking to apply for food stamps in New York City.

Children’s Rights which received grants from the Foundation in 2015 and 2016 for its lawsuit, M.D. v. Perry, a case involving abused and neglected children, achieved a significant victory.

Bisnow, a Washington, DC business publication, did a story on the fifth anniversary event celebrating the life and legacy of Barbara McDowell and the pro bono work of Drinker Biddle done to support the Foundation.

On January 21,2016, the Foundation celebrated with a cocktail party the fifth anniversary of the founding of the Foundation and the pro bono efforts of Drinker Biddle undertaken in connection with the support of the Foundation.