IJM Receives Gift to Fight Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Honoring Retiring Bank of America Executive David G. Leitch
January 11, 2023, WASHINGTON D.C. — As International Justice Mission (IJM) recognizes Human Trafficking Awareness Day, we welcome a significant gift of $500,000 on behalf of retiring executive David G. Leitch from Bank of America to honor his dedication and years of service to the bank. These funds will go directly to IJM’s global fight against human trafficking and modern slavery.
Leitch recently retired after serving as Vice Chairman of Bank of America from 2021 to 2022 and Global General Counsel from 2016 to 2021. In these roles, he was responsible for overseeing the company’s legal functions and its relationships with many regulatory and law enforcement authorities worldwide.
To further advance the work of IJM, Leitch and his wife Ellen are matching the Bank of America gift with a generous $500,000 donation of their own.
“Ellen and I have been pleased to support International Justice Mission since 2017 to further its work against human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery around the world,” David G. Leitch said. “As someone who spent my career dedicated to the rule of law, I believe in and respect IJM’s commitment to working with local governments to strengthen justice systems around the world to bring about real and needed change. We are grateful to Bank of America for honoring me with this gift and thought it only fitting that we acknowledge the Bank’s generosity with a gift of our own.”
“As IJM works toward our 2030 vision of rescuing millions and protecting half a billion from violence around the world, we are honored to receive gifts like these from the Leitch family and Bank of America,” IJM CEO and Founder Gary Haugen
said. “Generosity like this provides the necessary resources to drive this work forward and create long-term, sustainable change to protect millions of vulnerable people who have been trafficked and trapped in modern slavery.”
Prior to joining Bank of America, Leitch served as general counsel and group vice president for the Ford Motor Company, in the White House as deputy counsel to President George W. Bush, as chief counsel for the Federal Aviation Administration, as deputy assistant attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Legal Counsel and as a partner with Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.
Earlier in his career, Leitch served as law clerk to Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and federal appellate judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III. He graduated first in his class from the University of Virginia School of Law and received his undergraduate degree from Duke University.
About International Justice Mission:
International Justice Mission partners with local authorities in 29 program offices in 17 countries to combat slavery, violence against women and children, and police abuse of power. IJM’s mission is to protect people in poverty from violence by rescuing victims, bringing criminals to justice, restoring survivors to safety and strength, and helping local law enforcement build a safe future that lasts. Learn more at: IJM.org.