December 2007 (Downloadable PDF file)

The Legal Project

Pro Bono Corner
Lisa A. Frisch, Executive Director

Happy Holidays!

Congratulations again to the award winners at The Legal Project's 12th Annual Pro Bono Reception, held October 25, 2007! They are: David Levy, Cheryl Hogan, Laura Egner, The Law Firm of Anne Reynolds Copps and Smith Barney, Inc. To view the pictures from the event, please go to photographer Joan Heffler's website at www.joanheffler.com and log in with number 23591WLegal7. Pictures can be viewed individually or as a slide show, and prints can also be ordered. You will see everyone having a wonderful time, and check out photos of the terrific Silent Auction items that added fun to the evening. Thanks to the many Silent Auction donors, including a number of talented and generous CDWBA members!

MC Lydia Kulbida, Sherry Gold and Award Winners, The Law Firm of Anne Reynolds Copps

And finally, we have the winners of the special Raffle to Benefit the Domestic Violence Legal Connection! The very lucky Grand Prize Winner (the lease from Keeler Motor Car Company or $10,000 cash) is Kim Deso, the First Prize Winner (50" Plasmavision TV from Symmetry) is Catherine Grygiel and Tom Rice is the Second Prize Winner (the $500 Stuyvesant Plaza Gift Certificate), Thank you to all of you who helped sell tickets or who took a chance at the raffle, helping many victims of domestic violence receive free civil legal assistance in the coming year. And thanks to the wonderful donors who made this a very special raffle!

Lydia Kulbida, Peter Connolly & Nell Fodera from Keeler Motor Car Company, Ron Orlando and Jim Huerter from Symmetry (Ed Swyer from Stuyvesant Plaza not pictured)

Meet The Legal Project Staff!

This past July, Lorraine Jenkins joined The Legal Project as a staff attorney. Lorraine represents survivors of domestic violence, assisting them in securing orders of protection, custody, child support, and divorces. She feels that her interest in this field was planted while volunteering at the Task Force for Battered Woman and Child Sexual Abuse Project during her undergraduate studies. Lorraine joined The Legal Project after completing a two year fellowship with the Family Violence Litigation Clinic at Albany Law School’s Clinic & Justice Center where she advocated for clients in family court, mentored clinic students, and provided technical assistance to survivors in need.

Lorraine received her J.D. with a concentration in Family/Elder Law from Albany Law School in 2005 where she was awarded the Martin H. Belsky Graduation Prize for Commitment to Public Interest. She received her undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Ithaca College in 2002. We are thrilled to have Lorraine join our Team!

Speaking of Legal Project Staff, here is a photo of some of our hardworking staff and interns, all dressed up for the Pro Bono Reception.

Thank you for volunteering in October!

$50,000 Matching Grant for 2007

Our Winter Appeal is on its way and we know that this will be the final push that we need to “meet our match” of $50,000, provided by the following donors: Liza’s Legacy Foundation, The Barry and Sherry Gold Donor Advised Fund of the Community Foundation, the Sidney & Beatrice Albert Foundation and the Law Firm of Martin, Harding & Mazzotti. All of the funds donated in 2007 through our Appeals will be matched, doubling the donation, and ending December 31, 2007. To all of you who have donated toward this match—thank you so much! And we are still accepting donations toward the match up until December 31, 2007 if you can help. We’re almost there—please help us over the top with your generosity.

Some more photos from the Pro Bono Reception

Legal Project Board Members Kathe Klare, Lisa Giruzzi and Michelle Wildgrube

Hon. Helena Heath Roland, Hon. Edward O. Spain, TLP Board Member Ron Gardner & Latasha Bosh