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2016 Campaign for Justice Co-Chairs: Thomas Durkin, Meghan Dorritie, and T. Andrew Brown. (Nora A. Jones)
To celebrate the final days of the 2016 Campaign for Justice, the current CFJ co-chairs — T. Andrew Brown, Thomas Durkin and Meghan Dorritie — along with many Campaign for Justice Cabinet members gathered March 23 for the Justice Society Donor Reception held at the Memorial Art Gallery.
Brown spoke briefly on behalf of the co-chairs, thanking the sponsors who underwrote the full cost of the reception, which included museum entry passes to be used before or after the reception. Sponsors again included Canandaigua National Bank, D4 LLC, Constellation Brands, and Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC for the third year since the ‘Justice Society’ was implemented.
A substantial amount of campaign donations come from individuals who give above a certain level, so the recognition program was launched in 2014 with the current contribution level at $350. All of those CFJ donors contributing $350 or more were invited to join the celebration along with leadership staff from all three organizations benefiting from the Campaign’s funds.
Carla Palumbo, CEO of Legal Aid Society of Rochester; Sheila Gaddis, Executive Director of Volunteer Legal Services Project, Inc.; and LawNY Executive Director Ken Perri and Managing Attorney Lori O’Brien were grateful to personally thank campaign contributors and mingle with guests who contributed to the campaign’s success.
“We are blessed to have the caliber of attorneys working in the civil legal services,” Brown stated in his remarks, which included acknowledgement of the campaign co-chairs, the CFJ Cabinet, the agencies’ leadership, the bar associations, and members of the judiciary.
“Members of the judiciary know what it is like for individuals who need civil legal services to proceed to court without counsel and without help, often ending in poor results,” Brown continued. “It is the community’s most vulnerable who benefit from the Campaign’s funds.”
To date, campaign pledges are $13,000 shy of the $280,000 goal. Reminders went out last week to past campaign donors who haven’t yet responded.
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- Maureen Mullholland, general counsel for Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. pauses for a photo with Legal Aid Society of Rochester CEO Carla Palumbo. The two worked together to organize the reception at the MAG. (Nora A. Jones)
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- John Hayes of GLC Business Services, Inc. attended the event as one of the vendors who donated $350 or more. Here he poses with Ed Hourihan of Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC, an event sponsor. (Nora A. Jones)
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- The Justice Society Donor Reception at the Memorial Art Gallery on March 23. (Nora A. Jones)
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- Campaign donor Helen Zamboni (Underberg & Keller LLP) chats with Barb LaVerdi of Constellation Brands. Constellation was again an event sponsor and LaVerdi was active on the CFJ Cabinet. (Nora A. Jones)
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- Bill Davis of Rochester Legal Aid Society pauses for a photo with Legal Assistance of Western New York (LawNY) Executive Director Kenneth Perri and Managing Attorney Lori O’Brien. (Nora A. Jones)
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- VLSP staffers Brittany Belknap and Brian Babcock chat with LawNY colleagues D’Jean Vasciannie and Valerie Spano. (Nora A. Jones)
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- Xerox attorneys Flor Colon and Valerie Bradley were among loyal corporate counsel members in attendance to support the Campaign. (Nora A. Jones)
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- CFJ Co-Chair Andrew Brown thanks three-time sponsor Steve Martin of Canandaigua National Bank while 2014 Campaign Co-Chair Tom Richards looks on. (Nora A. Jones)
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- VLSP’s Sheila Gaddis with Rochester Black Bar Association President Duwaine Bascoe and long-time CFJ volunteer Sharon Stiller of Abramsa, Fensterman, Fensterman LLP. (Nora A. Jones)
