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SeniorLAW Center’s Gala Celebrates Justice for Older Adults, Honoring Champions for Justice & Hall of Fame Inductees

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SeniorLAW Center’s Gala Celebrates Justice for Older Adults, Honoring Champions for Justice & Hall of Fame Inductees

2024 Gala Chair and SeniorLAW Center Board Member, Tanya Simmons Reid, and 2024 Hall of Fame Inductee, Stephen Stewart, Esq.
Executive Director of SeniorLAW Center, Karen Buck, Esq.; 2024 Champion for Justice Honoree, Susan Lessack, Esq.; and former SeniorLAW Center Board Chair & Hall of Fame member, Gay Parks Rainville, Esq.
2024 Champion for Justice Honoree, the Grandparents Justice Advisory Council, represented by Ms. Valerie Boone, Ms. Ruth Stevens and Ms. Celeste Williams.
Executive Director of SeniorLAW Center, Karen Buck, Esq. and 2024 Champion for Justice Honoree, Larry Felzer, Esq.
2024 Hall of Fame Inductee, Stephen Stewart, Esq.; 2024 Champion for Justice Honoree, Susan Lessack, Esq.; 2024 Champion for Justice Honoree, Larry Felzer, Esq.
SeniorLAW Center Board Member, Kate Heitzenrater, Esq.; SeniorLAW Center Board Member, Jason Conn, Esq.; Attendee Jeremy Menkowitz, Esq.; and 2024 Champion for Justice Honoree, Larry Felzer, Esq.
A portion of SeniorLAW Center’s staff of 50+; front row L to R: Director, Tenant Rights, Jacob Speidel, Esq.; Director, Legal Services, Leah Finlayson, Esq.; Executive Director, Karen Buck, Esq.; Sr. Director of Finance and Operations, Larry Felzer, Esq.; Director, Intake, Education and Pro Bono, Joanna Jarzebowska, Esq.; and Director, Victim Services, Brendan Corbalis, Esq.
SeniorLAW Center Board Member, Matt Swett, Esq.; Attendees Sarah and Josh Biblioni; Attendee Noreen Ruddy
Larry Beaser, Esq. and Shelly Beaser
SeniorLAW Center Board Member, Ezra Wohlgelernter, Esq.; Attendee and Sponsor Thomas J. Duffy, Esq.; Attendee and Sponsor Alan Feldman, Esq.
Attendee Caroline England and SeniorLAW Center Operations Manager, Jeff Gerome
Attendees Stean Wilborn, Victor Badoo and Alex Deering
Attendees Cynthia Ruggerio, Esq. and John Anooshian, Esq.
The Lucy from the balcony
Former SeniorLAW Center Board Chair, Teresa Cavenagh and John Cavenagh & Former SeniorLAW Center Staff Members Beth Shay, Esq. and Sue Wasserkrug, Esq.
SeniorLAW Center Executive Director, Karen Buck, Esq. and SeniorLAW Center Board Member and 2024 Gala Chair, Tanya Simmons Reid
Stephanie Cruse and SeniorLAW Center Board Member, Will Cruse, Esq.
Operations Manager, Jeff Gerome; Staff Attorney, Homeownership Rights, Tyler Smith, Esq.; Administrative Coordinator, Tenant Rights, Jonathan Lopez; Legal Advocate, Tenant Rights, Peter Lukau
Bill H. Fedullo, Esq. and SeniorLAW Center Board Member Shelli Fedullo, Esq.
Former SeniorLAW Center staff member Janine Dunlap-Kiah, Esq. and 2024 Gala Committee member Rich W. Quinn
Supervising Attorney, Tenant Rights, Daniel Hymen, Esq.; Legal Advocate, Janet Baldo; Director, Intake, Education & Pro Bono, Joanna Jarzebowska, Esq.
A Picture from the Stage
SeniorLAW Center Board Chair, Beth Rubin, Esq.
Staff Attorney in Access to Justice in Guardianship, Valerie Snow, Esq.; former SeniorLAW Center Board Member Steve Feldman, Esq. and Eileen Rudnick
SeniorLAW Center Board Observer, Holli Packer, Esq. and Mike Packer
Dr. Felice LePar and SeniorLAW Center Board Member, Joe Silverstein, Esq.
Ms. Valerie Boone of the Grandparents Justice Advisory Council sharing her story. Legal Advocate, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Rich Alston and Supervising Attorney, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Heather Kelly, Esq. in the foreground.
Attendees Sultan Shakir and Geoff Bruen, Esq.
Former SeniorLAW Center Board Chair, Gay Parks Rainville, Esq.
Top Row L to R: Lynn Levy, Tom Miller, and Wendy Axelrod.
Bottom Row L to R: Jen Ehlers, Michael Argentieri, SeniorLAW Center Board Chair Beth Rubin, Esq. and Andrew Johanson
SeniorLAW Center Board Member Caitlin McKenna, Esq. and Patrice A. Toland, Esq.
Co-Host Jeff Hammond
SeniorLAW Center Board Member Jason Conn, Esq., Karen Conn, SeniorLAW Center Staff Member Rich Conn, Esq., and Janet Conn

Philadelphia, PA – On April 10, 2024, The Lucy in downtown Philadelphia became a hub of celebration and advocacy as nearly 300 individuals gathered for SeniorLAW Center’s Annual Gala. With a resounding theme of “Celebrating Justice,” the event recognized the unwavering dedication of Champions for Justice and raised vital funds to support SeniorLAW Center’s critical work.

At the event, we honored 4 individuals and groups who helped move our mission forward through decades of service and dedication to SeniorLAW Center. We inducted Stephen Stewart, Esq. into the SeniorLAW Center Hall of Fame in recognition for his decade of volunteer and Board of Directors service. We honored Susan Lessack, Esq. with the the Champion for Justice award for her exceptional and dedicated pro bono service. We celebrated the Grandparents Justice Advisory Council as Champions for Justice, who are former clients and community members who are raising grandchildren in Philadelphia when birth parents cannot. And finally, we ended the night by honoring Larry Felzer, Esq. with the Champion for Justice award in recognition of his visionary leadership and 20+ years of service to SeniorLAW Center. These distinguished honorees epitomize the values and mission of SeniorLAW Center, demonstrating exemplary leadership and dedication in advancing justice for older adults.

SeniorLAW Center stands as a beacon of hope and support for thousands of older people each year. Their mission encompasses a multifaceted approach, seeking justice, educating communities, and advocating on local, state, and national platforms. Their tireless efforts extend to combating homelessness, poverty, abuse, and exploitation, offering vital services to over 10,000 individuals annually, all provided free of charge through the commitment of nonprofit staff and volunteers.

SeniorLAW Center’s Gala is a call to action, inspiring all those in attendance to stand up for what is right and just. Throughout the evening, guests were treated to inspiring speeches, heartfelt testimonials, and a live auction, all underscoring the significance of the cause at hand.

Donations are still being accepted online at https://onecau.se/slc2024gala or by mail to: SeniorLAW Center 1650 Arch Street, Suite 1820, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

We’d like to thank the below generous sponsors whose commitment to supporting justice for vulnerable individuals and communities empower our civil legal aid services for older people.

Presenting Partner
PNC Bank

Champion Sponsors
Blank Rome
Comcast NBCUniversal
Troutman Pepper

Ground Breaker Sponsors
ASTM International
Duane Morris
Morgan Lewis
Saul Ewing

Innovator Sponsors
DLA Piper, LLP
Margolis Edelstein

Trailblazer Sponsors
ASI Management
Chubb
The E. Rhoda Shaten Charitable Foundation
Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock & Dodig, P.C.
Fox Rothschild
Independence Blue Cross
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging
Gay Parks Rainville and Mark Douglas Rainville
Reed Smith
Vector Choice

Sage Sponsors
AARP Pennsylvania
Teresa & John Cavenagh
Faegre Drinker
Fisher & Phillips, LLP
Kang Haggerty & Fetbroyt LLC
Caitlin McKenna & Drew Evans
Michael P. McKenna, Esq. & Patrice A. Toland, Esq.
The O’Connor Group
Peco Exelon
Philadelphia Bar Association
The Philadelphia Phillies
Joseph Silverstein & Felice LePar
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young LLP
White and Williams, LLP

Protector Sponsors
Harris Bock
Bryn Mawr Orthodontics
Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company
Consilio
Credential America, Inc.
Bill & Margaret Donohue
Independence Foundation
Marshall Dennehey
MD Medical Associates
Mission Transitions, LLC
Montgomery Bar Association
OnPoint Legal Nurse Consulting
Skyrocket Communications, Inc.
Jean & Russ Speidel
Ed & Cindy Taraskus
The Weitz Firm, LLC
Veritext

Friend Sponsors
Richard & Janet Conn
Rochelle Fedullo, Esq.
DMH Fund
Holland & Knight
The Honorable Gail M. Frazier
Knights Abstract
Karen Kruza & Richard Quinn
Lipsky and Brandt
Pearl Properties
Pennsylvania Bar Association Minority Bar Committee
Pennsylvania Bar Association Real Property, Probate, and Trust Section
In Memory of Jacqueline Reid & Olivia Simmons