SeniorLAW Center’s Celebration of Justice: Honoring 2025 Champions for Justice and Raising Critical Funds to Protect and Empower Older Adults in Philadelphia
*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***
Philadelphia, PA – March 21, 2025
SeniorLAW Center (SLC) is proud to announce the 2025 Champions for Justice, a distinguished group of individuals and organizations whose dedication to advocacy, service, and justice has profoundly impacted older adults in Philadelphia and beyond. The annual Celebration of Justice, taking place on Wednesday, March 26th at the historic Bellevue Hotel, will shine a spotlight on these honorees and their dedicated work.
This year’s esteemed honorees include:
- Philadelphia Councilmember At-Large and Minority Leader Kendra Brooks – Recognized for her tireless leadership in advancing housing justice and championing causes critical to the well-being of older Philadelphians.
- Margarita Martinez, SeniorLAW Center – Celebrated for her 20 years of dedicated service to SLC and the Spanish-speaking community, providing vital legal advocacy and support.
- Chubb Insurance – Honored for its legal team’s decade-long pro bono partnership, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to justice for older adults.
- 2025 Outstanding Pro Bono Advocates:
- Jacqueline M. Carolan, Esq. (Fox Rothschild, LLP)
- Elliot I. Griffin, Esq. (Ballard Spahr LLP)
- Jerome Hoffman, Esq. (Dechert LLP)
- Kayla M. Panek, Esq.
- John Turner, Esq.
These remarkable honorees embody the mission of SeniorLAW Center, demonstrating unparalleled leadership and dedication to protecting the rights and dignity of older adults. Their contributions have strengthened access to justice, empowered vulnerable communities, and created lasting change for countless individuals.
The Annual Celebration serves as a platform to recognize the extraordinary contributions of individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing justice for older people, while also raising vital funds to support SeniorLAW Center’s critical work.
As a leading advocate for the legal rights of older adults, the organization is proud to gather with community changemakers, legal and aging services leaders, and partners and its larger community to celebrate their combined work seeking justice for older people in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and beyond.
SeniorLAW Center will also share important updates in their work pursuing justice for older people, especially during these times of uncertainty and change. Notably, during this past year, SeniorLAW Center was awarded a 5-Year, $1.25 Million growth grant by The Pew Charitable Trusts (Pew). They are proudly the first legal services organization to receive a Pew growth grant, representing profound confidence in SeniorLAW Center’s leadership in the Philadelphia legal nonprofit community and the importance of civil legal aid services to the older, low-income and diverse communities SeniorLAW Center serves.
Additionally, the Celebration is a time for SeniorLAW Center to highlight the collective impact of their generous sponsors and benefactors, and thank them for their enduring support. The Celebration is made possible through the generous support of sponsors who share SeniorLAW Center’s vision for elder justice:
- Presenting Partner: PNC Bank
- Champion Sponsors: Comcast Corporation, Duane Morris, Troutman Pepper, Locke, White and Williams
- Ground Breaker Sponsors: ASTM International, Blank Rome, Cozen O’Connor, Chubb, DLA Piper, Morgan Lewis, Saul Ewing
- Innovator Sponsors: Dechert LLP, Margolis Edelstein, Vector Choice
Join us for an inspiring evening featuring a cocktail reception, creative dinner stations, and a silent auction. For more information or to support SeniorLAW Center, please contact Justine Dougherty at jdougherty@seniorlawcenter.org or 215.967.3462.
About SeniorLAW Center
SeniorLAW Center is an independent 501(c)(3) legal services agency founded in 1978 as Senior Citizen Judicare Project by members of the Philadelphia Bar Association. Their original focus was to protect the legal rights and interests of Philadelphia’s needy, elderly residents through a volunteer-driven program. Today they exist solely to seek justice for older people by using the power of the law, educating the community, and advocating on local, state, and national levels.
They serve over 10,000 older people each year. Their vision is a world that values older people, hears their voices and guarantees their rights. SeniorLAW Center changes individual lives and works to change systems to promote justice, security, and independence for older Americans and their families. To learn more, visit SeniorLAWCenter.org
# # #