Children’s Law Center Celebrates 15 Years Helping DC Children with a gala to remember.
By Tyler Sullivan
Brooke Grisebaum and Sara Bailey at the Children's Law Center 15th Anniversary Gala. Photo by Alfredo Flores.
Celebrating 15 years of hard work, Children’s Law Center (CLC) threw a smashing gala last Wednesday, September 21, hosting hundreds of attendees and raising over $685,000.
The annual benefit, Helping Children Soar, this year featured a program highlighting CLC’s work to create permanent families through adoption and guardianship, conducted by CLC Executive Director Judith Sandalow and Benefit Co-Chairs Joseph Figini and Christine (Tina) Nicolaides Kearns. Held at the Kennedy Center Roof Terrace Restaurant, CLC hosted hundreds of attendees and was honored to present two very special awards, recognizing Senator Mary Landrieu and Jones Day for their contributions to their cause.
Landrieu, receiving CLC’s 2011 Distinguished Child Advocate award, was applauded for her efforts in improving the DC foster care system. She returned the admiration, praising CLC’s work in the District, and noting that “the achievements made on behalf of DC children reverberate around the world.”
The award for “Children’s Pro Bono Champion,” presented to Jones Day, was accepted by Greg Shumaker, partner in charge of the DC office, and consummate CLC supporter Carmen McLean, currently a member of CLC’s Board of Directors, chair of the Advisory Board and an active pro bono lawyer.
“The dedication of each of these people is no surprise considering that CLC is a tremendously well run organization that provides unique and vital services to the children in our community,” says McLean.
The benefit, just one of the many ways CLC works to help the children of DC, the center also prides itself on being the largest provider of free legal services in the District, and the only to focus on children. CLC concentrates on the child welfare system and impoverished children and families with special education and health care problems. They also take a proactive stance on future issues, using case knowledge and experience to advocate for changes in the law and its implementation.
For more information on CLC and their services, and to find out how you can be a part of this inspired cause, please click here.
Alix Eggerding, Matt Eggerding, Jennifer Brough, and B.A. Spignardo. Photo by Alfredo Flores.
