321 South Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL 60604-3997 • 312-554-2000 • www.chicagobar.org
Pro Bono and Public Service Awards Lunch
700 Lawyers Honor Unsung Heros
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even attorneys and community leaders were recognized for their dedication to the public interest at the Chicago Bar Association and The Chicago Bar Foundation 10th Annual Pro Bono and Public Service Awards Luncheon on Monday, July 14, at the Fairmont Hotel. Almost 700 members of Chicago’s legal community attended the prestigious awards ceremony that honored our community’s unsung heroes. Collectively, they have worked to protect the rights of elderly victims of real estate fraud, tackled the issue of nonprofit hospitals charging poor patients two to three times more than those with insurance, and developed a project to help ensure that voters from traditionally disenfranchised communities have the opportunity to cast a meaningful vote in this year’s elections. These are just some examples of the incredible efforts being made by this year’s award recipients to bridge the justice gap in our community and beyond. Thanks to the support of more than 50 law firms and corporations, and many individual attorneys and other supporters throughout Chicago’s legal community, the Luncheon raised more than $300,000 for The CBF’s comprehensive efforts to ensure everyone in the Chicago metropolitan area has equal access to justice, particularly the low-income and disadvantaged people who are in most critical need of the protections of our civil legal system.
Recipients of the 10th Annual Pro Bono and Public Service Awards
The Kimball R. Anderson and Karen Gatsis Anderson Public Interest Law Fellowship Dennericka Brooks, Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago The Exelon Outstanding Corporate Counsel Award Minauti “Mina” Mehta, Abbott Laboratories The Leonard Jay Schrager Award of Excellence Marguerite Angelari, Loyola University Chicago School of Law The Edward J. Lewis II Pro Bono Service Award Robert E. Deignan, Baker & McKenzie LLP The Maurice Weigle Exceptional Young Lawyer Award Grace Y. Poe, DLA Piper US LLP The Richard J. Phelan Public Service Award Sergio E. Acosta, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois The Thomas H. Morsch Public Service Award Alan Alop, Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
The 2008 Award Recipients: (Front row) Marguerite Angelari, Sergio Acosta, Mina Mehta, (Back row) Alan Alop, Dennericka Brooks, Grace Poe, and Bob Deignan.
Bob Deignan, recipient of the 2008 Edward J. Lewis II Pro Bono Service Award, with the Lewis Family after the Luncheon.
CBF President Christina Tchen, with Justice Anne Burke.
Luncheon Co-Chairs Michele Coleman Mayes, Vice President and General Counsel at The Allstate Corporation, and Robert F. Messerly, Managing Partner for the Chicago office of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP
CBA Committee Sign-Up
By Sharon K. Nolan, Marketing Director
My Hero Awards Luncheon
2 Ways for CBA Members to Save
Summer Car Rentals
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ummer is here and its time to get passionate about your practice area. CBA & YLS members are encouraged to join at least one of the Association’s practice, service, special, and Young Lawyers Section committees. Why join? The reasons are endless, but just to name a few: most CBA and YLS committee meetings qualify for Illinois MCLE credit, you’ll learn from experts in your practice area, discuss case law updates, discover how to be more effective in court, have a voice in pending legislation, gain leadership skills, network in your practice area, and, best of all, its FREE. Unlike many other Associations, CBA committees are a member benefit. That means as a CBA member you can join up to four practice committees, an unlimited number of service committees, and lawyers and law students with fewer than 10 years of practice may serve on an unlimited number of YLS committees (members interested in special committees must submit a written request to the CBA’s Executive Director). As a committee member, you will be invited to attend monthly noon luncheon meetings at the CBA that feature top jurists in your area, have the opportunity to comment on legislation affecting your
field, learn of pro bono opportunities and receive mailings that may include meeting minutes, speaker materials, networking directories, and more. And, even if you can’t attend a noon meeting, you can still keep up-to-date on your practice area with online committee homepages at www.chicagobar.org, in addition to standard committee correspondence. It’s a snap to join the committees of your choice. If you would like to remain on a CBA committee, simply return the personalized committee sign up form you received in May. If you are not currently serving on a committee, join one (or two or three) by visiting www.chicagobar.org (click on the Committees link) and fill out the online sign up form. In addition to the sign up form, you will also find detailed committee descriptions and new chair/vice chair contact information. Not connected to the Internet or didn’t receive your personalized form? Call Awilda Reyes at 312-554-2134. The official 2008-2009 committee season begins in September (after a short summer hiatus), so watch your email (or mail) in August for your first meeting notice. Get passionate about your practice area and join a CBA committee today.
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he Sun-Times Judge Marovitz Lend-A-Hand to Youth Program fifth annual awards ceremony is on Tuesday, July 30, 2008, at The Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Ct., Chicago. Lend-A-Hand helps young people from disadvantaged Chicago communities reach their full potential by providing grants, attorney mentor/volunteers, and other resources to outstanding tutor/mentor agencies who provide one-on-one mentoring opportunities. The My Hero Awards celebrate the attorneys and law firms that help make this mission a reality. The following awards will be presented: The Judge Marovitz Award, Mentor of the Year, My Hero Award, Making a Difference Award, and the Law Firm Partner of the Year. The reception will start at 11:30 a.m. followed by the luncheon at noon. Tickets are $65 per person or $1000 for a sponsorship level table. For reservations, call Karina Ayala-Bermejo at 312-554-2041 or kayala@ chicagobar.org. For more information on Lend-A-Hand to Youth, visit www.lawyerslendahand.org.
CBA members can save on cars rentals through Avis and Budget with special rates, discounts and value-added offers. Both companies offer preferred service enrollment, GPS systems, and e-Toll capabilities. For Avis reservations and information, call 1-800-698-5685 and use the discount code #A851600 to receive up to 25% off–in addition to your coupon savings! For Budget reservations, call 1-800-455-2848 and use code #T720200 to save up to 20%. Full member discount information and links to both discount providers are online at www. chicagobar.org (click on Membership Discounts).
Club Quarters Hotel Discount
CBA members get special discount offers at Club Quarters hotels - offering unique, user-friendly services in a club-like setting with restricted entry, free high-speed Internet, fitness room, restaurant/bar and rates starting at $104. Cities include Houston, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Chicago, San Francisco, London, and more. Special offers including weekend rates starting at $56 and a “Night on the House” certificate after every business stay. Visit www.chicagobar.org (click on member discounts) to learn more. For reservations, call 212575-0006 or visit www.clubquarters.com (password: Chicago Bar).
YLS Summer Social Hour at the House of Blues
Join your fellow Chicago Bar members in the Foundation Room® at the House of Blues®, on Tuesday, July 29, from 5:30 p.m - 7:30 p.m. The Foundation Room is a VIP membership club secluded within the House of Blues with unparalleled elegant space for professional and personal entertaining. Chicago Bar members will have access to the eclectic Foundation Lounge and will be able to enjoy complimentary light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Please RSVP for this event to yls@chicagobar.org. Space is limited. Check in at the Foundation host stand when you arrive, and you will then be directed via elevator to the Foundation Room.