By Carmella P. Keener, Esquire and Lisa C. Lessner
The Combined Campaign for Justice (CCJ) celebrated the successful conclusion of its 18th year with an appreciation breakfast on February 21, 2017.
Since 1999, the Combined Campaign for Justice (CCJ) has been a coordinated approach to fundraising to support Delaware’s three nonprofit legal aid agencies: Community Legal Aid Society (CLASI), Delaware Volunteer Legal Services (DVLS), and Legal Services Corporation of Delaware (LSCD). The 2016 campaign was one of the most successful, raising over $1 million to support statewide and coordinated legal representation to:
- Reduce domestic violence by helping victims obtain protective orders;
- Prevent homelessness by defending eviction and foreclosure actions;
- Eradicate housing discrimination through enforcement of state and federal housing discrimination laws;
- Advocate for the rights of children with significant disabilities in their schools and communities, and with the government agencies that serve them;
- Protect people with disabilities and the elderly from abuse and neglect in institutional and community settings; and
- Assist people who are poor with consumer cases that involve exploitation and fraud.
David Stratton, 2016 CCJ Lead Chair, recognized nine firms for having contributions from 100% of their attorneys:
- Bayard, P.A.
- Delaware Volunteer Legal Services, Inc.
- Heckler & Frabizzio
- Legal Services Corporation of Delaware, Inc.
- Murphy & Landon
- Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP
- Parkowski Guerke & Swayze, P.A.
- Pepper Hamilton LLP
- Rosenthal Monhait & Goddess, P.A.
The Longwood Foundation was recognized for its capacity building grant which enabled CCJ to engage an expert to create an economic impact study on the societal impact of legal services as well as hire a Chief Development Officer to assist in broadening the reach of the campaign. Special recognition was given to M.C. Byrd, for her many years of fund raising consulting to the campaign. Attorneys Julia Ripple and Asheigh Reibach were recognized for their extraordinary results in fund raising on the Communications Committee.
Leadership gifts of $2,500 and above from individuals, law firms and other organizations were recognized, including $50,000 gifts from the following firms:
- Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.
- Laffey-McHugh Foundation
- Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell
- Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
- Richards Layton & Finger, P.A.
- Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP
- Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP
Chief Justice Strine addressed the gathering, expressing appreciation to the volunteers who participated in the 2016 Campaign and those who generously contributed.
The leadership of the 2017 campaign was announced including lead chair, Carmella P. Keener, and general chairs Arthur G. Connolly, III, Patrick C. Gallagher, and Gregory P. Williams. The 2017 campaign, which will officially begin in April, will include initiatives to increase individual attorney and firm participation percentages and amounts, and will also include the establishment of a planned giving opportunity.
The Combined Campaign Cup on July 17 as well as the Bar Musical, entitled “The Public Enemy: Runnin’ Wild”, to be held this year on November 17, 18, and 19 will provide additional opportunities for members of the Delaware Bar and the community to participate in the 2017 Campaign.
This article originally appeared in the April 2017 issue of The Journal of the Delaware State Bar Association, a publication of the Delaware State Bar Association. Copyright © Delaware State Bar Association 2017. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
