2023 Annual Report - Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
ensuring ENDURING HOPE JUSTICE
VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE - 2023 ANNUAL REPORT
VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE - 2023 ANNUAL REPORT
Alexandra Bravo
Yasmine Boto
Victoria Carvajal
Nina DePalma
Daniela Geraldo
Katiana Guerrier
Jill Heredia Lopera
Eric W. Hughes
Eilleen Ingram-Willis
Margo Katz Rosenberg
Cathy Keenan
Deja Kemp-Salliey
Jessica Kitson
Jaclyn Kramer
Sawyer Like
Tracy Nelson
Allison Nolan
Carmen Obando
Diana Onuschak
Karen Robinson
Jeff Stephens
Adaneka Witter Judge
Learn more about VLJ’s amazing staff: bit.ly/VLJStaff
A WELCOME LETTER FROM VLJ'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND BOARD CHAIR
As Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s (VLJ) 2023 annual report took shape, the concept of enduring hope resonated throughout Sometimes we are surprised when working with our clients that hope is a frequent companion of theirs since they are often experiencing difficult and challenging situations. But it can be seen clearly in “Donna” and “Richard’s” case. This married couple fell behind on their bills when Donna lost her job. Even with Richard picking up a second job, they fell deeper into debt and needed help. They found that help in a VLJ volunteer who represented them through bankruptcy. At the end of the case, Donna and Richard were thankful for their fresh start and remarked, “There is nothing holding us back now. We have the opportunity to achieve any goals we desire.” So this report, “Enduring Hope, Ensuring Justice” describes our efforts to make justice available to people like Donna and Richard, so they too can achieve their goals.
In 2023, our volunteers and staff worked on 1,911 legal cases and VLJ’s work impacted 4,261 people, including 1,644 children. 541 volunteers donated nearly $2 million in free legal services. Let’s pause and think about those numbers; 500+ volunteers working toward justice should give us all hope. Especially considering those volunteers prevented evictions, stabilized the lives of survivors of human trafficking, and provided fresh financial starts to families, among many other hope-filled legal services.
Hope was also evident in VLJ’s efforts outside the courtroom. VLJ collaborated with tenant advocates on statewide housing issues, including a September 2023 op-ed on the unfulfilled promise of eviction reform, co-authored by Jessica Kitson, VLJ's Director of Legal Advocacy, that you can read on our website. VLJ worked with a statewide coalition to address the significant backlog created by the New Jersey State Police’s failure to timely process expungement orders. That effort culminated in a class-action lawsuit filed by the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender at the end of the year.
As we look ahead, we are committed to building on the successes of 2023 and advancing our mission of ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of our volunteers, donors, and partners Your generosity and dedication inspire us every day and each of you serve as beacons of hope for our clients.
Together, we are not only making a difference in the lives of the clients served, we are also building a more just and equitable New Jersey.
an ctor Tricia O’Reilly Chair, Board of Trust
VLJ’S DEBT RELIEF LEGAL PROGRAM: MAKING “CENTS” OF JUSTICE
People across all walks of life experience debt and understand how quickly it can spiral. For some, it’s the culmination of multi-generational poverty, for others it’s unconscionably high medical or educational costs, while others experience deceptive lending and debt collection practices Volunteer Lawyers for Justice coordinates the Debt Relief Legal Program (DRLP), which helps people respond to consumer debt issues, making it possible to move from financial insecurity to financial stability.
Take "Mae," a senior living on a fixed income who is also the primary caregiver for her adult daughter living with a disability With limited income from Social Security and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Mae began to rely heavily on credit cards to pay for food, prescriptions, and car repairs. Ultimately, her debt became unmanageable. Thankfully, she was connected to the DRLP During her first legal clinic, Mae met with volunteers to discuss her options; based on their legal opinions, she was a good candidate for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Shortly thereafter, VLJ paired Mae with a pro bono attorney a bankruptcy expert, no less who represented her through the bankruptcy process. Within months, Mae’s $20,000 in debt was discharged and she had a fresh financial start.
"My goal was to have a fresh start and be debtfree. Nothing stands in my way now as I already accomplished that goal. My financial situation has improved significantly."
“Mae,” a client of VLJ’s DRLP Program
Unfortunately, the circumstances that led Mae to bankruptcy are all too common. In 2023, the DRLP helped 198 clients lift improper wage garnishments, get security deposits returned, respond to lawsuits, and file for bankruptcy In 2023, the Federal Reserve reported that Americans hit a record high of total shared debt surpassing $1 trillion. It is no wonder why it is so easy for the average person to descend from financial stability into hardship But thankfully, help is out there.
Read more on how VLJ is taking cases and changing lives: bit.ly/VLJClientStories
VLJ’S TENANCY PROGRAM: ENSURING JUSTICE
of all VLJ cases were
(including eviction)
The unjust housing system in the United States creates a revolving cycle of poverty, with families falling behind on rent, being evicted, moving from one unscrupulous landlord to the next, and rarely acquiring enough wealth to break the cycle. The ripples from eviction reverberate widely and have devastating impacts, including homelessness, unemployment, physical and mental health issues, decreased learning and graduation rates for students, long-term poverty, and higher mortality rates. The reality is that eviction both leads to and keeps families in poverty.
Making matters worse, these impacts are disproportionately borne by communities of color, persons with language barriers, and households with children all of whom experience poverty at higher rates In perhaps the most depressing data in years, a recent study* shows that children under the age of five are the largest group of any age category facing eviction in our nation, with 27% of Black children under five living in rentals facing eviction (NY Times, 2023). Considering over 75% of Newark residents are renters and the city is one of the most racially segregated in the nation, that statistic takes on greater consequence Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s Tenancy Program worked to combat eviction and keep families housed. The Program received innovative funding from the FurtherJustice Foundation and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ new Comprehensive Eviction Defense and Diversion (CEDD) program to tackle issues faced by families with housing insecurity. Through FurtherJustice, VLJ worked with Newark Community Solutions (NCS) to develop a community lawyering program that increases NCS staff’s ability to conduct civil legal needs screening in the community and VLJ’s ability to quickly connect clients with community resources Throughout the year, staff members from NCS and VLJ met weekly for case planning, consultation, and collaborative service delivery Through CEDD, VLJ partnered with NCS and Catholic Charities to provide holistic coordination between legal and social service agencies to increase housing stability in Essex County. The result? More clients are staying housed and progressing toward housing stability.
“Housing is a human right. There can be no fairness or justice in a society in which some live in homelessness, or in the shadow of that risk, while others cannot even imagine it.”
Jordan Flaherty, Journalist
The benefit of the holistic approach can be seen in “Aisha’s” eviction case. While NCS worked to connect Aisha with rental assistance, VLJ represented her in court to get her trial adjourned. Even though the landlord could not move forward with the eviction, he still made angry phone calls to Aisha, threatening to lock her out immediately if she didn’t pay Having both VLJ and NCS involved to respond to the landlord’s threats and support Aisha through the process proved helpful as the rental assistance came through and Aisha’s eviction case was dismissed.
Because of innovative programs like the ones above, VLJ’s staff attorneys and volunteers worked on 871 eviction matters last year, impacting 2,151 people! While the housing system is still nowhere close to just, VLJ’s Tenancy Program is ensuring justice for thousands of our neighbors.
*See
VLJ’S VETERANS PROGRAM: HONORING THEIR SERVICE WITH OURS
“Matthias,” a military veteran, came to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice for help modifying his child support His obligation should have been terminated due to the age of his children, but because of administrative errors child support accumulated erroneously for over a decade, resulting in child support arrears of $36,287! Not only did Matthias not owe this money, but his wages and social security income were being garnished. Matthias met with volunteers from VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program (VLP), who drafted a motion requesting to stop the garnishment and terminate the child support order. Due to the well-drafted motion and hearing preparation, Matthias represented himself in court and the judge granted both orders Matthias was thrilled with the result and felt that a weight had been lifted off his shoulders
Knowing he could trust VLJ and our volunteers, Matthias returned for help expunging an old criminal record He attended another legal clinic and different volunteers determined Matthias was eligible for a criminal record expungement that he is in the process of clearing. Matthias is now on the road to claiming the future he wants and deserves to live
The VLP is dedicated to serving veterans like Matthias, working to holistically address their unmet civil legal needs. In 2023, VLJ staff and volunteers helped over 275 veterans. Their most frequently encountered issues included eviction, debt-related matters, child support, estate planning, and criminal record expungement In the spirit of holistically serving those who served, veterans receive legal assistance in a manner that best meets their needs, whether through monthly virtual legal clinics, brief services, or extended representation.
When it comes to serving veterans, VLJ has tremendous volunteer and financial support from dedicated professionals and community partners at BASF, Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C., Gibbons P.C., McCarter & English, LLP, McGuireWoods LLP, Merck & Co , Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P.C., Panasonic Corporation of North America, PSEG, Prudential Financial, and more. In the past year, Panasonic, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, and Prudential have all been recognized by outside organizations for their pro bono work with the VLP, reminding us all that serving others is not only vital to our veterans, but valued by our community.
“Thank you for giving me my life back. Volunteer Lawyers for Justice helped me with my arrears civil case, I obtained my driver’s license through them, I also did my will with them. Because of Alexandra and the staff, I will always be happy and always thank them for what they have done.”
Robert, a client of VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program
VLJ Staff Attorney and VLP Program Lead, Alexandra Bravo, pictured with Robert, a VLJ client
4,261 People impacted by VLJ’s services 1,911 Cases handled
The FurtherJustice Foundation awarded VLJ a $300,000 Legal Accelerator two-year grant to address legal and social issues contributing to housing instability in Essex County
Articles by VLJ staff were published in two editions of the NJSBA’s New Jersey Lawyer
VLJ was highlighted in Psychology Today
“We Hate Poverty” - a call to action from Executive Director Cathy Keenan
The New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking awarded VLJ the New Jersey Freedom Award
VLJ was profiled in a Spanish interview for Univision Nueva York 41
Director of Legal Advocacy Jessica Kitson co-authored an op-ed for NJ.com, NJ’s Courts and the unfulfilled promise of eviction reform Staff
and we are grateful to the 541 volunteers who donated their time and talent in 2023 to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. We give special recognition to the volunteers below who reported 25 or more hours of service.
Robert Ayes Gibbons P.C.
Kelsey Ball Gibbons P C
Bianka Barraza Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Georgia Bender McCarter & English, LLP
Nydia Benders Prudential Financial
Michael A. Botti Gibbons P.C.
Lenore Boyarin Sussan, Greenwald & Wesler
Jeremy M. Brooks Gibbons P.C.
April Campos
Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC
Pati Candelario Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Diane Claussen Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Michael Conforti Gibbons P.C.
Amara Conteh Wilson Sonsini Goodrich Rosati
Daniel D'Alessandro McCarter & English, LLP
Bernadette Darcy Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Linda Dennis Prudential Financial
Sneha Desai Stryker
Melisa Desperak Wilson Sonsini Goodrich Rosati
Jack Feinstein
Hillary Freeman Freeman Law Offices, LLC
Christine Gaddis Gibbons P C
Lori M Gaines Barger & Gaines
Francis M. Giantomasi
Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC
Gemma Giantomasi
Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC
David Giles Law Office of David Giles
Kevin H. Gilmore Gibbons P.C.
Thomas Gironda McCarter & English, LLP
Alexa Gomez McCarter & English, LLP
Ryan Goodwin Gibbons P.C.
Staci Greenwald Sussan, Greenwald & Wesler
Lisette L. Guzman McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP
Christina Holder Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Jason Holt Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC
Matthew Jokajtys PSEG
Brendan Kelly Gibbons P.C.
John B. Kenney Wilson Sonsini Goodrich Rosati
HOWWEDO JUSTICEMATTERS
“I'm 100% satisfied. My experience was great. My kid graduated last year, and that was the goal - to get them to graduate and without any problems from the school district. The volunteer was very good and helpful.”
DG, a client of VLJ's Children's Representation Program
Natalie Kraner Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Susan Kritzmacher Gibbons P.C.
Michelle Krone Price, Meese, Shulman & D'Arminio, PC
Stephen Kunen Palo Alto Networks, Inc.
Lauren Mauro McCarter & English, LLP
Joann Mazur Kielblock Prudential Financial
Andrew Meltzer Sussan, Greenwald & Wesler
Mark E. Norgaard Norgaard O'Boyle
Tonia Ouellette Klausner Wilson Sonsini Goodrich Rosati
Mary Frances Palisano Gibbons P.C.
Carol Quagliato
Lisa M. Quartarolo John Rue & Associates
Marwan Rashed Gibbons P.C.
Monica Robles Lydecker
Han Lin Rong
Geoffrey Rosamond McCarter & English, LLP
Ellen Schwartz
Greg Settembrino Gibbons P C
Kelsey Shalinsky Aloia Law Firm
Willard Shih Wilentz, Goldman, & Spitzer, PC
Shelley B. Slafkes Levitt & Slafkes, P.C.
Stacey Slater Pro Bono Strategies
Michelle K. Smith McCarter & English, LLP
Kyle Tierney McCarter & English, LLP
Denise Verzella Manes & Weinberg
Daniel Vira Levine, Furman & Rubin, LLC
Nicole Virella McCarter & English, LLP
Keara Waldron Lowenstein Sandler LLP
James K. Ward Duane Morris LLP
Catherine Weiss Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Megan Williams Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Amy Woltman Prudential Financial
Find Your “Why?” by volunteering with VLJ: vljnj.org/why-probono
OPTIMIZING JUSTICE -
SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT: 9SAIL
Algorithms, analytics, meta tags, pay-per-click, and search engine optimization. These words may not resonate with you, but odds are they impact you every single day. While it may feel like digital magic to quickly find what you ’ re looking for through online searches, it takes incredibly
talented people, like the professionals at 9Sail, to make it happen
Since 2021, 9Sail, a digital marketing agency specializing in the legal industry, has been a stalwart supporter of Volunteer Lawyers for Justice. The team at 9Sail ensures that people looking for us, even when they may not know our name, can find us online. Whether it’s a tenant facing an eviction, a bankruptcy attorney wanting to help veterans, or a donor looking to have an impact on justice, they can all find us easier thanks to 9Sail
Led by Founder and CEO Joe Giovannoli, who also serves on VLJ’s Board of Trustees, 9Sail's journey with VLJ has been marked by a simple approach: “Your success is 9Sail’s success. ” And what a success it has been! 9Sail has been working closely with VLJ’s communications team to improve the visibility of VLJ’s website. To date, 9Sail has generously gifted $50,000 in donations and in-kind services. In fact, 9Sail’s support and insight, led by 9Sail Digital Strategist Taylor Tobey, served as the impetus for the launch of VLJ’s blog in 2023 Pro Bono: From Passion to Practice. While VLJ’s blog is one of the more visible products of collaboration, the increased website visits, visibility on search engines, and targeted outreach to potential clients, volunteers, and donors has amplified VLJ’s work, cementing our spot as a trusted provider of civil legal services in New Jersey.
“Everyone deserves fair treatment and due process. Folks who are experiencing poverty are down on their luck and fighting hard enough to survive as it is. To disadvantage someone in this position and to deny them justice is unfair and unwarranted.”
— Joe Giovannoli, Founder and CEO
But why would a digital marketing agency have an interest in ensuring access to justice? Joe and his team at 9Sail believe ensuring access to justice is, at its core, about fairness. Indeed, 9Sail’s efforts with VLJ are grounded in empathy toward individuals struggling with poverty, acknowledging that they are already facing significant challenges just to survive.
Beyond their partnership with VLJ, 9Sail's philanthropic endeavors extend to various non-profit organizations, including the ALS Association. 9Sail’s dedication to making a difference echoes through every facet of their work, embodying the belief that true success is measured not only by profits, but by changing lives. VLJ is incredibly grateful to 9Sail for making sure access to justice is only a few clicks away.
DONORS & SUPPORTERS
Thanks to committed donors, VLJ is able to provide life-changing civil legal help throughout New Jersey. While VLJ’s services are free to its clients, our legal services are not free to coordinate and this group of supporters ensured VLJ could train and support new volunteers, educate community members about their rights, and provide civil legal help to New Jerseyans who otherwise would not be able to afford an attorney.
$100,000+
David Bershad & Mindy Cohen**
FurtherJustice
Housing & Community Development of New Jersey
Housing Justice Corps
McCarter & English, LLP**
Merck & Co.**
NJ Pandemic Relief Fund
State of New Jersey, Dept. of Community Affairs*
Tepper Foundation*
VOCA Grant Program**
$50,000-$99,999
Prudential Financial**
PSEG Foundation**
South Ward Promise Neighborhood**
$25,000-$49,999
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C. **
IOLTA NJ
Lowenstein Sandler LLP**
Panasonic Corporation of North America**
Williams & Connolly LLP*
Winston & Strawn LLP**
$10,000-$24,999
AT&T Services, Inc.**
American College of Bankruptcy Foundation**
Barnes & Thornburg
BASF Corporation**
City of Newark
Columbia Bank*
Community Foundation of New Jersey
Donald Cussen**
d'Arcambal Ousley & Cuyler Burk*
Dentons US LLP**
DLA Piper**
Eisai USA Foundation**
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP**
Friedman Kaplan Seiler Adelman & Robbins LLP*
Gibbons P C *
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher**
Naomi Grobstein, MD
Hogan Lovells US, LLP *
Tonia Klausner*
Jones Day*
Kirkland & Ellis LLP**
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP**
Pfizer*
$10,000-$24,999 cont.
Reed Smith LLP
Eric Schwimmer and Alyce Gottesman**
Seyfarth Shaw LLP**
The IOLTA Fund of the Bar of New Jersey*
Turrell Fund**
Verizon Business Group*
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz**
Walsh Pizzi O'Reilly Falanga**
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP**
Catherine Weiss* WilmerHale**
Karen B. Sacks Lifetime Giving Society
Named in honor of VLJ's founding executive director, the society recognizes individuals who donated a cumulative $10,000 or more to VLJ
Thank you for your generosity!
Andrew and Froma Benerofe
David Bershad and Mindy Cohen
Susan Bershad, MD
Donald Cussen
Mark and Yvonne Daniel
Joseph DiPrima
Marguerite Greenfield
Michael and Jane Griffinger
Naomi Grobstein, MD
Mala Ahuja Harker
Mary Hartnett and Richard Cino
Cathy Keenan & John Larson
Orin Kramer
Bill Krovatin
Judith McCarthy
George Patrick McDonald
Howard and Peggy Menaker
Edward and Pamela Moed
Tricia O'Reilly
April Pish
Jennifer Prioleau
Karen and Eric Sacks
Erik Sandstedt
Eric Schwimmer and Alyce Gottesman
Jeffrey and Beth Shapiro
Catherine Weiss
John and Elizabeth Wellschlager
$5,000-$9,999
9Sail
Beveridge & Diamond PC
Catholic Family and Community Services
Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC**
City of Newark, Department of Finance
Cleary Gottlieb
Consilio, LLC*
Joseph DiPrima*
Fisher Phillips*
Fox Rothschild LLP*
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer**
Gann Law Books*
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Mala Ahuja Harker*
NJM Insurance Group**
King & Spalding LLP**
Mary Klein
Leader Berkon Colao & Silverstein LLP**
Littleton Park Joyce Ughetta & Kelly LLP**
McGuireWoods LLP*
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius*
Tricia O'Reilly**
Jennifer Prioleau*
RBC Foundation*
Stevens & Lee
The Hyde & Watson Foundation**
Venable LLP*
Wiley Rein LLP*
Wong Fleming*
Zoetis
$2,500-$4,999
Association of Corporate Counsel NJ
Baker McKenzie
Barnes, Richardson & Coburn
Joseph Colao
Catherine Fitch**
Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum LLP*
Joseph Gordon*
Michael & Jane Griffinger**
Matthew & Keri Holian**
Nicholas Insua**
Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore LLC*
Anne Kappler
Bill Krovatin**
Chessley & Kelly Lankford**
Judith McCarthy*
George Patrick McDonald*
Howard & Peggy Menaker**
MultiState
Paul Hastings*
Raymond James
$2,500-$4,999 cont.
RBC Wealth Management**
Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP**
Jeffrey & Beth Shapiro**
Sidley Austin*
Stacey Slater*
Frederic D. Van Arnam
John Wellschlager**
Melissa Wernick
Westbrook Foundation*
$1,000-$2,499
AbbVie
Baker, Sterchi, Cowden & Rice
Andrew & Froma Benerofe*
William & Bleema Bershad**
Brach Eichler LLC*
Bristol Myers Squibb
Aaron Cohen*
Colton Family Foundation
Covington & Burling LLP**
Day Pitney LLP *
DCube Data Sciences Corp
Dell, Inc.*
doeLEGAL*
Dennis Drasco*
Paul Fishman*
Joseph Giovannoli
Michael Golden**
Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis
Peter Harvey
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company**
Jessica Hodkinson**
Ruby T. Hope*
Michael Hyun*
Javerbaum Wurgraft Hicks Kahn
Wikstrom & Sinins, P C
Johnson & Johnson
Kean Miller**
Bernard Keenan**
Adam Kushner*
John Larson & Cathy Keenan**
Debra E. Levin*
Abigail Luhn*
Lum Drasco & Positan LLC
Marino, Tortorella & Boyle, P.C.
Paul Michaels & Sandra Chamberlin*
Richmond M Rabinowitz*
Ellen Rader Smith
Bob Silver
Ronnie Stern**
Kaitlyn E. Stone**
The Katherine Lindsay Howell Fund
Troutman Pepper
Veritext*
Stephen C. Weingarten**
Sonja Weissman
WithumSmith + Brown, PC.
$250-$999
AmazonSmile Foundation*
Alice Armstrong
Colm Atkins*
Open Banks
Lori Borgen*
Lynn Bourgeois
Matthew Clements*
Matthew Coleman*
Kevin Collins*
Angela Coxe
Alexandra Cribbs
Lynn & John DeLeo-Totaro**
Michael DePalma*
Sneha & Anand Desai**
Rina Dhopeshwarkar
Karyllan Dodson Mack**
Taylor Dougherty
Eckert Seamans
Mitch Epstein
Stephanie Feingold*
Wendy Feldman*
Fidelity
Christine Gannon*
John Garde
Melissa Geist
Carol Golden*
Megan Granget
Marc Haefner**
Trinae Hall
Adam Hemlock*
Lauren Herman
Adelina Herrarte
Robert Holup
James Johnson
Natalya Johnson
Sylvia Jones*
Emily A Kaller*
Brendan Kelly
$250-$999 cont.
Karen Killeen
Patricia & Robert Kitson*
Suzanne & Marc Klar**
Jeffrey Kushan*
Lasser Hochman, LLC
Jessy Leifer
Larry Lesnik
Karen Levine
Jessica Limbacher**
Erika Lopes-McLeman
Erin Martins
Keith McManus
Bruce Menken
Lucinda Mercer
Monica Minore
Nanina's in the Park
Jeff & Tracy Nelson**
Jessica Nelson
New York Law School
Megan Nigro
NJPAC*
Bridget O’Connor
Eileen Overbaugh
Jeff Perry*
Melissa Polaner
Lisa Quartarolo**
Amanda Raines
Kevin Reich*
Stephanie Ricardo-Leff
Karen Robinson**
Maritza Rodríguez*
Geoffrey Rosamond**
Ned Rosenberg
Benjamin Roth
Mark Rubin*
Karen & Eric Sacks*
Tracey Salmon-Smith
Kristin Sanford
Louis Sapirman*
Magda Schaler-Haynes
Barbara Schweiger*
Philip Sellinger
Nathaniel St Clair
Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P C **
Maria Sullivan
Kristin & Philip Taylor*
The Bradbury Seiler Family Fund
John Todaro
Catherine Trinkle*
John Vales*
Kevin Weber*
Harvey Weissbard
Melissa Williams*
Donald & Joan Zief
Monthly Donors Monthly Donors
The following donors committed $10+ a month, or $120+ a year, in 2023 toward our monthly giving campaign. Monthly and annual gifts help set VLJ on a path of sustainability, meaning we can promise to be there for our neighbors who need civil legal help. Thank you!
Nestor Almeida Colm Atkins
Open Banks
Todd Bouverot
George Burroughs
Matthew Coleman
Michael DePalma
Kalea Edmundo
Jessica Hodkinson
Emily A. Kaller
Jessica Limbacher
Stella Lyubarsky
Mo McCully Winograd
Mary Pendergast
Magda Schaler-Haynes
Debra Schneider
Barbara Schweiger
Michelle Smith
Consecutive Years of Giving
* indicates 3-5 years
** indicates 6 or more years
TH TH YOU YOU
FINANCIAL STATEMENT*
Prior annual reports and financial statements are available on our website at bit.ly/VLJAnnualReports
& Fundraising
Expenses
"The name 'Volunteer Lawyers for Justice' is more than just a name, and it's more than just a job for Daniela Geraldo. She took it further than that. I will be forever grateful. I will never forget Daniela. She made me feel comfortable, she wasn't rushing, she took her time, and she listened that was the most important thing There was no judgment When you find a genuine soul who wants to help, you have to give credit where credit is due, and she's for sure one of the good ones."
Jeffrey M. Shapiro, Esq. Partner, Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Stacey Slater, Esq. President and Founder, Pro Bono Strategies
Kaitlyn E. Stone, Esq. Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Catherine A. Trinkle, Esq. VP and Deputy General Counsel, BASF
Kevin Weber, Esq. Director, Gibbons P C
Melissa F. Wernick, Esq. Member, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC
EMERITUS TRUSTEES
David Bershad (ret.)
Michael R. Griffinger, Esq.
Generation Now Committee members are early-career professionals (less than 12 years out of school) who are passionate about VLJ’s mission and giving back in a meaningful way.
Abigail M. Luhn, Esq., Co-Chair
Associate, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Brandon L. Wolff, Esq., Co-Chair Associate, Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck
Aaron Cohen, Esq. Associate, Price, Meese, Shulman & D'Arminio, PC
