Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. is proud to announce the recipients of its 2010 Excellence Awards.

The list includes a variety of civil legal aid professionals and friends of civil legal aid across Pennsylvania who are being recognized for their efforts in support of the clients served by the programs of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network.

Individuals selected for recognition include:

• Susan K. Danforth
  Pro Bono Coordinator, MidPenn Legal Services and administrator of the Volunteer Attorney Program of the Lancaster Bar Association, Lancaster, PA.
   
• Susan K. Evans
  Disability Advocate Program (DAP) worker at the Lycoming County Assistance Office, Williamsport, PA.
   
• Louise Hayes, Esq.
  Senior Attorney specializing in Public Benefits at Community Legal Services, Philadelphia, PA.
   
• Lea S. Judson
  Lay Advocate and former legal aid paralegal specializing in Unemployment Compensation, Chambersburg, PA.
   
• James Montero
  Office Manager and paralegal specializing in all public benefits and administrative law cases at Northwestern Legal Services, Erie, PA.
   
• John J. Moody
  Volunteer Advocate with Bethlehem Office of North Penn Legal Services, Macungie, PA.
   
• Edward Van Stevenson, Jr. Esq.
  Managing Attorney and law student/intern coordinator for Neighborhood Legal Services Association, Pittsburgh, PA.

Two group projects will also be presented with Excellence Awards:

• Pittsburgh Pro Bono Project
  This project is being honored for its unique and innovative collaboration between law firms, corporate legal departments, and other legal organizations to emphasize pro bono to the poor through the development of Signature Projects that provide legal service to low-income individuals and families on a community-wide or issue-oriented basis.
   
• Wood Street Commons Project - Legal Team
  The legal team of Mark Schwartz, Esq., Executive Director, Regional Housing Legal Services; Bridget Coyne, Esq., Staff Attorney, Regional Housing Legal Services; and pro bono attorney, Carol A. Gershon, Esq., is being recognized for its work with community partners to save Wood Street Commons, an affordable 258-unit single room occupancy and supportive housing facility occupied by formerly homeless and near-homeless individuals, located in downtown Pittsburgh.

The 2010 Excellence Awards will be presented at the annual awards dinner on Tuesday, March 23, 2010, at the Harrisburg Hilton & Towers. The evening’s festivities will also include a Special Recognition of Estelle Richman, former secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and current Chief Operating Officer for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for her continued efforts on behalf of low-income Pennsylvanians.

A social hour will take place from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, followed by a buffet dinner. Cost for the dinner is $45 per person. Dinner reservations may be made and paid for online at the link below. VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover are all accepted by the online reservation system.

PLAN, Inc. is accepting event sponsorships and advertisements for the event program. Sponsorships and advertising may be submitted and paid for at the link below or by submitting the Sponsorship and Advertising Opportunity Form also linked below. For more information about sponsorship and advertising opportunities please contact Christine Kirby at ckirby@palegalaid.net or 412-586-6137.

Dinner reservations may be made and paid for online using the form linked below. A block of rooms has also been reserved at the Harrisburg Hilton & Towers. The rate for those rooms is $169 per night. Reservations for those rooms should be made directly through the Harrisburg Hilton & Towers at this link. When registering, please use the Group/Convention Code PLA to obtain the $169 per night room rate.

Online Sponsorship and Advertising Opportunities and Dinner Reservations 
Download Sponsorship and Advertising Opportunity Form [PDF]
Hotel Reservation at the Harrisburg Hilton & Towers