The Family Defense Center · The Family Defense Center 2016 Annual Report Our mission is to...
Transcript of The Family Defense Center · The Family Defense Center 2016 Annual Report Our mission is to...
The Family Defense Center 2016 Annual Report
Our mission is to advocate justice for families in the child welfare system.
A former client, who settled her civil rights case
in 2016, with her children at our benefit.
Legal Services
In 2016, we handled 508 cases. 312 families went through our full intake process and supplied
the following information: 35% live in Chicago, 25% live in suburban Cook County,
and 40% live outside of Cook County; 73% were female; 37% were Caucasian, 31% were African-American, 16%
were Latina, 3% were Asian; and Based on their income, 65% received free services, 28%
paid reduced rates, and 7% paid market rates. Our legal services included providing information, referrals,
advice, brief services, and representation. In 32% of cases, we provided representation in litigation,
an expungement hearing, or another setting; In 16% of cases, we provided brief services; and In 52% of cases, we provided advice, information, or
referrals. In 2016, we worked with 166 pro bono attorneys.
Pro bono attorneys worked on 75 cases and 2 major projects. We worked with 16 large firms and 13 small/solo practitioners.
Impact Litigation and Policy Advocacy In 2016, we settled the class action lawsuit Jessica R. et al v. DCFS. This will result in the expungement of an estimated 1,000 individuals from the State Central Register and will bring the total number of expunged individuals from this group of lawsuits to more than 27,000 individuals. See more on p. 3. In 2016, as part of three federal court civil rights case settlements, we negotiated improvements to DCFS’s policies and procedures on family separations. Thousands of families who are investigated by DCFS in the future will benefit from these changes. See more on p. 4. In 2016, we continued to work to limit the overbroad and unlawful rule called “inadequate supervision.” The Center was involved in drafting new rule language. Meanwhile, we also filed a class action lawsuit, Nicole P. et al. v. DCFS, which requests that as many as 30,000 individuals are expunged. See more on p. 4. In 2016, we co-led a coalition of domestic violence and child welfare agencies and presented opportunities to DCFS on how to collaborate on improving policy, practice, and training. This work could have a huge impact on how domestic violence survivors are able to get support from the child welfare system. See more on p. 3.
We advocate justice for families through legal services, impact litigation, and policy advocacy.
2
Kent Dean accepts the Center’s highest award,
The Family Defender, at its annual benefit.
Thank You to Our Supporters The Family Defense Center is supported by our individual and law firm donors, listed in this report, as well as by generous grants from the following organizations: Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, State Court Improvement Program American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation Chicago Bar Foundation Chicago Foundation for Women Efroymson Family Fund Help for Children The Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois Polk Bros. Foundation Redleaf Family Foundation
Financials
Budget size: approximately $800,000
Staff
Diane Redleaf, Executive Director/Legal Director Rachel O'Konis Ruttenberg, Deputy/Executive Director Líadan Donnelly, Staff Attorney Sara Gilloon, Staff Attorney and Pro Bono Coordinator Melissa Staas, Staff Attorney Sara Block, Domestic Violence Project Attorney Bryan Liberona, Intake Coordinator Samantha Tarlton, Development and Communications Associate Alejandra "Alex" Ballesteros, Administrator Mayra Miranda, Administrative Assistant
3
Advocacy for Domestic Violence Survivors’ Families After her husband became violent while working on homework with their son, Vanessa fled to the police to report the incident. However, she only speaks Spanish and no one at the police station did – so she was unable to explain what had happened. Her husband, who had followed her there and speaks English, blamed Vanessa and so the police arrested her. She was released later that day and not charged with any crime. However, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (“DCFS”) found out and charged Vanessa with child neglect, claiming she had created an “environment injurious” for her son. When child welfare officials intervene into the lives of families experiencing domestic violence, they often misread the situation, blame the survivor, and even take the children away from her. Thanks to the groundwork The Family Defense Center has laid for years regarding this category of child neglect and its impact on domestic violence survivors, as well as staunch advocacy by her staff attorney, Vanessa’s case was dropped and her name was cleared. Over the past year, the Center has helped spearhead an ongoing working group on the intersection of domestic violence and child welfare. The group,
named the Domestic Violence Child Welfare Resource Coalition, is co-led by the Center and the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network and includes representatives from domestic violence, child welfare, and other agencies across the Chicagoland area. During 2016, the coalition worked to frame an agenda to present to DCFS regarding opportunities to collaborate on improving policy, practice, and training. In addition, the Center created a toolkit which equips domestic violence service providers with the knowledge and strategies to effectively advocate on behalf of clients during child welfare investigations related to domestic violence. Armed with this toolkit, domestic violence service providers can help ensure that child welfare interventions strengthen, rather than weaken, the non-offending parent or caregiver’s ability to parent in safety and stability. We have provided training for several domestic violence advocacy organizations on the toolkit and plan to continue to do so throughout 2017.
Vanessa, a Spanish-speaking
domestic violence survivor, was
able to clear her name with the help
of The Family Defense Center.
“Environment Injurious” Class Actions Provide Relief for Thousands of People After seven years, the Center was pleased to conclude its third and final legal challenge to the former Allegation 60 rule called “environment injurious.” On November 16, the Center received final approval of a settlement in the class action lawsuit Jessica R. et al v. DCFS. The court’s final order will result in the expungement from the State Central Register of everyone who was “indicated” by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (“DCFS”) for this allegation between January 1, 2014, and May 31, 2014. It is estimated that 1,000 individuals will be expunged, which will bring the total number of expunged individuals from this group of lawsuits to more than 27,000. DCFS’s original Allegation 60 rule, which defined parents as neglectful when they created or allowed an “environment injurious” to their children, was a broad and vaguely defined rule that enabled DCFS to take actions that were not authorized by the state statute defining child neglect. Under this old Allegation 60, thousands of domestic violence victims and parents with mental health issues were labeled neglectful even when their children were never at risk of harm. Thank you to LAF for representing Jessica and coordinating with the Center to make her a named plaintiff in Jessica R. Also, the Center wishes to thank our pro bono partners Barnes & Thornburg LLP and Jenner & Block LLP, all of the lawyers who worked on these cases, and the many named clients who have stepped forward over the past seven years, helping us to achieve justice for over 27,000 people wrongly accused of child neglect whose cases will be expunged by 2017.
4
The Family Defense Center is currently working on a policy and litigation strategy to limit the overbroad and unlawful Illinois rule called “inadequate supervision” or “Allegation 74.” This allegation of child neglect has been used and is currently being used to target parents for every day parenting decisions, such as allowing their children to walk to school or play in parks. The rule does not conform to the Illinois state law governing child abuse and neglect investigations, and was declared unlawful in an Illinois Circuit Court judge’s decision in 2015. However, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (“DCFS”) continues to use it to charge innocent parents with child neglect. In the fall of 2015, the Center released a major policy report called “When Can Parents Let Children Be Alone?” which examined over 20 “inadequate supervision” cases, including our client Natasha Felix’s case. Natasha is a mother who was “indicated” for inadequate supervision for allowing her children, the oldest being 11 years old, to play in the park next to her apartment for 30 minutes while she checked on them from a window. After several newspapers featured Natasha’s story, in 2016, the Center was involved in drafting new language with DCFS that will replace the existing Allegation 74. The new proposed rule was posted for public comment in September 2016. Meanwhile, the Center, along with pro bono attorneys from the law firm Jones Day, filed a class action lawsuit, Nicole P. et al. v. DCFS in the fall of 2016. The lawsuit seeks an order compelling DCFS to: stop using the current, unlawful “inadequate supervision” rule; remove 30,000 individuals’ names listed on the State Central Register; and expunge any individuals currently being investigated for the unlawful allegation. The lawsuit is making its way through the court system and we expect to be spending much of 2017 on it.
At the annual benefit in October, The Family Defense Center presented Natasha Felix with the Client
Recognition Award for her resilience in fighting for justice for her family and her dedication to ensuring
justice for other parents.
Reforming Overbroad Allegation to “Let Kids Play”
Civil Rights Lawsuits Lead to Improvements for Family Separation Policies In June of 2016, The Family Defense Center, along with its pro bono partners, Winston & Strawn LLP and Latham & Watkins LLP, won major policy victories in three federal court civil rights case settlements addressing Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (“DCFS”) family separation policies. Settlements also provided compensation to three families injured by unlawful removals of their children. Each case challenged the illegal removal of children from their parents. DCFS removed the children without regard to the constitutional requirements governing the taking of “protective custody” without parental consent and without a court order. Each of the cases also challenged the imposition of involuntary so-called “safety plans,” under which the children were sent to live with relatives and contact with their parents was restricted, all without any court review. DCFS claimed that the safety plans were voluntary agreements, but the facts of each case showed the plans were highly coercive and denied the families due process of law. Improvements in safety plan practices have been a long-term agenda item of the Center, including through legislative advocacy. These settlements specify the limited circumstances under which safety plans can be used by DCFS and more clearly delineate the rights of parents when safety plans are being used to separate families and restrict parental rights during investigations.
5
The Family Defense Center Transitions Executive Directors
The Family Defense Center Board President Michael Weaver speaks at the transition celebration with Rachel
O’Konis Ruttenberg and Diane Redleaf.
On July 1, 2016, Diane Redleaf, the Center’s founder and long-time Executive Director stepped into a role as our new Legal Director. The Board of Directors appointed Rachel O’Konis Ruttenberg, previously Deputy Executive Director, as the new Executive Director. The move was part of a multi-year transition, starting with a strategic planning process in 2014, to ensure stability and sustainability for the organization. More than 50 supporters and colleagues gathered at McDermott Will & Emery LLP in late June in order to celebrate the change.
Board Committee Volunteers
Jenny Austin George Barry
Brian Beck Jeanne Beckman
Michael Brody Mary Case
Monica Mahan Patricia McCann
Deborah Pergament Stefani Radist Teresa Reuter Helene Snyder Ashley Walsh
Michael Weaver, McDermott Will & Emery LLP Board President
William Binder, Rabobank International Board Vice President
Michael O’Connor, Mauk & O'Connor LLP Board Treasurer
Ashlie N. Tyler, SAGA Innovations Board Secretary
Kathleen Barry, Winston & Strawn LLP
Patricia Jones Blessman, Clinical Psychologist
Eileen Felson, PwC
Louis Fogel, Jenner & Block LLP
Antoinette Kavanaugh, Forensic Psychologist
Michael Koenigsberger, Grund & Leavitt, P.C.
Denise Lazar, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Padraig McCoid, Clutch Group
2016 Board of Directors
2016 Law Clerks, Fellows, and Interns
Lindsay Ayers
Emma McMullen Margaret Orbon
Lillie Rice Eric Schanowski Matthew Vickers Yaping Zhang
6
“I cannot thank you enough for everything. For the first time in two years there is light at
the end of the tunnel and I owe it all to you.” -K.G., Client
Akerman LLP
Lauren Cooper
Paul Lillios
Jeffery Mayer
Dara Tarkowski
Baker & McKenzie LLP
Jenny Austin
Barrie Brejcha
Samuel Grilli
Jonathon Hitz
Kathryn Imburgia
Laura Kelly
Bryan Koorstad
Lisa Parker Gates
Jonathan Welbel
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Daniel Albers
Gregory Gistenson
Kara Kapke
Denise Lazar
Paul Olszowka
Ashley Parr
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Russell Chibe
Elizabeth Christen
William Essig
Flachsbart & Greenspoon, LLC
Michael La Porte
Hart & Miller LLC
Leighton O'Connell-Miller
Holland & Knight LLP
Anthony Fuga
Troy Hoyt
Steven Varick
Hughes Socol Piers
Resnick & Dym, Ltd.
Joshua Karsh
Jenner & Block LLP
Rachel Bell
Louis Fogel
Jones Day
Juan Arguello
James Daly
Mark DeMonte
William Devitt
Melissa Hirst
Elizabeth Manning
Elizabeth Marino
Brian Murray
Andrew Pinson
Jason Zhou
Kaplan, Massamillo & Andrews,
LLC
Larry Kaplan
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Greg Arovas
Kourtney Baltzer
Peter Bartoszek
James Beard
Kirkland & Ellis LLP (continued)
Kyle Calhoun
Kassie Couey
Sarah Donnell
Jay Emerick
Billy Foster
Colleen Garlington
Katherine Gause
Lucille Hague
Nicholas Hemmingsen
Kristina Hendricks
Sam Hong
Kyle Huh
Sam Ikard
Kyle Kantarek
Jared Kelly
Rajat Khanna
Anne Korenblit
Nikhil Krishnan
Yasmine Kumar
Garret Leach
Gina Lee
Mark Lillie
Margaret Linkous
Michael Liu
Amy Livingston
Pro Bono Case Attorneys
(Affiliation Listed at Time of Service)
The Center recognized Brian Beck, pictured here with
Board President Michael Weaver and Executive Director
Rachel Ruttenberg, with the Outstanding Individual Pro
Bono Service Award at its annual benefit.
7
Kirkland & Ellis LLP (continued)
Josh Mahoney
Sonali Maulik
Matthew Mauney
Allison McDonald
Megan McKeown
Justin Alphonse Mercurio
Kristen Molloy
Dan Monico
Jamie Netznik
Matthew O'Hare
Greg Polins
Bruce Ratain
Kristen Reichenbach
Martin Roth
Amelia Runyan Davis
Jessica Schultz
Jeffrey Seifman
Catherine Stahl
Jessica Staiger
Nyika Strickland
Lauren Swadley
David Tressler
Brian Verbus
Michael Wester
Yaping Zhang
Latham & Watkins LLP
Sophia Cinel
Michael Faris
Jonathon Fazzola
Kevin Jakopchek
Marc Klein
Matthew Kutcher
Derek Linkous
Meredith Monroe
Thanh Nguyen
Cary Perlman
Shirin Savliwala
Peter Shaeffer
John Sikora
Eric Swibel
Mayer Brown LLP
Tyler Alfermann
Richard Bulger
May Chow
Peter Denton
Priya Desai
Michael Educate
Jonathan Hunt
William McGarrity
Christopher Pochon
Christine Shephard
Matthew Streit
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
Rebecca Finkel
Zachary Getzelman
Maeve Kendall
Neha Khandhadia
Brandon Liss
Jacob Mattinson
J. Christian Nemeth
Kaitlin Sheehan
Kevin Shortsle
Todd Solomon
Megan Thibert-Ind
Michael Weaver
Quarles & Brady LLP
Steven Hunter
Ropes & Gray
LLP
Meredith Dykstra
Deborah Gersh
Jeffrey Koh
Ning Ning
David Rojas
SpencePC
Brian Beck
Meghan Nugent
Winston & Strawn LLP
Aldo Badini
Kathleen Barry
Julie Bauer
Whitney Ising
Lowell Jacobson
Maria Kutnick
Michael Mayer
Ethan McComb
Emma McGovern
Mark Rizik
Stephen Schulte
Reid Smith
Nareeneh Sohbatian
Joanna Wade
Brett Walker
Christopher Wilson
Smaller Firms/Solo Practices
Alyease Jones
Chrystal Knight
Amy McAuley
Siobhan Murray
Erika Raskopf
Roya Samarghandi
Hannah Scruton
James Whitmer
Paraisia Winston
Hajar Zoubeidi
The Center recognized its pro bono attorneys from Winston &
Strawn LLP, pictured here with Board President Michael Weaver
and Executive Director Rachel Ruttenberg, at its annual benefit.
8
Donors
$20,000 and above
Key Investment Inc.
$10,000-$19,999
Craigslist Charitable Fund
Roger Dreher
McDermott Will & Emery
Charitable Fdn.
Vera Pless Living Trust
$5,000-$9,999
ABCO Electrical Construction & Design, LLC
Goldman, Sachs & Co. Matching Gift Program
Jenner & Block LLP Kirkland & Ellis Foundation William Powell and Amy Fox Diane Redleaf and Anatoly
Libgober The Sidley Austin Foundation
Winston & Strawn LLP
$2,500-$4,999
Anonymous
Kimball Anderson and Karen
Gatsis Anderson
Baker & McKenzie LLP
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Bayer Family Foundation
Thomas and Mary Broderick
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Grund & Leavitt P.C.
Norman Hirsch and Ann Courter
Investing in Communities
Jones Day
John Martens and Judith
Netterstrom Martens
The Acorn Foundation
$1,000-$2,499
Anonymous
Antoinette Kavanaugh, Ph.D.
Michael and Karen Armstrong
Donna Barrows
George and Jill Barry
Kathleen Barry and Curtis Warner
Julie Bauer and Paul Greenberg
William and Joan Binder
Brigitte Schmidt Bell, P. C.
Michael Brody and Elizabeth Ester
Children's Law Group
Corboy & Demetrio P.C.
Daniel Edelman and Fran Kravitz
Elfenbaum, Evers & Amarilio, P.C.
Epsilon Economics
Louis Fogel and Tamar Karsh-
Fogel
Yates and Amanda French
Honeywell International Charity
Matching
Hughes Socol Piers Resnick Dym
Ltd.
Husch Blackwell LLP
Paul and Cindy Karos
Kigner Family Charitable Trust
Denise and Scott Lazar
Monahan Law Group, LLC
Pink Family Fund
PwC
Rebecca Rand
Beth and Klaus Reissenweber
Dorothy Roberts
Judith and David Schiffman
Gabrielle Sigel and Howard Epstein
Peggy Slater
Tanya Polsky and the Zhovten
Fund
The Elaine and Steven Azuma
Fund
Michael Weaver and Paul Ruffino
$500-$999
Kathleen and Christopher
Alexander
Douglas Baird
Barbara Yanni Charitable Fund
Berger Schatz
John Bigane and Angela Inzano
BMO Harris Bank N.A.
Catherine Carpenter and David
Baker
Kathleen Cleary
Laureen Cleary
Ronald Deharpporte
Eileen Felson
Mary Gardner Burrelle
Holland & Knight LLP
Hannah King
Michael and Teresa Koenigsberger
Lansner & Kubitschek
Hans and Elizabeth Larsen
Latham & Watkins LLP
George and Faith Latimer
Law Office of Ellen R. Domph
Law Offices of Kent Dean LTD.
Dana and Scot Malloy
Padraig McCoid
Meg and David McDonald
Paul and Mary Neff
Ocilla Solutions
Pierce Family Charitable
Foundation
Rabobank International
Karen Reierson
Loren Singer
Giel and Regina Stein
Timothy and Janice Timmel
Bradley Truding
Ashlie Tyler
Jill Hazelbauer Von der Ohe
$250-$499
Anonymous
Mary Lee Allen and Frank Allen
Scott Anderson and Donna D'Oro
Anderson
Mary Austin and Ron Shapiro
Stephen Blessman and Patricia
Jones Blessman
Alan Eidsness
9
$250-$499 (continued)
David Everson and Susan Toft
Everson
Families Organizing for Child
Welfare Justice
Robert Gaskill and Mary Case
Gordon Goodman
David and Elizabeth Graham
Gray & Gray LLC
Diana Hansen
Sandra Herman
Carol and Richard Johnson
Tom and Cathy Joyce
Christopher Kelly
Gerald and Monica Krause
Alice and Charles Kurland
Larry Moskowitz and Louis Packard
Donor Advised Fund
Joy Leibman
Meagan Leonard
David Marr
Jay and Shyla Mathews
Mauk & O'Connor LLP
Patricia McCann and Matthew
Bertram
Christine Naper and Donald Davis
Network It Easy, Inc.
Alan Novick
Lesley Nygaard
Richard O'Konis and Maureen
Shayman
Edward and Nancy Otto
Alyssa Ramirez
Teresa Reuter
John Schomberg and Ellen
Wheeler
Katarzyna and Nicolas Schutt
Silicon Valley Community
Foundation
Helene and Ed Snyder
Brad Stanek
Carol Stoddart
Mehpara Suleman
Karen Teigiser
Brian and Laura Timmel
Deborah Tuerkheimer and Dylan
Smith
Terry Wade and Bonnie
Grzeskowiak
Carl and Margee Weaver
Anita Weinberg and Mark Miller
Susan Wishnick and Allen
Steinberg
Victor Wojtowicz
$1-$249
Anonymous (6)
Joseph Amarilio and Deborah
Pierce
Amazon Smile Foundation
Beth Azuma Moy and Gregory Moy
Fern Badzin
Lynn Baker Handelman-Seigel
Joseph Balagot
Alejandra Ballesteros and Josue
Murillo
Barri Lynn Freeman Trust
Elizabeth Bates
Mary Pat Benz and William Schwer
Caroline Bilicki
Alexandra Block and Izzet Koskun
Botti Marinaccio Ltd.
Anne Bowhay and Jeffrey
Hanneman
Martinez Boyette
Brize Child Care Enterprise
Maggie Bruck
Thomas and Mary Jo Carroll
Kara Casteel
Harlan Cavert and Linda Odegard
Melissa Cecola
Yung Chan
Angelyn Chester
CJD Contracting, Inc.
Colleen R. Daly Attorney at Law,
LLC
Kay Colmorgan
Julie Cook
Tara and Michael Crady
Amy Crawford and Anita Marella
Joseph and Veronica Cwynar
Jadwiga Czornak
Jill Davenport
Monica Davies
Amy and Kent Dean
Carolyn Dean
Elizabeth Dean
Melanie and Brenton Dean
Amos and Sue Deinard
Mark DeLancey
Patrick Dolan
Líadan Donnelly and Aaron
Plavnick
Kathryn Edwards
Jennifer and Ranjan Emani
Exteriors Only, Inc.
Sharon Feigon and Steven Bialer
Ben and Sandra Feist
James Feldman
Dan Felson
Joyce Field
Timothy and Deana Filliman
Allegra and Justin Fischer
Jack Fox
Morris and Carol Fred
Janet French
Louise and Herbert Gans
Robert Garner
Woo and George Gatsis
Eunice Gelb
Gaylord and William Gieseke
Henri Gillet and Gail Holmberg
Sara Gilloon
Linda Ginsberg
Basil Godellas
Marlene and Sanford Goldberg
Paula Goldberg
Breanne Goldman
Janice Goldman
Clare Golla
Daniel and Nina Goodman
Thomas Gordon
Carol and Bob Grannick
Beverly Groudine
Virgil and Wanita Grunkemeyer
Donors
10
$1-$249 (continued)
Daniel Gumnit and Linda Kuusisto
Claudia Guzman
Ana Guzman and Jose Gonzalez-
Magaz
Rebecca and Jason Hale
Matthew and Lindsay Hammer
Teresa and Donald Harmon
Colin Harrington and Deborah
Balmuth
Rachel and Justin Harris
Zelda Harris
Courtney Hawkins
Ezra Hemphill
Christina Henry
Karen Herd
Lorraine Hertz
Matthew Hiltibran and Mitchell
Rodriguez
Roberta and Keith Holzmueller
Hoogendoorn & Talbot LLP
Michelle Huertas
Judy Hunt
Beth and Andrew Isaacs
Jon Jacka
Carol and John Jansson
Jo Ann Potashnick Living Trust
Daniel and Karen Johns
Bridgett Johnson
Michael and Christie Jones
Jane Kaplan and Harry Goldin
Sandra Kato-Wright
Janet Kelenson and Douglas
Fager
C. Maeve Kendall
Russell King and Bryan Liberona
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Karen Knight
Peter Kohn and Judith Sandstrom
Kopczyk, Osher & Scott CPAs
Catherine and Edward Korus
Elizabeth Kramer and Jeffrey
Bryan
Laurie and Joel Kramer
Scott and Pammy Kramer
Lawrence Krupp
William and Diane Kuhlmann
Janine Laird
Nathaniel Lake
Howard and Beverly Larsen
Robert and Carolyn Latz
Jessica Lavery Murphy
Law Office of Nettie F. Sabin
Law Offices of Philip C. Milsk
Tony Lawlor
Robert Lee
Stanley and Suzanne Leonard
Gwen and Irving Lerner
Lori Levin
Elizabeth Lewis
Connie Lewis and Kenneth
Peterson
Carole Loetscher
Beverly London
Barry MacEntee
Kimberlee Malone
Charles Maloney
Elizabeth Manning
Harlan Manning
Beth Marks
Ina Marks and Roger Harper
Joan Matlack and Edmund
Newman
Mauge, Inc.
Caroline McAteer
Amy and Patrick McAuley
Jesse McDonald
Emma McMullen
Robert Michalak
Lenore Miller
Molly Miller Mons and Matthew
Mons
Philip Milsk
Mark and Mary Moffitt
Diane Moore
Michael Morrow and Katherine
Mackinnon
Lynn Mumy
Roselen and Strother Murphy
Joyce Murphy Gorman
Sonya Naar
Stephanie and Daniel Newland
Amber Norris
John O'Connor
Oracle Corporation
Bonnie Braum Padilla
Patrick Palmer and Joan Merlin
Palmer
George Pavlik and Amy Hammer
Steven Pflaum
Stacey Platt and Craig Segal
Vera Pless
Philip Procento and Samantha
Tarlton
Lisa and Mitchell Radist
Stefani Radist
Dee Rame
Ann Ramer
Andrew Rapoport
Erika Raskopf
Nancy Ray
Tonda Reese
Lillie Rice
Diana Robin
Martha Rosen
Aaron Rosenthal and Alison
O'Konis
Jack and Marilyn Rossmann
Randall Royer
Howard and Phyllis Rubin
Leonard and Linda Rubinowitz
Rachel and Daymon Ruttenberg
Michael Ruzicka
Charles and Janet Samuelson
Roche Schulfer and Mary Beth
Fisher
Chyna Scott
Dveera Segal and Bradley Bridge
James Shapiro
Carolyn Shapiro and Joshua
Karsh
Karen Shields
Ellen and Bradley Shorser
Margaret and Daniel Shulman
Donors
11
$1-$249 (continued)
Sarane and Bruce Siewerth
Fern Silverman
Steve Simon
Amy Sings in The Timber
Marilyn Slattery
Emelina Sotomayor
Mary and Thomas Spencer
August and Melissa Staas
Lawrence Stark
Stepping Stones Nursery School
John and Barbara Strom
Lisa Sullivan
Howard Suskin
Jesse Taylor
Helena and Jonathan Trachtenberg
Van Duyne Gift Fund
Rochelle Vermeulen
Victoria Legal + Corporate Services
Michael and Johanna Wald
George Walden
Miriam Wallk and Ilya Valkovsky
Jessica Wang
Charles and Judith Warner
Cassie Warner
Bonita Washington
Mark Weber and Joanne Kinoy
Eugene and Margaret Wedoff
Bernard and Deborah Weiss
Diana and Peter White
Oliver White
Lindsey Whyte
Melanie Williams-Smotherman and
Kent Smotherman
Wolters Kluwer
Maria and Christopher Wood
Kelly Woodsum
Barbara Yates
Darlene Yoder
Zachary Zangl
Debra Zumwalt
Donors
Cy Pres Awards
Designated by Edelman, Combs, Latturner & Goodwin, LLC
“Thank you for your
assistance. You were
professional and
compassionate during a
very stressful time.”
-S.V., Client
The Family Defense Center staff celebrates its work advocating justice for families at its annual benefit.
70 E. Lake Street, Suite 1100 Chicago, IL 60601
www.familydefensecenter.org