July 29, 2010

WELCOME TO CHILD ADVOCATES' E-NEWSLETTER!

 1.  Frankly Speaking
 2.  We've Been Busy
 3.  What's Coming Up
 4.  Chris' Corner
 5.  Featured Client
 6.  Featured Volunteer
 7.  Featured Staff Member
 8.  New Additions
 9.  Donate Now
10. Facebook Fans
11. Sad News

As more information is made public about the dealings leading to the construction of a new Family Court in Center City, the need for the courthouse has been overshadowed.  It is apparent that short cuts have been taken, and that conflicts of interest exist.  The project now teeters on the edge of failure because of apparent self-dealing by the court’s lawyer and ultra-high costs associated with real estate development.  That court administration should have been more responsible, and either more or less involved, are interesting critiques that seem off the mark.  The community has a need.  The solution:  give back the money!    

Spending on the project has been reported in the range of $11 Million.  There is a clear and legitimate money trail for almost $6 Million, for more than a year of design services performed by the reputable Ewing Cole architects.  Though large to a lay person, the design costs are appropriate for a job this size, and those site-specific drawings must be used. 

What’s missing?  Legal fees paid to the lawyers and to law firms.  Developer fees that seem too much like profit or reimbursement for age-old site costs.  Probably some other large sums not yet publicly revealed.  Shouldn’t the parties to these “deals,” now about to square off in Bankruptcy Court or perhaps contractual litigation, instead recognize a deal gone bad and get out of the way?

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Governor Rendell Honored
with Judge Lois G. Forer Child Advocacy Award

It was a dazzling evening at the Crystal Tea Room of The Wanamaker Building. On April 14th, more than 900 guests gathered to acknowledge the outstanding work of the Support Center for Child Advocates and our many dedicated supporters, and to celebrate the 2010 honorees.

Donna Cooper, Pennsylvania Secretary of Policy and Planning, accepted the Judge Lois G. Forer Child Advocacy Award on behalf of Governor Edward Rendell.

Judge Lois G. Forer Child Advocacy Award
recipient Gov. Edward G. Rendell with fans. 

Frank P. Cervone, Executive Director, Child Advocates; Donna Cooper, Pennsylvania Secretary of Policy and Planning; and Hero Sponsors James McEldrew and Nancy Fullam, McEldrew & Fullam, P.C.

Chandra Palmer, Social Services Worker, Child Advocates; Robert L. Ebby, Shareholder, Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin; and Frank P. Cervone, Executive Director, Child Advocates

Tracey Thomasey, Social Work Super-visor, Child Advocates; Leslie M. Gomez, Assistant Chief, Juvenile Court Unit of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office; and Frank P. Cervone, Executive Director, Child Advocates

Sherri and Ernest Krensel with granddaughter
Lauren Krensel

A.B. Clarke, Social Services Worker, Child Advocates; Nicole Reimann, Partner, Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP; and Frank P. Cervone, Executive Director, Child Advocates

Frank P. Cervone, Executive Director, Child Advocates; The Honorable Flora Barth Wolf; and Shelly D. Yanoff, Executive Director, Public Citizens for Children and Youth

Jodi E. Schatz, Pro Bono Coordinator, Child Advocates; Tom Zipfel, General Counsel and Director of Human Resources, Worth & Company, Inc.; and Frank P. Cervone, Executive Director, Child Advocates

Alan Hoffman, Co-Chairman, Blank Rome LLP; Kathy Ochroch, Board Member, Child Advocates, Partner and Director of Pro Bono Services, Blank Rome LLP; Liz Manning, Payroll Manager, Blank Rome LLP; Guests Stacy and Dan Lewis; Lisa Lewis, Legal Secretary, Blank Rome LLP; James Strawley, Associate, Blank Rome LLP; Angie Newell-Reed, Administrative Assistant, Blank Rome LLP

With your support, we raised more than $470,000 for the abused and neglected children we serve. Thank you very much for your tremendous contributions.

This was a record year. As our caseload continues to climb, we did not want to turn any child away. With your help, we served more than 800 kids, our largest caseload to date. We would not have been able to advocate for these youngsters without you. Thank you!

Tremendous thanks to our Hero Sponsor, McEldrew & Fullam, PC!

Many thanks to our Storyteller Sponsors Ballard Spahr LLP, Ellan & Leonard Bernstein, Gateway Funding Diversified Mortgage Services, L.P., GMAC & Ally Bank, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, Pepper Hamilton LLP, and The Legal Intelligencer.

Thank you to our Narrator Sponsors Ajamie LLP, Blank Rome LLP, Comcast Corporation, and Cozen O'Connor.

Thank you to all of our generous Sponsors!

Many thanks to our magnificent Benefit Reception Co-Chairs!

Victoria Demo, Senior Vice President, Corporate Risk Solutions, RBS Securities, Inc.

Katherine Kelton, Assistant General Counsel, ARAMARK Corporation

Hats off to our Committee Leadership.
Kimberlee Washington Barr
Jeffrey Barrack
Andrea Broad
Jill Felix Colton
Christopher Dunne
A. Nicole Friant
Beth Hanssens
Shannon Prown
Anthony Stover
Joe Tucker, Jr.

A round of applause for our incredible Event Committee.

A Record Run

A record number of participants flooded Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive on Sunday, May 16th for the 31st Annual Philadelphia Bar Association 5K Run/Walk. More than 1,260 competed Sunday morning to support Child Advocates’ Child Protection Program. With your help, we raised in excess of $100,000 for Philadelphia’s abused and neglected kids. Thank you!

Many thanks to our terrific Race Sponsors!

Tremendous thanks to the Race Committee!

Congratulations to all participants!

Special kudos to Geoffrey Wainaina of Lancaster who placed #1 with a score of 15:54.

Neill W. Clark remains Legal Competition Running Champ at 16:47 --12 years and counting!

Read Run highlights from Race Chair and Founder Manny Pokotilow, Partner, Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein, Cohen & Pokotilow, Ltd.

This article was featured in The Legal Intelligencer.

what's coming up
Join Us for the 5th Annual Child Advocates Golf Classic

On October 4, 2010, Child Advocates will hit the links at Huntingdon Valley Country Club. Your support raises critical funds for our Project for Medically Needy Children.

Bring your colleagues and clients out for a day of golf at one of the best clubs in the country. This year’s Golf Classic offers increased business exposure through our association with Cleantech Alliance Mid Atlantic.

Register now

Lunch
11:00am

Cocktail Party
5:00pm

Child Advocates' Volunteer Attorney Training

Child Advocates invites you to attend the October 26, 2010, 6-CLE credit course on "How to Handle a Child Abuse Case." Join our team of Volunteer Attorneys who advocate for abused and neglected kids.

+ Learn More

Child Advocates celebrated 54 adoptions in FY10, a record number for our agency! Since FY07, the proportion of adoptions has steadily increased, from 9% to nearly 25% of cases closed in FY10. We are looking both at system and agency changes to understand this wonderful accomplishment.

When North Penn Legal Services contacted the Support Center for Child Advocates, the Court had already found Sarah and Amy to be severely neglected by their mother and father. Sarah had been sexually abused by a cousin. Both parents were drug-addicted and the girls had witnessed their mother’s arrest for drug use; they were traumatized. Sarah and Amy needed help, so Volunteer Attorney Joy Grese of Morgan Lewis and Social Worker Megan Somsanith stepped in to help.

+ Read more

featured volunteer
A. Nicole Friant
A Volunteer Child Advocate

A. Nicole Friant is Pro Bono Counsel, Duane Morris LLP

Q:  What do you do when you are not volunteering with the Support Center for Child Advocates?

A. I am pro bono counsel for Duane Morris LLP, and manage and direct the firm's national Pro Bono Program.

Q:  How did you learn about Child Advocates and why do you volunteer?

A. I first learned about Child Advocates shortly after law school, when a close friend began working there. I have been volunteering with Child Advocates for the last decade because I love working with kids, and want to help those in Philadelphia who are without the basics that every child deserves: security, safety and stability.  The children with whom I work bring me joy, and I feel privileged to advocate for them.

+ Learn more

featured staff member
Moira Mulroney
appointed as new Director of Development and Communications

The Support Center for Child Advocates welcomes Moira Mulroney as the new Director of Development and Communications.

Using her legal and fundraising experience, Moira will assume overall responsibility for all agency communications and development of the Child Advocates presence in the community, as well as oversee all aspects of fundraising for the agency. "With her widespread experience in the not-for-profit sector, Moira is a great asset to our team. Her leadership, determination and innovation are well positioned here to help the agency thrive and succeed in the future," says Frank P. Cervone, Executive Director of the Support Center for Child Advocates.

Tremendous thanks to departing Board Members Andrea Broad, Christopher Dunne, Anthony Stover and Thomas Tammany! Thank you for generously giving your time, incredible talent and resources to change the story for Philadelphia’s abused and neglected children.

We welcome outstanding additions to our Board of Directors and Staff!

Board of Directors

• Jo Rosenberger Altman, Associate, Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP
  
• Amy A. Fox, Assistant General Counsel, R.A.F.  Industries, Inc.
• Sherri Krensel, Owner and Partner, Workplace Environments
• Kathy E. Ochroch, Partner and Director of Pro Bono Services, Blank Rome LLP
• Matthew J. Siegel, Member, Cozen O'Connor
• Audrey C. Talley, Partner, Drinker Biddle

Staff

• Gina Morrison, Social Worker
• Moira Mulroney, Director of Development and Communications

Your contribution directly impacts the lives of Philadelphia’s most vulnerable kids.

Contribute now. Change the story for an abused and neglected child.

facebook fans

Help us reach 1,000

To date, 545 friends like Child Advocates on facebook. Tell your friends to “like us” and to “donate now.” Let’s reach 1,000!

Find us on facebook!

sad news

It is with much sadness that we share the news that our dear friend Edward Q. Lewis has passed away.

Eddie touched the lives of many, with his poetry, wisdom, and his care for others. Foster children and young people in the system were his special concern, for whom he so openly shared the many struggles and pains of his troubled life and the courage that ran so deeply in him. Eddie was a founding member of the Support Center for Child Advocates' Client Advisory Board, and his testimony before the House Children and Youth Committee was just one of his many impressive appearances. He is the namesake and inspiration for Eddie's House, the program for support of young people as they age out of the foster care system.

The viewing will be held at 10:00am on Thursday, July 29, 2010 with the memorial service to follow at 11:00am at Pelzer Funeral Home, 845 South 3rd Street (near 3rd and Christian Streets).

The Child Advocates family feels this loss deeply. We were all blessed by the compassion and spirit of Eddie, and he lives today in our hearts.

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