The 2020 Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN) Excellence Awards, scheduled to take place on March 31, 2020 will be postponed as a result of the growing concern over the spread of the coronavirus. 

In an email distributed late yesterday, PLAN Executive Director Patrick Cicero stated:

"It is with disappointment I am announcing that the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN) Excellence Awards scheduled to be held on March 31st will be postponed.  First and foremost, PLAN is focused on the health and safety of the award recipients, their families, and all attendees at its functions.  Today, the Governor urged all Pennsylvanians to take measures to curtail the spread of the novel corona virus (COVID-19) and specifically urged the cancellation of all gatherings expected to draw more than 250 persons.  We are following this advice."

Cicero indicated that PLAN will be working to reschedule the event for late summer/early fall so that all reciepients who were scheduled to receive awards can be honored. 

The individuals selected to receive the 2020 Excellence Awards included:

• Wesley C. Allen, Esq. 
  Senior Attorney, Family Advocacy Unit • Community Legal Services • Philadelphia, PA
• Mardi Busanus 
  Volunteer • Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania • Doylestown, PA
• El Comité de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agrícolas (CATA) 
  El Comité de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agrícolas (The Farmworkers Support Committee) • Kennett Square, PA
• Robert Damewood, Esq. 
  Staff Attorney • Regional Housing Legal Services • Pittsburgh, PA
• Erin Guay 
  Paralegal • Pennsylvania Health Law Project • Pittsburgh, PA
• Samuel R. Grego, Esq. 
  Principal • Dickie McCamey, & Chilcote, P.C. • Pittsburgh, PA
• Gabriele Miller-Wagner 
  Administrative Assistant, Pro Bono Department • Pennsylvania Bar Association • Harrisburg, PA
• Matthew S. Rich, Esq. 
  Staff Attorney • MidPenn Legal Services • Harrisburg, PA
• Joan M. Tutak, Esq.  
  Senior Attorney • Neighborhood Legal Services • Butler, PA

In addition, the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network is was scheduled to present the Outstanding Leadership In Support of Legal Services Award to:

• Samuel W. Milkes, Esq.
  Executive Director, Pennsylvania Legal Services Network, Inc.

The Honorable David N. Wecht, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the event.

The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Excellence Awards recognize legal aid attorneys, paralegals, support staff and friends of civil legal aid who support the clients served by the civil legal programs that comprise the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network. 

Details about the rescheduling of the Awards ceremony will be announced once they are finalized. Ongoing information on the status of the Awards ceremony will be posted to the Excellence Awards page of the PLAN website.