HARRISBURG, Pa., March 20, 2013 --- The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN) will honor ten recipients of the 2013 Excellence Awards at its annual awards banquet on Wednesday evening, March 20, 2013 at the Harrisburg Hilton.  Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and Yvette R. Long, a disability and welfare rights advocate with the Pennsylvania Welfare Rights organization will each be honored with the Outstanding Leadership in Support of Legal Services Award at tonight’s event.

Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. is a client-centered organization that provides leadership, funding, and support to improve the availability and quality of civil legal aid and direct legal services for low income people and victims of domestic violence in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network consists of fourteen civil legal aid programs helping those who have nowhere else to turn when facing a critical civil legal problem by providing a full range of civil legal services.

“The work of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN) is honorable and vitally important as more of our residents require civil legal assistance in resolving critical problems involving such basic needs as shelter, healthcare, income and personal safety,” said Samuel W. Milkes, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.  “The annual awards banquet provides the opportunity to applaud these individuals, who everyday give those who have nowhere else to turn, equal access to justice.” 

The 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.  PLAN solicited nominations from across the Commonwealth and based its selection on a variety of criteria that demonstrated excellence and diligence in helping improve the availability and quality of civil legal services for low income people and victims of domestic violence in Pennsylvania. 

The following individuals were selected to receive the 2013 Excellence Awards: 

• Judy Berkman, Esq.
  Managing Attorney for Regional Housing Legal Services in Glenside, PA.
   
• Cary L. Flitter, Esq.
  Founding partner of the Montgomery County law firm Flitter Lorenz, P.C. and a leading consumer protection lawyer.
   
• Elizabeth C. Goodell, Esq. and Kerry Smith, Esq.
  Ms. Goodell manages Community Legal Services’ Homeownership and Consumer Unit and Kerry Smith is a Community Legal Services attorney in the unit.
   
• Kathryn M. Kenyon, Esq.
  Attorney and partner with the law firm of Pietragallo, Gordon, Alfano, Bosick and Raspanti, LLP in Pittsburgh.
   
• The Lycoming Law Association and the Lycoming Law Foundation
  The Lycoming Law Association is the professional organization composed of attorneys in Lycoming County. The Lycoming Law Association Foundation is the charitable arm of the Association.
   
• Sol María Rivera
  Paralegal with Friends of Farmworkers, Inc.
   
• David Keller Trevaskis, Esq.
  Pro Bono Coordinator at the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
   
• Debra Wiley
  Legal Secretary in the Bedford office of MidPenn Legal Services.

“The mission of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network is to ensure equal access to justice so that Pennsylvanians can have representation, when facing important civil legal concerns, affecting their safety, health, shelter and survival," offered Christine Kirby, Director of Statewide Support for the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network.  “Our Excellence Award recipients epitomize the tireless efforts of legal aid advocates and friends in the private bar who work to deliver on the promise of justice for all.”  Kirby continued, “Tonight, we are especially pleased to honor Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille for his leadership and unwavering support of equal access to justice and Yvette Long for her outstanding leadership in support of civil legal aid.”

A social hour will take place from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, followed by a buffet dinner and awards presentation. Video tributes of each honoree will be posted on www.palegalaid.net following tonight’s awards banquet.  For more information, please contact Christine Kirby at ckirby@palegalaid.net or 412-586-6137.