The 2008 Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Excellence Awards were presented at the annual awards dinner on Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at the Harrisburg Hilton & Towers.

The evening's keynote speaker was Supreme Court Justice Cynthia Baldwin. A social hour preceded the awards dinner which began at 6:00 PM.

The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Excellence Awards honor members and friends of the legal aid community who exemplify excellence in their commitment and accomplishments as advocates for low-income people.

The 2008 Excellence Award recipients include a variety of civil legal aid professionals, private attorneys, lay advocates and supporters of civil legal aid from across Pennsylvania.

The award winners are led by Andrew Susko, White and Williams, LLP and current President, Pennsylvania Bar Association, of Philadelphia, PA. Attorney Susko who received the special Outstanding Leadership in Support of Legal Services Award.
 

The other 2008 Excellence Awards winners include:

• Jay Alberstadt, Jr., The Quinn Law Firm; Board of Directors, Northwestern Legal Services, Erie, PA.
• Sandra A. Ballard, Pro Bono/Public Services Coordinator, Dauphin County Bar Association Pro Bono Program, Harrisburg, PA.
• Nadia Hewka, Senior Staff Attorney, Community Legal Services, Philadelphia, PA.
• Leodus Jones, Executive Director, Community Assistance for Prisoners; Board of Directors Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project, Philadelphia, PA.
• John F. McKenna, MacElree and Harvey; Board of Directors, Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, West Chester, PA.
• Thelma Reese, Administrative Assistant, Neighborhood Legal Services Association, Pittsburgh, PA.
• David Tilove, Director of Information & Technology, North Penn Legal Services, Bethlehem, PA.

A video tribute to each of the award winners was presented during the awards ceremony. Those video tributes may be viewed above. Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. salutes each of the 2008 award winners for their efforts in promoting equal justice to all.