UPCOMING EVENTS

TELLING THE PENNHURST STORY: TRAGEDY & TRIUMPH

Join us for a public forum exploring the controversial history of the Pennhurst State School and Hospital, a state-run institution for individuals with disabilities and the subject of a class action lawsuit brought by the Law Center alleging abuse, neglect and unnecessary segregation of residents. The Law Center, along with our partners, will dedicate a Pennsylvania historic marker near the former campus in commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the landmark court order that led to the institution's closure. 

Program and registration details coming soon!

When: Saturday, April 10, 2010

Time:  Public Forum - 1:00 - 3:30pm; Marker Dedication: 3:45pm - TBD

Where: Spring Hollow Golf Course, 3350 Schuylkill Rd., Spring City, PA 19475

Presented by: The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia and The Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance

This event is presented with support from:

PAST EVENTS

CELEBRATE THE LAW CENTER'S NEW HOME
The Law Center's staff, interns and volunteers can't wait to welcome you to our beautiful new office!  Please join us to help celebrate our new space:
When: Thursday, December 3, 2009, 5-7pm
What: Tour our new office! Light refreshments will be served.
Where: The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, United Way Building, 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Map/directions

OCTOBER 1, 2009

Event Details:

3rd Symposium on Equality: “Inequality and Work: Facing Barriers, Creating Solutions” (click for program)

A symposium confronting barriers to the workforce for persons with disabilities, ex-offenders, minority construction workers, and others 

Cocktail Reception & Dinner, Honoring the family of Edwin D. Wolf, the Law Center’s founder and first executive director, whose vision and enduring commitment has sustained the Law Center for four decades. 

Featuring a keynote address by Barbara Arnwine, Executive Director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Wolf Family Tribute, Remarks by Michael Churchill

Recollections of a Vista Volunteer, Remarks by Rob Sanders, 1974 Law Center Intern

The Law Center gratefully acknowledges our sponsors:

Presenting Sponsors:
	KOHN SWIFT & GRAF, P.C.
Sustainers:
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, LLP
Benefactors:
Bazelon Less & Feldman, P.C. James and Cynthia Eiseman Fine Kaplan & Black R.P.C. The Independence Foundation PECO
Patrons:
Mark L. Alderman Bob Brand and Liz Werthan Jennifer Clarke and Alan Barstow EARLE MACK SCHOOL OF LAW - Drexel University FHL Bank, Pittsburgh Ellen T. Greenlee	Michael Lehr and Linda Pennington Maxwell Strawbridge Charitable Trust Rucker Powell & Associates, Ltd. Vision for Equality, Inc. The Edwin D. Wolf Family Caryl L. Wolf
Friends:
Barbara Binis John Briscoe and Kate Williams Reuben Clark, Williams Mullen, PC Frances E. Dalton and Sam R. Little Helen and Leonard Evelev William and Anne Ewing Stephen and Barbara Gold Mary Lemann Goldman Richard D. Greenfield and Peggy Goodman Greenfield Anne Hagele and Ken Kolodziej Gregory M. Harvey	H. Laddie Montague Arthur E. Newbold IV Albert P. Parker PNC Bank Prickett, Jones & Elliott P.A. Michael H. Reed David Richman Adelaide Sugarman and Marshall Greenberg Temple University Beasley School of Law David L. Wales
Special Thanks:
Event Planning Committee James Eiseman William Ewing Alisa Field Judith Gran Stacy Hawkins Mary Hurtig Donald Joseph, Symposium Chair Sonja Kerr Elias Kohn Marciene Mattleman Marianne Roche Sheilah Vance Sandra Wang, Symposium Coordinator Liz Werthan Melissa Wojtylak Nancy Zollers	Design for Social Impact Ennis Carter Michelle McCormick Michael Murtaugh The Friends of Ned Wolf Park Ronda Throne-Murray Settlement Music School Denise Bruckno, Musician Bill Hughes Matthew Cianfrani, Photographer Donated Goods & Services Archer & Greiner Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP

All proceeds benefit the Law Center’s work to advance the constitutional promise of equal citizenship, through high-impact advocacy, public education, and litigation.  

BACK TO SCHOOL WITH THE PUBLIC INTEREST LAW CENTER:

TEACHING QUALITY-EQUITY PLATFORM PRESS CONFERENCE

The Law Center, along with Philadelphia Education Fund, Good Schools PA, PCCY, Cross City and other education advocacy organizations,  held a press conference to propose strategies for the School District of Philadelphia to improve teaching quality on March 31st at City Hall.

MICHAEL CHURCHILL RECEIVES ANDREW HAMILTON LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The Law Center congratulates our own Michael Churchill who received the prestigious Andrew Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his distinguished career of service to those in need; and in particular his extraordinary work to advance the goal of quality and equity in public education.

Philadelphia Bar Association Public Interest Section Annual Awards Ceremony and Reception

December 9, 2008, 5pm

The Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St., 33 rd Floor

Awards Ceremony 5:00 to 5:45 p.m., followed by the Reception from 5:45 to 8:00 p.m.

NEW DEAL EXPO

2008 marks the 75th Anniversary of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal presidency and his vision for a hopeful and strong America.

Join us at the POSTERS FOR THE PEOPLE GALA

Saturday, October 25th, 6-10pm

Philadelphia City Hall Courtyard

As one of the many local organizations that continues to represent the legacy of the New Deal Programs, we'll be sharing our information with the public at an info table at the event. 

Enjoy New Deal-era music, performance, food, speakers, and more.  We hope to see you there!

This event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

For more info visit www.PostersforthePeople.com

THE LAW CENTER'S CELEBRATION HONORING THOMAS K. GILHOOL'S 41-YEAR LEGACY OF SERVICE A GREAT SUCCESS

On May 14, 2008 nearly 250 friends, colleagues, clients, family members and admirers gathered in Philadelphia to pay tribute to Thomas K. Gilhool, a visionary lawyer, counselor and public speaker, who opened vistas for his clients to imagine, and then attain, the impossible. Through his eventful years of public service - at Community Legal Services, as Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, as a law professor and middle school teacher and at the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia -- Tom's powerful insights changed the world forever.

SYMPOSIUM ON EQUALITY: In Celebration of Four Decades' Work of Thomas K. Gilhool, his Colleagues and their Clients At the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia

The event began at the Arch Street Meeting House in Philadelphia's historic Old City neighborhood with a symposium featuring five panel discussions on different societal issues where Tom's work has had an indelible impact.
Full Symposium program
Symposium Photos

AN EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY OF SERVICE AND VISION

The event continued at The Down Town Club overlooking Independence Hall, where friends and colleagues reminisced over cocktails and dinner about their work with Tom throughout the years.

Dinner program

In their presentation, James Wilson and Quincy Abbot announced the Law Center's plans to establish an Endowment at the Law Center to fund the Thomas K. Gilhool Center for Disabilities Rights. The Endowment will allow the Law Center to continue in perpetuity Tom's work to advance the rights of individuals with disabilities to live, work, learn and play in their communities. All proceeds from the event will benefit that effort.

We are deeply grateful to the volunteers, businesses, organizations and individuals who made this wonderful event possible.

Event Photos
Event tribute book
Tom Gilhool slide presentation
Event invitation
Event Save the Date