Philadelphia VIP, the hub of pro bono legal services in Philadelphia, hosted its annual awards ceremony to honor outstanding volunteers in 2009 at the Ceremonial Courtroom in City Hall on March 10, 2010.

Members of the judiciary, attorneys, law students and legal administrators came to pay tribute to the great pro bono work VIP's volunteers accomplished in 2009. Firms of all sizes, corporations, business, legal services organizations, and individual attorneys received awards as a result of their extraordinary commitment to VIP, its clients, and our community.

Last year, VIP received almost 2,500 requests for legal assistance from low-income Philadelphians that are among the poorest in the region who could not afford an attorney. Over 1,000 volunteers responded to these requests to handle issues in a wide range of practice areas from adoption to zoning to assist individuals, nonprofits and small businesses maintain income during the economic downturn, support the stability of families, prevent homeless amidst the housing crisis, and promote community economic development by investing in local communities.

The 2010 award recipients worked tirelessly to support VIP's clients towards ensuring access to justice for all citizens of Philadelphia. The award recipients are:

Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. Award
Firms and individuals who have provided the highest levels of service to VIP and have given extraordinary time and effort to VIP over several years:

• Fox Rothschild LLP
• The Beasley Firm
• Willig, Williams & Davidson

Cheryl P. Jacobs Chancellor's Award
Firms with at least 10% of the attorneys in their Philadelphia office that participate with VIP and solo practitioners and small firms who have taken 4 or more cases.

Firms

• Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel, LLP
• Berger & Montague, P.C.
• Berner Klaw & Watson LLP
• Blank Rome LLP
• Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
• Caroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy LLC
• Dechert LLP
• Feldman, Shepherd, Wohlgelernter, Tanner, Weinstock & Dodig
• Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C.
• Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin
• Kovler & Rush
• Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
• Pepper Hamilton LLP
• Reilly, Janiczek & McDevitt, P.C.
• Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP
• Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney, Ltd.
• Shrager, Spivey & Sachs
• Smith Horwitz Spector Roseman Kodroff & Willis, P.C.
• White and Williams LLP

Individuals

• Andrew Albergo
• Stanley R. Askin
• Dean W. Babler
• Robert P. Cocco
• Colleen F. Coonelly
• Samantha E. Dalton
• Susan M. Gibson
• Marjorie E. Greenfield
• Deeya Haldar
• Miriam N. Jacobson
• Shanese I. Johnson
• Ilya A. Lipin
• Alfonso Madrid
• Terri Malenfant
• Tejal Mehta
• Donald F. Parman
• Clark Pease
• Barry F. Penn
• Gregory L. Schell
• Michael E. Stosic
• Mark Allen Taylor
• Susan Wallack
• Herbert R. Weiman
• Dean E. Weisgold
• Tonya N. Williams

George L. Xanthoudakis Corporate Pro Bono Award
Corporation whose in-house counsel and other staff members have partnered with VIP.

• Sunoco

Business Recognition Award
Businesses who have provided outstanding support and services to the staff of VIP.

• Aracor First
• American Title Company
• Furia Rubel
• Legal Intelligencer

Legal Services Recognition Award
Legal Services staff who provided outstanding support and services to the staff of VIP.

• Robert Lukens (Philadelphia Legal Assistance)

VIPeoples Choice Award
Individuals who have provided outstanding support and services to the staff of VIP.

• Kevin P. Gilboy
• Edward J. Hayes
• Gilbert J. Marquez
• Craig Sopin
• Judy Stouffer

Philadelphia VIP, the hub of pro bono in Philadelphia, was founded in 1981 by the Philadelphia Bar Association and Community Legal Services to meet the legal needs of low-income Philadelphians by recruiting and training attorneys to provide pro bono legal services. Today, VIP’s diverse volunteers serve more than 1,500 clients annually with legal issues that affect basic human needs. Learn more at http://www.phillyvip.org/.