Brooklyn A Benefit Draws 425 Guests
to Celebrate Honorees and Community

November 14, 2007

Honorees Brendan J. Dugan, Maria Contreras-Collier & Paul J. Curran, with Brooklyn A Project Director Marty Needelman (second from right), General Counsel Paul Acinapura (second from left), Board Chair Valarie Hing (third from left), and Emcee Dominic Chianese (far right).

Dominic Chianese giving a passionate rendition of "Guantanamera"

We have more photos from the event! View the slideshow for more.

Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A held a lively, successful Annual Partnership Awards Benefit on Nov. 14, 2007, raising $325,000 for our Community and Economic Development work. The Event at the Brooklyn Marriott drew a huge crowd from the legal, corporate, philanthropic and neighborhood activist communities to celebrate the three Honorees—Paul J. Curran, Special Counsel at Kaye Scholer LLP; Brendan J. Dugan, Chairman and CEO of Sovereign Bank's Metro NY/NJ Division; and Maria Contreras-Collier, Director of the Cypress Hills Child Care Corporation - and show their support for Brooklyn A.

Master of Ceremonies Dominic Chianese, The Sopranos' "Uncle Junior," delighted the crowd with his rendition in Spanish of "Guantanamera," and salute to Tony Bennett, who was in the audience. A moving video highlighted the Honorees' strong commitment to public service and to Brooklyn's low-income communities; Borough President Marty Markowitz read a Proclamation hailing the Event; and the Bobby Sanabria Sextet kept the dance floor full and vibrating.

Brooklyn A's Project Director Marty Needelman, noting that November marked the 92nd sbirthday of Legal Services founder Sargent Shriver, said, "We're extremely proud that we continue to fulfill his visionary mission for legal services: not just helping to bring justice to low-income people and neighborhoods, but bringing legal support to community-based work in rebuilding and sustaining those neighborhoods.

"Despite tremendous political and economic pressures to centralize and consolidate to downtown locations," said Needelman, "Brooklyn A has remained and expanded in the neighborhoods we serve. And we have involved every aspect of our legal work in a partnership with awesome local community-based groups."

Brooklyn A's General Counsel, Paul Acinapura, thanked the Event's major Underwriters for their great generosity. Leadership gifts from Davis Polk and Wardwell; Debevoise & Plimpton; Dime Savings Bank; Kaye Scholer LLP; Kelley Drye and Warren LLP; Kramer, Dillof, Livingston & Moore; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; and Sovereign Bank will support Brooklyn A's work with scores of local grassroots organizations, he said. He also thanked the Brooklyn A staff, "who each and every day give meaning to our mission by their service to our clients, and reaffirm their commitment to our community-based law practice."

Honoree Paul J. Curran said that Brooklyn A's clients face daunting conditions such as eviction spurred by gentrification, denial of benefits, domestic violence, and reentry into society upon release from prison. "And to the limits of its resources, Brooklyn A responds superbly to these individuals and their needs. In doing so, Brooklyn A has affected for the better the lives and living conditions of countless low-income Brooklyn residents."

Brendan J. Dugan, a lifelong Brooklyn resident, said that all of the banks he's been involved with over a 38-year career have supported Brooklyn A. "It's a great way to simultaneously reach many different communities that need help. We know they're in good hands, and that make it tremendously satisfying."

Community Honoree Maria Contreras-Collier said that Brooklyn A was the Cypress Hills child care program's legal "dream team," partnering to provide top-notch services to nearly 500 neighborhood children. Brooklyn A's legal work and its "many late nights helping our Board of Directors and leadership overcome obstacles and set strategy for the future" were indispensable, said Contreras-Collier. "But even more important is their friendship, moral support, and devotion to making high-quality childcare and economic opportunities available to women in Cypress Hills."