children’s law center 2014 annual report
TRANSCRIPT
CHILDREN’S LAW CENTER2014 ANNUAL REPORT
Thank you for helping us protect vulnerable children and strengthen families.
Celeb
rating Our Heroes!
Our Mission
The Children’s Law Center (CLC) protects the interests of indigent children in family court and
advocates policies which advance their well-being and best interests. Through our programs and
services, CLC strives to create safe, stable environments for children whose parents are in chronic
conflict.
Our goal is to protect children and strengthen families in homes where children can successfully
reach emotional, physical and academic milestones. We work with families to create effective
parenting plans that reflect the needs and strengths of each parent, where both understand the
importance that two parents play in the lives of their children. We educate parents about the harmful
impact of long-term conflict on their children. Instead of children who live with the anger and
violence of their parents and learn to fight, we help break the cycle.
Our New VideoAs we expand into new markets, it is imperative that we create more aware-
ness for our critical mission.
With generous support from Cathie Reese of Geomatrix Productions of New
Haven, Rozanne Gates and Suzanne Sheridan of Fairfield County, we now
have a new Public Service Announcement that will appear throughout the
state. Especially listen to the wonderful song “Stand for Children,” written
and performed by Suzanne Sheridan. We will use the video as a marketing tool for new audiences and across
social media platforms as an introduction to the organization.
Our inspiration, and one of our heroesIn 2014, noted author and poet Maya Angelou
died. As a tribute to her memory, we have
included several of her inspirational quotes
throughout this Annual Report.
See our new video at www.clcct.org
2 www.clcct.org
“Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.
—Maya Angelou
If you’re reading this, you are already one of our heroes! We thank you for
T your interest in the Children’s Law Center,
T your dedication as a volunteer,
T your generosity as a donor or funder,
T your attendance at our events,
T your in-kind donations of time, services or gifts,
T your support of our work in the courts and legislature, and
T your belief in our programs as recipients of our services as you make
us better at what we do with every challenge we encounter.
T The true super heroes day in and day out are our staff who we thank for
their fearless commitment and motivation to make lives better for vulnerable children.
All of our heroes help us defend, protect, save and deliver our mission. We have more than
600 heroes and we appreciate the support we get from each and every one of you—and you’re
all listed in this Annual Report!
With your help, 2014 was a successful year for the Children’s Law Center:
T We expanded our services to include the Norwich judicial district and we added a new staff
attorney; we continue our plans for further expansion in 2015 to include Meriden, Middletown
and Milford.
T We added three new community members to our board who bring a wealth of skill sets:
experience in sales, finance, state government, human services, and children’s advocacy.
T We have enhanced the role of our staff social worker, integrating the assessment at
the initiation of a case.
T We have increased fundraising with new and expanded sources: foundation grants, 120 new
donors and record net profits of more than $110,000 from our annual fundraising gala.
T We are finding new ways to collaborate with like-minded service organizations to proactively
improve the paths for children.
The work we do is critical in helping parents create safe, loving homes, where both parents
have value, and children can successfully reach emotional, physical and academic milestones with
the least amount of trauma. The parents and children we work with are real heroes, working
to overcome the many challenges they face.
Thank you to all of our heroes for the varied roles you play to help change the lives of at-risk
impoverished youth in Connecticut. We are humbled by and grateful for your belief in our
mission and your overwhelming spirit to give.
Justine Rakich-Kelly Barbara Aaron
Executive Director President, Board of Directors
Barbara and Justine
Dear
Friends,
3
They’re scared, often traumatized when we meet
them. But our child clients are brave and hopeful
and so much want the love of the two most
important people in their lives—their parents, who
are embroiled in chronic conflict and challenged
by adverse conditions.
The centerpiece of our services is our Legal
Representation Program. No other organization
in Connecticut, and few nationwide, focus on
protecting the interests of impoverished children
in Family Court. Our cross-disciplinary approach to
include a mental health component for our clients
is unique. We are there to represent children and
remind the Court that they are the most import-
ant parties in the case when their parents are
engaged in protracted and highly contested family
court disputes of custody, visitation and divorce.
All of our cases are exacerbated by conditions of
violence, abuse, neglect, addiction, incarceration,
mental illness, or other challenges. The cases
that we handle are heartbreaking and among
the worst that the courts see, and the effects on
children are harmful and long-lasting.
Legal Representation ProgramChildren are the Real Heroes M
eet M
aribel
“The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”
—Maya Angelou
Key Outcomes 2014
616 children served in 416 families
In 97% of our cases, judges’ orders reflected
the recommendation of CLC attorneys
78% of cases were settled by out of court
agreements
A low 15% of cases reopened after
closing, indicating positive resolutions and no
re-emerging issues
An actual comment from a family court judge:
“...The attorneys (from the Children’s Law
Center) are very well trained, very professional,
and well prepared. They are the best in the
business. I can’t imagine what judges do in
courts where CLC isn’t handling cases.”
4 www.clcct.org
CLC’s GAL Academy, October 2014: Interviewing Children, presented by Dr. Stephen Humphrey
A Legal Representation Case History Mee
t Maribel
Maribel was 12 years old when we were appointed
to her case. She was shy and withdrawn and
our attorney David Coughlin couldn’t really establish
a connection with her. He brought in our mental
health professional, Corey Somerville, and, together,
they spent a lot of time getting to know Maribel.
She had always lived with her Mom and just started
visiting with her Dad, but she didn’t really know him.
One day, Maribel opened up about her life. She
talked about always being left alone; she was lonely
and scared all the time, about being hurt by her
“uncles”—basically a parade of her mother’s friends,
about her longing to be part of a real family.
Listening to her story we struggled to find a way
to give Maribel what she longed for: a safe and
loving family. But she needed so much more—she
had been through so much trauma and kept it
all a secret. Her mother was completely unaware
and rather unconcerned about her developmental
well-being. After all, she seemed fine.
The issue David and Corey faced was to make
recommendations about whether Maribel should
see her dad. Where had he been all this time?
Would it be disruptive for a 12 year old to be forced
to visit with someone who is essentially a stranger?
Which was the better family environment for her
to live in and thrive?
We made the recommendation to let Maribel live
with her father and step mother; in a family where
she had two half siblings and an older step sister.
Maribel was enrolled in therapy and a support group.
We worked with her mom to help her understand
that although Maribel seemed fine, she was hurt
and needed a lot of help, and that she needed two
parents in her life. We worried about Maribel...
her trauma having occurred over a period of really
important years.
The case eventually ended with Maribel staying with
her dad and her new family. And we were left to
wonder and hope that Maribel would be okay. Then,
months later, she called to thank us and say how
happy she was. She was still with her family, still in
therapy, sees her mom often, doing well in school
and actually mentoring a child who was in foster
care. All that time and all that worry paid off.
5
The Families in Transition Program provides
mediation and parenting education services to
low and middle income level parents who
are embroiled in highly contested family court
disputes. The program relies on a roster of
volunteer mediators. They are passionate about
helping families find a better way to restructure
and co-parent, as an alternative to adversarial,
costly and often protracted family court litigation.
Our FIT program provides parenting education
and family mediation to parents with an
opportunity for them to address their grievances,
discuss difficulties, resolve communication
issues, and develop positive child-centered
parenting agreements with both parents
involved and vested in the process. We pair up
a mental health professional with an attorney
and create a gender balanced team to work
with each family.
2014 Volunteer FIT Mediators
Families in Transition Program (FIT)Strengthening Families—We salute our volunteer heroes
FIT mediation training
Shari Bornstein
Margaret Bozek
William Brown
Susan Busby
Judy Cabeceiras
Mary Cheyne
Kim Duell
Cynthia Eastman
Robert Fiedler
Doug Fishman
Bruce Freedman
Kelly Gallagher
Rachel Garron
Maureen Gould
Charles Higgins
Kate Kowalyshyn
Andrea Levy
Andy Hechtman
Judy Hyde
Robert Madden
Pam Magnano
Kata Maluszewski
Jule Michel
Jeff Mickelson
Kathleen Nevins
Leslie Ohta
Ben Shapiro
Stephanie Stein-Leite
Shirley Watson
Stacey Widlansky
Martin Wheeler
Jeff Zimmerman
6 www.clcct.org
FIT MEDIATOR PROFILE: Robert L. Fiedler
Attorney Robert L. Fiedler has
been a volunteer mediator for
the FIT program since early in its
inception. He is trained in both PEACE Program
facilitation and divorce mediation; both through
programs offered through the Children’s Law
Center.
With an office in New Britain, Attorney Fiedler
has represented men and women in family court for
over 15 years. Key to his volunteering efforts with
FIT, his practice strongly relies on the mediation
style of representation, promoting a non-adversarial
and cost-effective approach for families whenever
possible.
Attorney Fiedler is also an avid storyteller!
He has told stories at Speak Up events in Hartford
and Moth competitions in New York and Boston.
He views the cathartic nature of storytelling as
a good replacement for therapy. Look for him
wherever stories may be told!
Thank you, Attorney Fiedler! We appreciate
all of the time you devote to FIT and for providing
quality services to low income families.
A FIT Case History Brok
en Trust
Charles and Amelia came to FIT on the advice of their attorneys, two
months after filing for divorce. It was clear from the outset that their
conflict was highly contentious. They were married for 9 years and had
two children, ages 4 and 5.
The marriage broke up because Charles had met another woman who
he continued to see regularly. The first session was difficult, during which
time Amelia had a lot to say about the other woman. Charles wanted
to discuss his plans for the children, but Amelia wanted to discuss why
things that were not important to Charles during the marriage were
suddenly important now. Trust had broken down to a point where any
attempt at reaching an agreement was sidetracked with vitriol, each
parent making it clear how awful the other was.
Regardless, they came back for a second session, and more. Each session
became increasingly more productive. There were setbacks, but by the end
of the sixth session the parents had reached agreement on almost every
issue (the outlier being how to share Christmas, seemingly always a deal
breaker). During nine hours of mediation (time that would have likely
tripled in court), there were moments of clarity. Each parent had the
opportunity to access our resources, coming back to sessions with actual
compliments for the other, concessions, and an
acknowledgement of each of their roles in the conflict.
Our mediators documented their agreements and, the
parents had the agreement become a court order.
Charles and Amelia left FIT
with the hope that once
the divorce was final,
the insights and
progress they had
made together
would prevail and
they would remain
focused on the best
interests of their
children.
Key Outcomes 2014
56 Families with 84 children
served from 29 towns
32 volunteer mediators Results of follow-up studies:
68% of respondents
reported that the co-parenting
relationship had improved
67% of parents came
to agreements in FIT;
87% report that
agreements have held up
68% reported fewer
court appearances since
participating in FIT
72% indicated that they
would return to the FIT
Program before returning
to Family Court
Actual participant comments:
“I wish you would continue to
expand to help more families.”
“ The mediators were very
understanding and helpful.”
“Wonderful program that
made significant changes in
our family life.”
7
Our telephone help line is often the first place
people turn to when confronted with a family
law issue. Our callers are highly emotional,
stressed with critical family crises, and over-
whelmed about how to navigate the complex
maze of agencies, courts and laws that exist to
protect children. The Law Line answers legal
questions and gives information and referrals
to people seeking help with family court issues
and children’s rights. All calls are free, answered
by a trained professional, and open to every-
one as a public service, with no screening for
income requirements. Many callers contact us
repeatedly as their case evolves.
Children’s Law Line: 1-888-LAW-DOOR A first source for the general public
Key Outcomes 2014
We responded to 1,302 phone calls involving
1,381 children.
In our annual Caller Satisfaction Survey, completed in
August 2014, 271 contacts were made to callers
to the Law Line during the time period April 2013
through February 2014:
85% reported our service to be “Very Helpful” or
“Helpful”.
58% reported that their family law problem has
improved since contacting us.
A sampling of comments:
“I learned a lot about the services I had no idea were
out there.”
“CLC is fantastic—that one phone call helped me take
charge and help my own children.”
“I called you and it was a weight lifted off my
shoulders to have someone listen and help me
figure out what I needed to do to protect myself
and my son.”
“The Children’s Law Center gave me helpful
information, but more importantly, it gave me the
confidence to stand up for myself and my children.”
“No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.”—Maya Angelou
8 www.clcct.org
A LAW Line Case History Thing
s Change
A father called our Law Line to find out how he
could begin to see his daughter again. He
and the mother were divorced and the father lived
in Pennsylvania; the mother and child lived in
Connecticut. The child was very young at the time of
the divorce and the father agreed that the mother be
present during his parenting time, which took place
in Connecticut. He saw his daughter every week for
two years. When he requested parenting time alone
with the child, the visits stopped.
The father had agreed that having the mother
present during his parenting time was appropriate
when the child was an infant. However, she was
now four years old and had a solid relationship with
her father based on his consistent involvement. He
wanted to resolve this issue but was afraid that filing
in court would leave him worse off. The mother had
been taunting him, urging him to file something in
court, and making it clear that she would make sure
he ended up with no parenting time.
Our Law Line
representative told the
father about his right
to file a Motion for
Modification in the
Superior Court
where the
divorce orders were entered. He was referred to
the Judicial Website for the necessary forms and
given information about the general procedure
once his case was scheduled. He was also informed
about attorneys
who represent children in the role of Guardian Ad
Litem and how that person would be a neutral
source of information for the Court, should the case
become complicated.
Most importantly, he was assured that the decision
would not be left to the mother and that parent-
ing restrictions were generally reserved for families
where a child would be in danger physically or
emotionally. Considering his regular and consistent
schedule, it was unlikely that his fears would be
realized.
Many times, fathers call our Law Line because they
believe that what the
mothers want will
become the court
order. In most
instances, simply
informing fathers
of their rights is
enough to reduce
anxiety and pro-
mote a positive,
9
Our champions in the community
They come from all walks of life, with diverse
perspectives, across many professions but all
bring a single-mindedness of purpose and
devotion to our mission. We thank our Board
members for being our guiding stars and
generous allies.
October 2013 – October 2014 Board of Directors
We welcomed new
board members:
Jeanne Milstein
Judy Casperson
Patricia Wilson Pheanious
At our October 2014 Annual Meeting we said
good-bye to:
Debra Ruel, our co-founder
Moy Ogilvie Johnson
Anne Noble
CLC board meeting in session
Barbara Aaron, Board President
Robert Madden, Vice President
Jonathan Fink, Treasurer
Pam Magnano, Secretary
Mark Boxer
Tim Buckley
Sandra Gersten
William Johnson
Christine Miller
Patrick Proctor
James Russell
Elizabeth Thayer
Jovanni Valentini
Maureen Zavatone
Boar
d of Directors
10 www.clcct.org
Our CLC staff is a special family of people, the
real superheroes who carry out our mission
everyday with zeal and passion to improve the
lives of vulnerable children. They regularly do
their best to help those with the very least.
We support them with professional training
opportunities, in-service learning, monthly
staff review meetings, and quarterly staff
development days.
The day-in-and-day-out heroes
2014 Staff
NAME POSITION
Justine Rakich-Kelly, J.D. Executive Director
Randa Hojaiban, J.D., M.S.W. Deputy Director
Rosalie Roth Director of Development
Artila Lubonja Staff Attorney Waterbury Family Court
Aisha Roche Staff Attorney New Haven Family Court
David Coughlin Staff Attorney New Britain Family Court
Parul Patel Staff Attorney Hartford Family Court
Seon Bagot Staff Attorney Bridgeport, Stamford & Milford Family Courts
Kathryn Bissonnette Staff Attorney Putnam & Rockville Family Courts
Monique Ryan Staff Attorney Norwich Family Court
Nicole Silva Social Worker
Summer Spellman Development Associate
Brooke Garcia Administrative Professional
We said good-bye to:
Corey Somerville, our mental health professional who worked
with us for 2 ½ years.
(L-R) Seon Bagot, Justine Rakich-Kelly, David Coughlin, Aisha Roche, & Kathryn Bissonnette.
(L-R) Nicole Silva, Brooke Garcia, ParulPatel, Randa Hojaiban & Monique Ryan.
Nicole Silva & Artila Lubonja
Rosalie Roth & Summer Spellman
O
ur Staff
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2014 Interns
Sarah Boxer University of Connecticut
Me-Li Cellino-Jacques Tunxis Community College
Tasheena Davis Western New England University
Amanda Dzen The University of Saint Joseph
Carolina Fernandez University of New Haven
Amanda Grove University of Saint Joseph
Suzanne Jacobson Hamilton College
Kadiatu Koroma University of Hartford
Rayne McGlamery Wheaton College
Matthew Ryl-Kuchar Lincoln Way High School
Jessica Shoflick Syracuse University
Monica Smalls University of Hartford
Amanda Stanzione University of Connecticut
Kwanisha Thompson Branford Hall Career Institute
Patricia Valcourt University of Connecticut
Thomas Wilkeson University of Connecticut
Leah Wisser Tufts University
Abby Woodhouse Skidmore College
Special Projects Volunteer
Lynn Katz
Volunteers & Interns are our Lifeline
We couldn’t do as much as we do without the
help of dedicated, non-paid volunteers. Many
of them come to us as college interns from a
wide variety of colleges and universities as under-
graduates, graduate and law school students
with varied interests and majors ranging from
the legal profession, social work field, public
policy, the non-profit sector and more.
Other volunteers are community-minded
individuals who believe in our cause and want
to help. Our deep appreciation to all of you for
giving us your time and energy.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” —Maya Angelou
Gala Volunteers
Jaime Bissonnette
Michelle Bossie
Tara Brown
Dave Cadario
Laura Carbone
Emily Carr
Anna Gauvin
Eva Gunisova
Viola Hughes
Eileen Hurley
Jenny Lagansa
Brenda Markarian
April Reitman
Malika Sheth
Dawn Summers
Lori Westlund
Deborah Winters
2014 summer interns
12 www.clcct.org
2014 Audited Statements of Financial PositionFina
ncials
Assets 2012
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $21,022
Investments held for sale $663,241
Contributions receivable $557,491
Prepaid expenses $8,541
Total Current Assets: $1,250,295
Fixed Assets
Net of accumulated depreciation $20,250
Other Assets
Long-term contributions receivable $95,000
Total Other Assets $95,000
Total Assets: $1,365,545
Liabilities and Net Assets 2012
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable $20,620
Accrued payroll $2,510
Pension payable $3,338
Deferred revenue $37,453
Total Current Liabilities: $63,921
Net Assets
Unrestricted
General $364,284
Nest-egg fund— board designation $663,241
Fixed Assets $20,250
Total unrestricted net assets: $1,047,775
Temporarily restricted net assets $253,849
Total net assets $1,301,624
Total Liabilities and Net Assets: ß$1,365,545
2012 Income Distribution
Total Budget: $954,998
Income
Grants, Foundations 40%
Court Fees 30%
Connecticut State Legislature 15%
Events 7%
Individual Donors 4%
United Way 4%
2012 Expenses
Personnel 74%
Non-Personnel 26%
Financials, map, to come
13
Pam Magnano, Co-Chair
Karen Licht, Co-Chair
Barbara Aaron, Board President
Sandra Gersten
Theresa Wing Hines
Armen Kevorkian
Amie Kingman
Paddi LeShane
Justine Rakich-Kelly
Erum Randhawa
Deborah Robin
Agnes Romanowska
Rosalie Roth
Deborah Shoflick
Jacqueline Simard
Summer Spellman
Meghan Sweeney
2014 was an active year for the Children’s Law Center as we hosted a variety of community events and made
new friends.
Reaching out to the community
Com
munity Events
IMAGINE 2014: WE ARE FAMILY!December 5
Our annual fundraising gala
was another record success.
Held at Hartford Golf Club
with festive holiday spirit, 320
guests enjoyed an evening
to honor our critical mission
and two important lifelong
advocates for children:
Judge Herbert Gruendel and
Dr. Janice Gruendel. The
event exceeded all goals to
date with a net profit of more
than $110,000.
Gala Planning Committee
14 www.clcct.org
Judge Herbert Gruendel and Dr. Janice Gruendel are real heroes in the field, and were honored at our 2014 Gala because of the work they do to champion children.
20th Anniversary
Celebration: April 21
It was our opportunity to welcome and thank our
many long time friends and supporters as we hosted
a celebration in our offices, as a fitting culmination to
our 20th anniversary year.
CAbi Clothing Collection Shopping Experience:
May 5
A woman’s evening of fun, fashion and food! As local
CAbi representative Susan Christensen Stoner pre-
sented the spring collection of unique clothing, many
new friends were introduced to CLC and our critical
mission. A portion of all sales was donated to CLC.
New Haven Reception: May 15
Mayor Toni Harp graciously hosted a reception at New
Haven’s Quinnipiack Club to introduce many new
attorneys, legislators and friends in southern
Connecticut to the Children’s Law Center. Grateful
thanks to Dr. Eric Frazer for his sponsorship of
this event.
Food Crawl: May 30
Thanks to our board member Jovanni Valentini, a
progressive happy hour fundraising party was held at
four of downtown Hartford’s most popular restaurants.
With a crowd of over 60 people, a good time was
had by all.
MAX Classic Golf Tournament: September 29
We were thrilled to be one
of the charity recipients of
the proceeds from the
Max Restaurant Group’s
annual MAX Classic Golf
Tournament held at
Hartford Golf Club. CLC
made new friends among
the close to 250 golfers and
their corporate sponsors. A very generous $13,000
was awarded to CLC. A huge thank you to the Max
Restaurant Group!!
Wallingford Moose Riders Motorcycle Party:
October 18
A great group of motorcycle aficionados came together
to generously sponsor a fundraiser for CLC, awarding
us over $1,400 as part of an enjoyable motorcycle
show, live music and party at the Wallingford Moose
Lodge.
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Foundations & GrantsAmazon Smile
American Savings FoundationBudd Family Fund
Charles Nelson Robinson Fund
Community Foundation of Greater New Britain
Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Connecticut Attorneys’ Title Insurance CorporationConnecticut Bar Association
Connecticut Community Foundation
Connecticut Judicial Branch
Day Pitney Foundation
Ensworth Charitable Foundation
Fannie Mae
Fisher Foundation
GE United Way Campaign
George A. & Grace L. Long Foundation
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
The Hartman Foundation
J. Walton Bissell Foundation
Linford & Mildred White Charitable Fund
NewAlliance Foundation
SBM Charitable Foundation, Inc.Schwab Charitable Fund
The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy
Travelers Cyber Grants
TruistUnited Way of Central and Northeastern ConnecticutUnited Way of Coastal Fairfield County
United Way of Greater Philadelphia & SNJ
United Ways of New England
Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign
$5,000 and Up
Cigna
Impact Makers
Max Restaurant Group
Jim & Debra Ruel XL Group
$2,500 to $4,999 Berman, Bourns, Aaron & Dembo
BNY Mellon Wealth Management
Mark & Michelle Boxer
Kim Duell Aaron & Sandra GerstenSheila S. Moses CPA, P.C.
$1,000 to $2,499Barbara Aaron & Jeff Nese
Kathryn Bissonnette
Michael & Michelle Blezard
BlumShapiroBudlong & Barrett, LLC
Francisco Borges
Bracewell & Giuliani LLP
Brown, Paindiris & Scott, LLPFilomeno & Company, PCJonathan & Carolyn Fink
Edward Fitzgerald
Flaherty Legal Group, LLC
Elaine Gordon
Edward & Lisa Hill
Jason Kemp
Hoffman Auto Group
Sullivan & LeShane, Inc. Louden Caisse Hanney Michael & Sara Lo Presti
Merrill Lynch Global Private Investors Group
Pamela & Brian Magnano
Mester, Grabow & Miller, LLC
Sheila & Paul MosesThomas & Rebecca Parrino
Patrick & Linda Proctor James Turner & Deirdre Delaney
Reid & Riege, PC Rome McGuigan, P.C.
James & Carmela Russell
S/L/A/M Collaborative Wallingford Moose Riders
Stefan & Maureen Zavatone
$500 to $999Hon. Holly Abery-Wetstone & Mark Wetstone
Peter Arakas & Karen Kellerman Beacon Behavioral Services, LLCTim Buckley & Patricia O’Neil
Michael & Lisa Cicchetti Bruce & Hanna ClementsKim Crowley
Patrick A. Cosgrove, Attorney at Law
Sue Cousineau
Gabrielle Crandall
Kevin & Sharon Cunningham
Mary Cummiskey
Connecticut Resource Group, LLC
William & Susan Forbes
Reynold & Jennette Gottlieb
Hon. Herbert & Janice Gruendel
Andrew Hechtman
Eileen Hurley & Michael Lavin
Teddy Jawde & Carla Hojaiban
Jeffrey & Sunny Kagan
Knights of Pythias, John Hay
Lodge 61
James L. Howard & Co., Inc.Theresa Wing Hines Robert & Doreen Madden
Ray & Faye Maier
Kata Maluszewski
Mickelson, Jacobs & Bozek, LLC
Christine Miller
Christa Rakich & Janis MilroyMarjorie Morrissey
Moy Ogilvie-Johnson & Glen Johnson
The O’Neil Law FirmPue, Chick, Leibowitz & Blezard, LLC
Pullman & Comley, LLC
Don & Sheila Rittman
Kenneth & Bonnie Robson Rome Clifford Katz and Koerner LLP
Rosalie Roth
Law Offices Howard Lee Schiff, PC Stuart & Deborah Shoflick
Sinatro Agency One, LLC
Shipman & Goodman, LLP
Silver & Katz, LLC
Timothy & Nancy Strini
Timothy & Geraldine SullivanJack & Liza Thayer
Deb Tosto
Trumbull Group Benefits
Brian Woolf
Law Offices of Christine Whitehead Wealth Preservation Partners, LLC
Welty Esposito & Wieler
Lynne Ustach
$250 to $499Aaron Ammar
Berry Law, LLC
Barbara Aaron & Jeff Nese
Mark & Michelle Boxer
Charlene Carvalho
Eileen Hurley & Michael P. Lavin
Gordon A. & Carol E. Gereg
Peter & Judith Haddad
Rabbi Andrew Hechtman
Carol M. Kelly
Andrew Kireta, Sr.
Linda H. Morrissey
Sheila Moses
James & Karen Renfro
Rosalie Roth
Carolyn R. Schmollinger
Jack & Liza Thayer
Melissa C. Zbell
A Special Thank You to those who donated in loving memory of Antone Rakich
Donors and Friends
Th
ank You
16 www.clcct.org
Scott Birrell & Karen Gersten
Joseph C. Bissonnette & Co., LLC
Joseph & Cynthia Bissonnette
Brian Bos
Courtney Bourns & Anne Lundberg
Margaret Bozek
David & Lisa Brooks
Ellen Brown
Susan Busby
Spencer Cain
Hon. Jay & Holly Carboneau
Suzanne Caron
Michelle Ciotola
Sue Ann Collins
Connecticut Collaborative Divorce Group
Connecticut Underwriters, Inc.
Claudia Coplein
Cummings Law Firm LLC
Robert & Wendy DeLucca
Deborah Eisenberg
Robert & Heather FiedlerEllen Flanagan & Bob Kantor
Freed Marcroft
Joe & Brenda Garrison
Rachel Garron & Scott Schoem
Gordon & Shelley Geballe
Willis Gee, Jr.
Chris & Dara Goings
Gottfried & Somberg Wealth Management, LLC
Norm & Jacqueline Janes
Ted Kaplan & Roberta Woronow
Leone, Throwe, Teller & Nagle
Lewis, Lewis & Ferraro, LLC
Karen Licht
Richard Leite & Stephanie Stein Leite
Margaret Marchak & Mark Schreier
Kenneth & Margaret McIntosh
Michael McGlamery & Willajeanne McLean
Jeanne Milstein & JoAnn Church
Linda Morrissey
New England Financial Group, LLC
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance
George Pelletier
Robert & Joan PenneyJustine & Brian Rakich-KellyAneet & Erum Randhawa
Robinson & Cole, LLPFrank & Patricia Santy
Russell Sivetz
Brian & Nancy St. Jarre
Margaret St. John
Jovanni Valentini
Michael Weber & Janet WillitsArthur Webster
Howard & Patti Weiner
West Hartford Exchange Club
The Whittemore Family Foundation
Lila Wolff Wilkinson
Roman Zajac
$100 to $249Hon. Gerard Adelman
Iver & Eileen Allgrove
Peter & Dianne Antos
Armstrong Financial Strategies
BK & Co.
Geneviève Ballinger
Herbert & Regina Barall
Malcolm & Susan Barlow
Norman & Jane Barstow
James Bergenn
Sara Bernstein & Joseph Shortall
Victoria Bleier
Francis & Mary Brady
James & Lucy Brakoniecki
Denise Brewer
Lisa Cappalli
Olaf & Judy Casperson
Cetro America
Janice Chamberlain
Kyung Chung
Brian & Susan Clemow
James & Abby Cole
Katherine Coleman
Barbara Collins
Robert Colucci
Jodie Comer
Shawn & Lisa ConroyMaria DaCosta
Eric & Pat Daniels
Mary Lou DeVivoDiCara Law
Hon. Edward DolanJack & Rosanne Dolinsky
Michael & Ann Feinberg
Debra Feldman
Timothy & Dina Fisher
Douglas Fishman & Dena Rosenbloom
Fitzpatrick, Mariano & Santos, PC
Sheila Flanagan
Carlo Forzani
Eric Frazer
Bruce Freedman
Gordon & Carol Gereg
Daniel & Virginia Gilmour
Damon Goldstein
Maureen GouldAnn Gruenberg
Charles Higgins
George Hojaiban
Randa Hojaiban
Samia Hojaiban
William & Heather Hubbard
Jacqueline & Steve Jacoby
Robert & Marcia Jacoby
Angela Jalbert
Keith & Marietta JohnsonBradley Kellogg
Henry & June Krisch
Monica Lafferty HarperScott & Rebecca LehmannKenny Levine
Peter & Patricia Lovell
Paul & Louise Magnano
Mark & Teresa Malaspina
Catherine Malloy
Rick & Kathy Martel
William & Loris Masterton
Mastrianni & Seguljic, LLCJames & Elizabeth Matern
Allison McCluerJohn & Barbara McGrath
Meccariello & Bornstein
Jeffrey & Linda Mickelson
David Morse
Richard & Sheillagh Mulready
John & Priscilla Mulvaney
Alison Mundy
Steven & Lynn Munz
Geoffrey NaabNancy Parker
Louis & Carole Pepe
Peter Prestley & Linda Pearce Prestley
Robert & Patricia Pheanious
Earl McMahon & Dina Plapler
Yolanda Preysner
George Rawitscher
June Reed
Belle Ribicoff
Mark Rosenblum & Lisa Derenzo
Andrew & Patricia Salner
Cynthia Sanstrom
Amber Sarno & Mark Olmstead
Murphy Sewall & Virginia Fulton
Jerry ShafferSteve & Nicole Silva
Stephen Sinatro
Linda Smith
Norman & Nora Stevens
David & Liz Stoner
Susan Stoner
Meghan Sweeney
Symmetry Physical Therapy
“T
ry to
be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”—Maya Angelou
17
The Copper Alliance
Oliver Tuller
Tzedakah House, LLC
John Valentini
Lyn Walker
Weinstein & Wisser, P.C.
Sally Weisman
Regina Wexler
Martin Wheeler & Deborah Ferrari
Eleanor Wilkinson
Melissa Zbell
0 to $99Josephine Acevedo
Adams Ahern Sign Solutions, Inc.
Neil Amato
Helen Armstrong
Ralph Balducci
Paul & Vivian BattersonJoyce Ben-Kiki
Philip Bennett & Wendy Kohli
Bruce & Cathy Bergstrom
Megan Blier
Philip & Dorothy BognarKaren Brand & Edward Cox, Jr.
Ritamarie BraswellWilliam & Susan Breslau
Kate Busch GervaisCharlene Carvalho
Patrick & Maureen Cosgrove
David & Leeann Coughlin
James Couture & Jill LaRose
Glenn & Beth Cunningham
Michael & Susan Cutlip
Jose & Maria DaCostaJocelyn DeMaio
John & Brenda DiLoreto
J. Brice & Mary DixonMaura Droney
Nuala Droney Wiley
Fern Drutman
Elaine Ducharme
Wendy Eisner
Mary Faber
Elaine Feldman
Ilene Feuer
James Valentino & Kathleen Flaherty
Stan & Roberta Friedman
Tim Gaydosh
Annette Gaynor
David & Sandi Girolamo
Lana Glovach
Jose & Anne Goico
Eric Goldberg & Katherine Bohr
Philip & Nancy Groth
HHH Properties Corporation
Peter & Judith Haddad
Michael Gamache & Ursula HaerterPamela Hershinson & David Coleman
Tony & Katherine Holt
Kian Jacobs
Ronald & Ruth Jacobs
Eric & Kimberly Jacobsen
Leon Kaatz
Carol Kelly
Armen Kevorkian
Benjamin Kreczko
K. Narayan KuttyRobert & Shelley Langer
Patti Mantell-Broad & Richard Broad
Nancy McDowell
Diane Michaelsen
Lynda Moecker
Scott & Catherine Murphy
Kristen Newton
Anne Noble
Don & Elizabeth NoelLindsey Oliveto
Neil Parisi
Gaurav & Parul Patel
Mitchell & Susan PearlmanRaphael PodolskyCharles & Virginia Prewitt
Carla Reinhardt & Wayne Starkey
Larry & Karen Renfro
Deborah Robin
William & Carolyn Rock
James & Lorraine RogersKert & Karen Sabbath
Lisa Sacks
James Salt
Donna Sauer
Lee Sauerhoff
Gerald Sazama
Paula SchenckCarolyn Schmollinger
Harold SchrammDoug Scully & Claire Sampieri-Scully
Beverly Sims & William Okeson
Summer Spellman
William & Bobbie Taylor
The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy
The Law Offices of Cecilia Buck-TaylorElliott & Esther UrdangAnthony Williams
Abby Woodhouse
Paul & Katrina Woodhouse
John & Judy Zinn
Amy Zucker
*Boldfaced listings indicate
donors who have made annual
contributions for at least five
consecutive years
In-Kind Donations & ServicesBarbara Aaron
Peter & Deborah Berry
Bella Sophia Baking Company
BK & Co.
Boston Celtics
Mark Boxer
Tim Buckley
Courtney Butler
Ellen Brown
Dave Cadario
Capitol Grill Restaurant
Heather Carpenter
Center Framing & Art
Cigna
City Steam Brewery Café
CLC Board of Directors
CLC Gala Committee
Cozy Hill Campground
Paul Cryan Photography
Rich Curtis
Design Forum Gallery
Discover Photography
Dish Restaurant
Hon. Edward Dolan
Hon. Anne Dranginis
Jeanine Dumont
Jonathan & Carolyn Fink
Excel Fitness
Farmington Frame
Eric Frazer
Firebox Restaurant
First & Last Tavern
First Niagara
William Forbes
Donors continued
18 www.clcct.org
Frank Pepe Pizzeria
Willis Gee
Ana Lawler Gersten
Karen Gersten & Scott Birrell
Sandra & Aaron Gersten
Gouveia Vineyards
The Governor’s Residence
Hartford Golf Club
Hartford Restaurant Group
Hartford Stage
Hearthstone Pizza & Catering
Highland Park Market
Theresa Wing Hines
Randa Hojaiban
Infinity Music Hall
J Restaurant Bar
Joey’s Pizza Pie
Jones Family Farms
Jonathan & Carolyn Fink
Armen Kevorkian
Amie Kingman
Les Cheveux Salon
Paddi LeShane
Karen Licht
Linked Jewelry & Debra Feldman
Fatima Lobo
Pamela Magnano
Marge Morrissey
Matthew Phillips Hair Design
Matthew’s Restaurant
Mayflower Acupuncture
MAX Restaurant Group
MedSpa 1064
Mind Your Manor, Inc.
Christine Miller
Mitchell Fuel Co., Inc.
Mohegan Sun Casino
Moscarillo’s Garden Shoppe
Sheila S. Moses, CPA, P.C.
John Motley
Carlos Mouta
Gretta Nardelli
New Britain Rock Cats
Nelson Salon & Spa
New England Patriots
Foundation
Nicolette Photography
Nicole Silva
NoRA Cupcake
OGGI Salon
One Pearl
Carol O’Shea
Steve Paine
Parkview Wine & Spirits
Penzeys Spices
Performing Your Profession
Dina Plapler & American Heart Association
Playhouse on Park
Pond House Café
Premier Limousine
Preston Ridge Vineyard
Justine Rakich-Kelly
Erum Randhawa
John Raphael
Ray’s Frame Shop
Real Art Ways
Deborah Robin
Agnes Romanowska
David & Linda Roth
Rosalie Roth
Jim Russell
Salute Restaurant
Deborah Shoflick
Signcenter, LLC
Jacqueline Simard
Summer Spellman
Stonewall Kitchen
Super Cellar Warehouse Liquors
Meghan Sweeney
Mark Swerdloff
Ted’s Montana Grill
Liza & Jack Thayer
The Bootleg Band
The Bushnell Center for
the Performing Arts
The Claypen
The Connecticut Forum
The Hermitage Club
The Legacy Project USA
The Rakich Sisters
Theater Works
Therapeutic Solutions
TPC River Highlands
Treva Restaurant/a’Vert Brasserie
Lisa & Rose Voorvaart
Sally Weisman
Sandy Welch
West Hartford Yoga
Wild Vines LLC
Lila Wolff-Wilkinson
XEROX Corporation
19
A Special Thank You to the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving (HFPG)
We are especially grateful to the HFPG for their
support this past year across a number of initiatives.
T First and foremost, we were awarded a $200,000 grant over three years to
support a collaborative project with Lawyers for Children America. Together,
we will provide legal representation to indigent children and young adults in
Family Court and Child Protection Court. We will develop best practices to
provide safe and positive living arrangements for children with chronic family
conflicts or who live in foster care.
T CLC is currently enrolled in HFPG’s 18-month Building Evaluation Capacity
(BEC) Training with Anita Baker, who is helping us find more effective ways
to measure our outcomes.Already proving valuable, we are in the process
of implementing measurement instruments to address outcomes with several
key audiences: the parents of our young clients, opposing attorneys, and
judges in the family court system.
T We have been fortunate to participate in two of HFPG’s Non Profit Support
Programs in 2014: a staff and board training with Simone Joyaux on
Fundraising and Development, and another training seminar on Board
Leadership with Chuck V. Loring.
The Foundation is an invaluable resource to non-profit organizations like CLC
and we consider it a real hero for the strong leadership role HFPG plays in improving
the greater Hartford community.
The Children’s Law Center
30 Arbor Street
4th Floor North
Hartford, Connecticut 06106
860.232.9993
www.clcct.org
Serving children and familiesin ConnecticutCLC Program Coverage by Judicial Districts
Families in Transition (FIT)
Legal Representation Program
Children’s Law Line
NewHaven
Litchfield
Danbury
Stamford
Fairfield
Waterbury
Ansonia
Middletown
New Britain
Hartford
Norwich
Windham
Tolland