BOARD CHAIR

LINDA G. MICHAELSON

Dear Friends,

As we once again fill this ballroom, I want to welcome and thank our Bet Tzedek community.

To our Gala sponsors—and everyone who contributed financially to this event—thank you for providing the foundation upon which the work of Bet Tzedek is enabled. I am also grateful to our Gala Dinner Committee whose tireless service brought us here tonight for another beautiful celebration of Bet Tzedek.

To our incredible staff, please know how much we appreciate all of your time, expertise and hard work. You are steadfast and strong, smart and creative. Even after many years serving on Bet Tzedek’s Board, I remain in awe at your ability to find legal solutions to address the struggles that our clients face.

To our pro bono and volunteer warriors (many of whom are here tonight) who work alongside us to bring the full weight of the law to bear in the name of justice—kudos to each of you! Our impact is exponentially larger than our size because of you. We could not have served over 85,000 clients in 2022 without you!

As a partner at Sheppard Mullin, I want to express my deep gratitude to my colleagues at the firm. Not only does Sheppard Mullin financially support Bet Tzedek, the firm has been very supportive of my commitment to the Board and has encouraged all of our partners and associates to dedicate significant time to pro bono.

This is an exciting time for Bet Tzedek, particularly as we head into our 50th anniversary in 2024. We are embarking this year on a comprehensive strategic planning process and a deep analysis of our impact across the region. I am confident that we will emerge next year with a sharpened sense of purpose to ensure that free legal services and equal justice are available to those who need it most.

I recognize and applaud my Board colleagues for their passionate dedication and ongoing commitment to Bet Tzedek. I look forward to continuing our work together.

To our new friends attending this Gala for the first time—welcome to the family. The Bet Tzedek community is an impactful and amazing force of nature, and we are thrilled to have you join us.

I raise a toast to each of you, to all that you have done and will continue to do to help us make a difference for our clients and our community!

Warmly,

Linda Michaelson, Board Chair