2017-2018
Annual Report Practice . Teach . Improve
A message from the President & CEO and Board Chair Friends, We are honored to share with you our combined 2017 and 2018 Annual Report. As you will see, we had many successes - in courts across the state, in conference rooms and training centers and in the halls of the Capitol. We practiced the law by providing critical, direct legal asisstance to homeowners, farmworkers, immigrants, the LGBTQ community and thousands of low-income New Yorkers trying to meet their most basic needs. We taught the law by educating and training nonprofit advocates, other lawyers, judges as well as our client community regarding thier legal rights. We improved the law by advocating for changes in laws, rules and regulations impacting New York families. We continue to fulfill our mission of making the law work for those who need its protection the most. And now we take this opportunity to thank you - our friends and supporters - without whom none of this would be possible.
Anne Erickson President and CEO
JoAnn P. Smith Board Chair
Empire Justice Center 2017-2018 Board of Directors JoAnn Smith, Chair Law Office of Sandra Rivera Raymond Brescia, Esq. ,Vice Chair Albany Law School Kristen Clark CPA, FHFMA, Treasurer The Bonadio Group Deborah P. Amory, Ph.D, Secretary Empire State College Odette Belton, Esq. Monroe County Public Defender John P. Bringewatt, Esq. Harter Secrest & Emery LLP Anne Erickson, President and CEO
Maureen DeRosa Nancy Engelhardt Energeia Partnership at Molloy College Lynn Levey, Esq. Syracuse University College of Law L. Theresa Macon CASH Volunteer Tehresa Coles The AYCO Company David H. Tennant, Esq. Nixon Peabody LLP Emily E. Whalen Esq. Jackson Lewis P.C. All directors serve as volunteers.
We Make the Law Work
We Practice the Law
Secured Wages for Farmworkers
Everyone should be paid ther lawful, hard earned wages. This was not the case for three low-income, Guatemalan dairy farmworkers in Genesee County who were routinely underpaid, paid late and not paid the minimum wage for hours worked, despite working anywhere between 50-85 hours per week. Empire Justice represented the farm workers against their employer who was in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Acts, New York Labor Law, and New York’s Wage Theft Prevention Act. The United States District Court of the Western District of New York approved a settlement of $28,000 in wages and damages to the farmworkers. This legal victory and award of wages and attorneys’ fees sends the message to the dairy industry that illegal employment practices such as wage theft are no longer acceptable and exempt from enforcement. Our clients and community organizers are now using this case as an example to empower other farmworkers asserting their rights to be paid lawful wages.
Saved a Home from Foreclosure and Preserved the Wealth of the Homeowner
Jean S. Blattner, a Henrietta woman, received a mortgage modification that allowed her to keep her home. It took four years, more than a dozen court appearances, many tears and the help of an attorney at Empire Justice to accomplish this.
Jean bought her house for $125,000 and never missed a payment. She was laid off from her job and wasn’t able to pay her mortgage for two months. She was contacted by the bank that had purchased her mortgage telling her that she was at risk of foreclosure. Jean tried to work with the bank to negotiate payments, often being on hold and transferred from deparmtent to department for hours at a time. She even sent checks to the bank to start catching up on her mortgage but the bank refused to accept her payments. Not knowing what else she could do, she contacted the Housing Council, an agency that partners with Empire Justice Center to assist homeowners at risk of losing their home. The counselor she was working with referred her to Empire Justice Center and Attorney Kevin Purcell took on her case. The foreclosure process is complicated and confusing - even to legal professionals who do this work on a daily basis. Even one missed piece of paperwork will stall or halt any progress made with the bank. After 4 years and countless hours of effort and working with Empire Justice Center legal advocates, Jean reached an agreement with the bank to modify her loan. Her missed payments were added to the back end of her mortgage allowing her to stay in the home that she worked so hard to purchase as a single working woman.
Helped Secure Right to Equitable Distribution for Civil Union Spouses People should be able to live their lives free from discrimination based on who they love, but that is often not the case for those in civil unions. Christine and Deborah O’Reilly-Morshead entered into a civil union in Vermont after being barred from the freedom to marry in New York in 2003. Three years to the date of their civil union, they married in Canada. Sadly, they later ended their relationship and sought dissolution of both their marriage and their civil union. When they went to court to resolve this, the court decided that it could dissolve the civil union but could not recognize any other rights or remedies that would be given to spouses who were married. Empire Justice Center represented the Defendant, Christine O’Reilly-Morshead, on a successful appeal of the Court’s ruling. The final ruling recognized that one of the consequences of a civil union in Vermont was that parties would receive all the same benefits, protections, and responsibilities as are granted to spouses in a marriage, including the right to divorce and the right to division of their property. This ruling is an important advance because it provides critical tools these families need to untangle the knots created on the day they became legally bound.
Individual Legal Aid
During 2017 and 2018 Empire Justice provided civil legal aid directly to individuals in these areas of law: Consumer 14% Education 7% Employment/Workers' Rights 5% Family 2% Disability Advocacy (DAP) 8% LGBT and Individual Rights 3% Health 42% Housing 6% Public Benefits 2% Immigration 10%
Enhanced Capacity Empire Justice provided 264 trainings to attorneys and nonprofit advocates, benefiting over 16,573 participants in a variety of legal areas:
Benefits Civil Rights Consumer Crime Victims Disability Advocacy Domestic Violence Education Employment Health Housing Immigration LGBT Rights
Know Your Rights In 2017 and 2018 Empire Justice:
7,692
Provided community members education and information regarding their legal rights concerning: Consumer, Foreclosure Prevention, Health, Immigration, LGBT, Public Benefits Education and Workers’ Rights
3,124
Trained DV and LGBT rights advocates so that they can better assist their clients.
We Teach the Law Provided Critical Training and Outreach to Immigrants on Long Island With support from the New York Immigration Coalition’s This is Our New York Campaign:Rapid Response Funding, we provided extensive outreach and education to the immigrant communities on Long Island. Advocates presented informational workshops in several locations which were designed to educate and empower immigrant community members and their advocates. The majority of the presentations were in Spanish, some in English and two in Haitian Creole. Topics covered included information about the contributions made by Long Island immigrants designed to counter pervasive anti-immigrant stereotypes, federal immigration enforcement policies, how to protect oneself when interacting with ICE and the police, policies of local law enforcement, seeking help if you are the target of a hate crime, planning for your family in case you are detained, protections and services available regardless of immigrant status, and connecting with resources for legal representation and supportive health services, nonprofit organizations and private attorneys.
Launched an Online Tool to Connect Victims of Crime with Legal Help Through federal Vision 21 funding, New York State became one of ten sites across the country to create a “victim legal assistance network” to meet the various civil legal needs that individuals encounter as a result of their criminal victimization. The Crime Victims Legal Network (CVLN) is a partnership among the NYS Office of Victims Services, Empire Justice Center, Pro Bono Net (PBN), and the Center of Human Services Research (CHSR) at the University at Albany, encompassing the entire state of New York outside of New York City. The vision for the Network is to connect victims of crime to the civil legal services they need by developing new technology solutions that increase access to comprehensive legal services and resources, and that build the capacity of providers assisting them. The Network’s central online hub, NY Crime Victims Legal Help (www.crimevictimshelpny.org), connects crime victims with legal assistance on issues related to housing, family, employment, finances, and more. NY Crime Victims Legal Help launched on October 1, 2018 as a pilot in three counties in western New York. During its first six months in the limited pilot region, the site reached more than 3,700 people. Combined, visitors viewed more than 16,000 pages on the site covering essential areas such as family law, safety and housing matters. More than 950 individuals used the site to search for a legal services provider, and more than 600 visitors accessed information about free legal documents and court forms available to help victims address their civil legal needs. The site will be available in all counties outisde of New York City in 2019.
We Improve the Law Report Finds Affordable Bank and Credit Union Products Out of Reach to Working Families All consumers should have access to quality, affordable bank products so that they can build wealth and be financially stable. However, Empire Justice Center produced a report that shows that many traditional bank products are out of reach to Rochester NY area working families. The report, “Too Big to Fail…Too Poor to Bank: How Mainstream Financial Services Can Help LowIncome Working Families Succeed,” is a review of traditional bank products and services, as well as those provided by alternative financial services, like check cashers. The report found that Rochester area banks and credit unions do offer checking and transaction (debit card, no checks) accounts with affordable features. The review of select accounts found that eight of the top Rochester NY area banks and credit unions have at least one entrylevel checking or transaction account with six or more consumer-friendly, affordable features. The lack of marketing of these affordable, entry-level accounts, however, makes it difficult for consumers to learn about them. They are often hidden on bank websites or in marketing materials. And when you do find the information, it can be difficult to compare across products or institutions. Other key report findings included: • Lower income consumers know of a range of options when it comes to financial products and services from traditional banks or credit unions and alternative providers, and understand most of the costs and benefits of the various choices. • Most consumers do not understand the various overdraft options and overdraft/insufficient funds (NSF) fees related to their accounts. They often only learn about them through a direct negative experience, which impacts how they interact with their bank or credit union going forward. The language about overdrafts and overdraft/NSF fees on many bank and credit union websites is wordy and complex, contributing to this lack of understanding. • Financial education is not enough for lower income consumers; they simply do not have enough income. The report notes that this is in fact the case for forty-one percent of households in Monroe County.
Secured Access to Medical Records for Disabled New Yorkers and Veterans Low income disabled New Yorkers need to be able to obtain the health records critical to proving their eligibility for benefits. Empire Justice worked with a group of legal services organizations that identified a barrier to low income individuals being able to access SSI/SSD benefits. Far too many disabled and medically fragile New Yorkers were unable to access their own health records because they could not afford them. Many, if not most, clients were having to pay for the medical records necessary to prove disability, even though they should have been able to have the cost waived under existing law. To address the problem Empire Justice policy staff provided guidance on drafting and introducing legislation to provide free medical records to those applying for government benefits. With our leadership we were able to get the bill easily passed in both houses and signed into law during the 2017 legislative session. The bill clarifies existing law, which requires health care providers to provide free records to indigent individuals, and simplifies and streamlines what is often a confusing and time consuming process in cases where people need their medical records to apply for necessary government programs, such as Social Security, certain veterans benefits, and disability-based Medicaid. Without those records, New Yorkers are often denied help they desperately need.
Translation of Orders of Protection: Courts Help Keep New Yorkers Safe New York is home to people who speak more than 150 different languages and dialects When domestic violence impacts families, orders of protection are one of the most effective tools to keep victims and children safe.
Empire Justice advocated for legislative advances that removed language access barriers faced by our most marginalized families. Now, over 300,000 orders of protection annually will be accessible by those who are Limited English Proficient.
In 2017 and 2018:
C.A.S.H. operates free, highquality tax preparation sites throughout Monroe County. IRS certified volunteers prepare and electronically file federal and NYS tax returns for free.
19,996 Families filed tax returns
$29.1M Total tax refunds went to low-income workers, helping them put food on the table and save for the future
608 Volunteers gave more than 20,000 hours of thier rime to help hard working families get, keep and grow their money.
We Make the Headlines Featured In...
Our practice, teach, improve philosophy allows us to recognize emerging issues within our communities and to take action quickly. News organizations often look to us as leaders in the field, and feature the work of our advocates. Here are some of the stories that were picked up and featured during 2017 and 2018: • Maria DeGennaro, Staff Attorney, featured in Newsday describing a new hotline connecting homeowners at risk of foreclosure with free housing counseling and legal services • Empire Justice Fellows, Sujata Ramaiah and Mario Roque were featured in The Daily Record about their work in confonting legal issues in Rochester area schools • CASH Director, Berta Rivera appeared on WXXI’s 1370 Connections talking about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) • Senior Immigration Attorney, Linda Bennett Rodriguez was quoted in a New York Times article about post office delays and their effect on DACA applications • The Buffalo News published an op ed written by Senior Attorney Remla Parthasarathy in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month • Ruhi Maker, Senior Attorney was interviewed on NPR regarding saving the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau • Senior Attorney Kirsten Keefe was interviewed on Capitol Pressroom discussing options for those facing foreclosure on a mortgage or a reverse mortgage • Ruhi Maker was also on WXXI radio discussing the disbanding of key groups within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau • Attorney Kevin Purcell was quoted in a Rochester Democrat and Chronicle article featuring a foreclosure client’s fight to keep her home • Senior Attorney, Amy Schwartz-Wallace was interviewed on Capitol Tonight Regarding civil union spouses’ right to equitable distribution • Senior Attorney, Kirsten Keefe appeared in an interview on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah at the Women’s March • Senior Attorney, Susan Antos was interviewed on Channel WPIX 11 about NY’s seizure of lottery winnings from people on public assistance • Senior Paralegal, Cheryl Keshner was quoted in Newsday and USNews about the Department of Jusitce report on the Suffolk County Police Department’s relationship with the Latino community • Senior Attorney, Maria DeGennaro was quoted in Newsday discussing a vote in Mineola on a panhandling ban • Senior Policy Analyst, Dr. Barbara van Kerkhove was quoted in the Rochester Business Journal about our “Too Big to Fail, Too Poor to Bank” report that examines access to banking among low income communities
An Honorable Team
Each year Empire Justice staff members receive dozens of awards and recognition for their tenacious advocacy and outstanding service to the people of New York and the legal profession. Listed below is a snapshot of the awards we received in 2017 and 2018: Cheryl Keshner Recipient of the Central American Refugee Center (CARECEN) Annual Award Marlene Cortés Appointed to Flower City Habitat for Humanity Family Advisory Committee Ruhi Maker Named to Keybank National Advisory Council Kevin Purcell The Daily Record 2017 Attorney of the Year Honoree Amy Schwartz-Wallace Appointed to the OCA Language Access Advisory Group and a The Daily Record 2018 Excellence in Law Top Women in Law Honoree Eòghann Renfroe Appointed to the DASA Task Force at NYSED Keana Williams The Daily Record 2018 Excellence in Law Up & Coming Attorney Honoree Doris Cortes The Daily Record 2018 Excellence in Law Unsung Legal Hero Honoree Milo Primeaux Appointed to The Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission of the New York State Courts Fiona Wolfe The Daily Record 2018 Attorney of the Year Honoree Maria DeGennaro 2018 Long Island Public Interest & Pro Bono Attorney of the Year
We Celebrate Success
Pictured from left to right: JoAnn Smith, Board Chair Empire Justice Center, Justin Vigdor, Esq. 2017 Honoree; Anne Erickson, President and CEO of Empire Justice Center
Pictured from left to right: JoAnn Smith, Board Chair Empire Justice Center, Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes; 2018 Honoree Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein; Anne Erickson, President and CEO of Empire Justice Center
A Celebration of Leadership 2017 HONOREE
Justin Vigdor has spent most of his adult life as an advocate, legal counsel, donor, and volunteer. His dedication of time and energy persists to this day with an immeasurable impact on the lives of tens of thousands of people with disabilities and those seeking equal access to justice. In 2005, Justin was asked to chair the Partnership for Equal Justice Campaign – a capital fundraising campaign that sought to raise just over $600,000 to co-locate Rochester’s four civil legal services providers to one centralized downtown location. A bit apprehensive – he had just chaired a wildly successful capital campaign for the Al Sigl Community of Agencies – Justin, of course, agreed. Under his leadership, the Campaign went on to raise almost $3 Million and established what is now home to Empire Justice Center’s corporate offices - the Telesca Center for Justice. The Telesca Center serves as a beacon for those seeking access to justice in the Greater Rochester Area.
2018 HONOREE Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein has dedicated her entire public service career to advancing issues of critical importance – from child care assistance to child support standards, from protections for the elderly to due process in foreclosure cases to adequate funding for civil legal services. She has advocated tirelessly for issues and concerns that drive at the very fabric of our democracy: access to justice, respect for the rule of law and collective support for the most vulnerable among us. When she joined the New York State Assembly, Helene was one of 13 women in the 150 member body. She helped launch the Legislative Women’s Caucus – a bipartisan group drawn from both the Assembly and Senate working toward common improvements in the state’s public policies. Helene was the first woman to Chair the Assembly Judiciary Committee and the first woman to Chair the Ways and Means Committee. A staunch supporter of civil legal services, Helene has helped shape the legal services delivery system in New York State, encouraging collaboration among programs, pressing for support during each year’s budget negotiations and continually highlighting the unmet legal needs among New York’s most vulnerable populations.
We Celebrate Success 2017 LEAD LAW FIRM SPONSOR
2017 LEAD CORPORATE SPONSOR
Advocate Sponsor
Donations in Honor of Justin Vigdor
Past and Current Board Members of the IOLA Fund of the State of New York
Joe Casion M. Catherine Richardson Nathan Robfogel
Guardian Sponsors JoAnn and Raymond Smith
Partner Sponsors The Community Foundation The Family of Hanna S. Cohn Five Star Bank Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester
Jon Schumacher Kathleen Whelehan
Journal Ads Al Sigl Foundation KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival M&T Bank Monroe County Bar Association New York Bar Association New York Bar Foundation NYSBA Senior Lawyers Section Telesca Center Partners Western New York Law Center
2018 LEAD LAW FIRM SPONSOR
2018 CHAMPION SPONSOR
Advocate Sponsor
Donations in Honor of Assemblywoman Weinstein
Bolton St. Johns Bond Schoeneck & King Schenker Russo & Clark LLP
Guardian Sponsors Brown & Weinraub, PLLC Cordo & Co. Deborah Amory and Amy Tweedy JoAnn and Raymond Smith Northern Rivers Family of Services Ostroff Associates Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, LLP
Partner Sponsors Kristen Clark Farrell Fritz, P.C. Harter Secrest & Emery LLP Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY Legal Aid Society of Rochester Reid McNally & Savage LLC Rivera Law, PLLC The Legal Project
Michael Burgess Maureen and Giorgio DeRosa Patricia Fahy Dave Munro Patricia O’Neill René Reixach Christine Rutigliano Ruth Walters
Journal Ads Affordable Housing Partnership - HomeSave Coalition Albany County Bar Association Community Service Society Legal Services NYC Legal Servies of the Hudson Valley Nassau Suffolk Legal Services St. Peter’s Health Partners
With Gratitude...
Because of your support we were able to move quickly and aggressively in response to changes in laws and regulations that affect the lives of low-income people.
Individual Support This listing reflects gifts received or dated between the period of January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2018. The giving level acknowledges the total aggregate donations during this time period. Gifts received or dated after December 31, 2018 will be recognized in the 2019 Annual Report.
Levey Family Fund, RACF Ed Lopez-Soto and Pat Braus Thomas Maligno J. Thomas Marchitto Richard W. Millard, PhD Betsy Naumburg and Carl Hoffman Patricia O’Neill and Robert Devilleneuve RenÊ Reixach Michael Wolford
$5,000+
Peter and Brenda Antonowicz Robert J. Bergin Raymond Brescia John Bringewatt Stephen and Joan Coffey Marc Cohan Tehresa Coles Alex and Fredric Devens Michael Dwyer Paul Eaglin and Jordan Titus Toni Greenlee Geoffrey Hale and Alison Parker Mike and Trish Harren Robert and Mary Haskins Nan Haynes William Johnson Barbara and Matthew Kelly Hon. Joan S. Kohout Hon. John Lafalce Geneva Lane C. Bruce Lawrence Catherine Lee Jerry McIntyre Richard Menaker and Faith Ritchie Remla Parthasarathy Allan Rodgers Margaret Smerbeck Ruth and Scott Smith Richard and Janet Spencer Kenneth Stephens Ron Tabak Hon. Michael A. Telesca David Tennant Samuel O. Tilton Barbara and John van Kerkhove Emily Whalen Hon. Ellen Yacknin and Cathy Mazzotta
Anne Erickson Vicki and Richard Schwartz (designated to C.A.S.H.)
$1,000 - $4,999 Deborah Amory Mary Angerame Catherine Callery and Michael Nazar, M.D. Joseph Cohn and Amy Choskey Larry and Sandy Cohn Peter Dellinger and Carolyn Reardon Maureen DeRosa Gregory Franklin and Jean McCreary Judy and David Gilberg Bryan and Susan Hetherington Edward P. Hourihan, Jr. Ellen Johnson Edward F. Premo, II, Esq. David and Nancy Schraver JoAnn and Raymond Smith Sandy and Rick Thau Peter Oddleifson and Kay Wallace Dennis Whalen
$500 - $999 Anonymous Donor Jay Birnbaum Alan B. Block Steve and Dean Brown Timothy Davis and Mary Ellen West Betsy Friedman Nadia Gareeb Kenneth Harbison Linda Hassberg and Douglas Koritz Kristi and Shawn Hughes Lyn Kelly Howard Konar Susan and Phil Lederer
$250 - $499
$100 - $249 Anonymous Donor (2) Jami Anson Janet Axelrod Paula Barbaruolo Sylvia Baruch Theresa Beltrani Peter Blauvelt Joy Blumkin and Lew Golinker Robert and Judith Brenna Eileen Buholtz Frederick J. and Susan Buse Jean Carroll Joseph Casion Kristen Clark Walter Cooper Hon. John P. Costello Mark and Mary Ellen Curley Brian Curran MaryAnne Donnaruma Rose Duhan Nancy Engelhardt Stanley and Judith Engerman Danica Eskind Anne Fairbanks Martin and Greta Matus Feldman Jonathan Feldman and Alison Helms Jean and Fred Frattura Rita and Dave Garretson Simeon Goldman I.M. Haettenschwiller Russ Haven Paul Houndt Stevens Ingraham Renee Joyner Laura Kaplan John and Marcia Keefe Raymond J. Kelly, Esq. Andrea Kocsis Gloria LaJuett Hilary Lamishaw David Lansner Robert and Diane Larter Glenn Law-Kee Mary Leary Christine Lennon Katherine J. Lewis Sarah F. Leibschutz Joseph Lipofsky Karen Lipson and Alan Goldberg Mary Loewenguth
Thank You! Frederick Marshall L. Theresa Macon Judith McCay Harry and Linda Messina James and Pamela Metzler James C. Moore Dave A. Munro and Eileen Hoffman Amir Nazem Jim and Anne Newman Julie Novkov Joan O’Byrne John T. O’Connell and Gretchen Hartman Christine O’Connor Susan Ottenweller Rob and Laurie Plattner Helen Reagan Robert Robbin Nathan and Susan Robfogel Kristina and John Rogers Richard and Marjorie Rosen Richard D. and Beatrice Rosenbloom Harriette Royer Leslie Salzman Barbara Samuels Melinda Saran Mark Schlechter and Christine Valkenburgh Betsy Schneider Jennifer Schultze John Schumacher Richard and Leslie Shroyer Margie Staker Mary Staropoli and Doug Ackley Anita Thayer and William Ritchie Lauren Tobias Erin Tobin Paul and Joanne Trapanese Michael Tuohey Jim and Karen Unckless Philip Uninsky Esther Weingarten Phillip Weiss and Naomi Davidson Kathleen Whelehan Gwynne Wilcox Paul and Jo Wilson Mary Withington John Witmeyer Robin and Sam Young Mary Zulack
We are humbled by the generosity of our friends and colleagues across the state and the country. Please know that your support makes a difference and allows us to meet our promise of making the law work for all New Yorkers.
$1- $99 Anonymous (1) Jennifer Barkan Sylvia Barker Odette Belton Gerald Bober Myra Breitburg Barbara Brody Anthony and Jane Brown Michael Burgess Paul William Bush Jim and Meg Cashen Diane Cecero Rome Celli Alan S, and Roselle Chartock Eugene T. and Joyce Clifford Elaine Z. Cole Janet Connolly Mark and Nicki Cottle Patrick Crowley Emma Daitz John D’Amanda Amy DeFaveri Dan DeMarle Dana G. and Alecia A. Elston Tim Fennell Jeffrey Fitts Sandra and Neil Frankel Henry Freedman Princess Gates Marjorie Geiger Alan Gelb and Karen Levine Richard and Joyce GIlbert Herb B. and Shirley G. Gordon Howard Grossman Jim and Suki Grossman Alan Harris Trude Hassberg David Hershey-Webb Donna Jackel Surendar Jeyadev and Mala Gupta Margaret Joynt Lawrence Katz Karen and Chris Kinter Kathryn Lambert Batya Lerner Tamara Levine Helen and John Maier Thomas McElligott, Jr. and Joan Dollinger
Joan McGay and Christine Cristoforo Deborah McClean James A. and Jane Mickles Sister Grace Miller Lewis Montemaggi Gail and Peter Mott David and Monika Mullen Fowad Muneer Peter Navratil Martin S. Needelman Fred A. Newdom and Susan J. Faulkner Peter Newell Craig Orlowski and Lynn Garfunkel Douglas Potter and Gregory Partridge Amanda Pascall Anne E. Pfeiffer and Ward Hartenstein Frances Pizzola Michelle Redonnet M. Catherine Richardson Maureen Richardson R. Danfroth and Judy Ross Ginette Rows John Sasko Howard I. and Arlene Schenker Jane Snyder Barry and Ellen Strom Timothy Thomas Bethene Trexel and Jon Tenney Paul and Amy van Kerkhove Carole Viola Wayne and Susan Willis Susan Zajac Robert Ziegler, Jr. Charlie Zinn
If we omitted or misspelled your name, please accept our apologies and contact Kristi Hughes Vice President for Development at (585) 295-5817 or khughes@empirejustice.org.
With Gratitude...
Because of your support we were able to move quickly and aggressively in response to changes in laws and regulations that affect the lives of low-income people.
Tribute Gifts In Memory or Honor
Foundation, Organization, Corporation Support
Jami Anson In Memory of Adeline Robustelli
Affordable Housing Partnership HomeSave Coalition Albany County Bar Association Bolton St. Johns LLC Bond Schoeneck & King Brown & Weinraub Christ Community Reformed Church Citizens Bank Cleary Family Fund, RACF Community Service Society Cordo & Company LLC ESL Charitable Foundation Farrell Fritz, P.C. Genesee Co-op FCU Hannah S. and Samuel A. Cohn Memorial Foundation Hanna S. Cohn Memorial Fund, RACF Hagedorn Foundation Harter Secrest & Emery LLP Impact Fund JPMorgan Chase Foundation KeyBank Foundation Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Inc. Legal Aid Society of Rochester Legal Services NYC Legal Services of the Hudson Valley Levey Family Fund, RACF LGBT Giving Circle of Greater Rochester, RACF Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP Mazon: A Jewish Response To Hunger Nassau Suffolk Law Service Committee, Inc. New York Bar Foundation Northern Rivers Family of Services Open Society Foundation Ostroff Associates Reid McNally & Savage LLC Rivera Law Firm PLLC Rochester Area Community Foundation Rochester Women’s Giving Circle Fund, RACF
Joseph Cohn and Amy Choskey In Memory of Hanna Cohn Larry and Sandy Cohn In Memory of Hanna Cohn Judy and David Gilberg In Memory of Hanna Cohn
Christine O’Connor In Honor of Anna McCarthy and Anastasia Stumpf Sandy and Rick Thau In Memory of Hanna Cohn
Philip Weiss In Memory of Hanna Cohn John Witmeyer In Memory of WIlliam McKnight
Schencker Russo & Clark LLP St. John Nepomucene Church St. Peter’s Health Partners The Legal Project United Way of Greater Rochester University of Rochester Verizon Foundation Walters Group Consulting LLC Whiteman Osterman & Hanna Youth Policy Institute
Government Support City of Rochester NYS Interest on Lawyer Account Fund (IOLA) NYS Office of the Attorney General NYS Department of State NYS Department of Criminal Justice Services NYS Office for New Americans NYS Office for the Aging NYS Office of Court Administration NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance NYS Office of Victim Services Orange County Department of Social Services US Department of Treasury Internal Revenue Service
Subcontracts with Other Agencies Catholic Family Center, Rochester Community Service Society Legal Action Center Medicare Rights Center National Housing Resource Center/ Tides Center New York Immigration Coalition Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County Inc.
2017 Financials
These financial statements cover the fiscal year January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017.
2017 Support & Revenue Grants & Contracts: $5,835,538 Contributions: $709,454 Other fees: $579,521 C.A.S.H. Contributions: $367,802 Interest: $3,205
2017 Total Support & Revenue: $7,495,711
2017 Expenses Program Personnel: $4,566,041 Contract Services/ Subcontracts to Partners: $890,779 Occupancy: $305,680 Office & Related Expenses: $495,936 General & Administrative: $1,086,166
2017 Total Expenses: $7,344,602
The Balance Sheet ASSETS Cash and Cash Equivalents Receivables Property and Equipment Other Assets Total Assets
$262,779 $1,801,939 $166,626 $11,731 $2,243,075
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Current Liabilities Total Liabilities
$ 949,964 $ 949,964
NET ASSETS Unrestricted Temporarily Restricted Total Net Assets
$ 941,611 $ 351,500 $1,293,111
Total Liabilities and Net Assets $2,243,075
2018 Financials
These financial statements cover the fiscal year January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018.
2018 Support & Revenue Grants & Contracts: $6,029,563 Contributions: $559,214 Other fees: $188,705 C.A.S.H. Contributions: $240,449 Interest: $947
2018 Total Support & Revenue: $7,007,384
2018 Expenses Program Personnel: $4,388,939 Contract Services/ Subcontracts to Partners: $981,238 Occupancy: $311,111 Office & Related Expenses: $520,316 General & Administrative: $1,130,184
2018 Total Expenses: $7,331,788
The Balance Sheet ASSETS Cash and Cash Equivalents Receivables Property and Equipment Other Assets Total Assets
$162,948 $2,029,790 $132,581 $2,933 $2,328,252
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Current Liabilities Total Liabilities
$ 1,359,545 $ 1,359,545
NET ASSETS Unrestricted Temporarily Restricted Total Net Assets
$ 688,036 $ 280,671 $ 968.707
Total Liabilities and Net Assets $2,328,252
A Note of Thanks... from the father of a client who was wrongly denied critical services by his health care provider.
I opened a letter from [the health insurance company] just now - the appeal was successful!! I called my son immediately and read it to him. The two of us were alternately laughing and crying out of sheer joy. Thank you! I don’t think we will ever be able to adequately express our gratitude to you and to Empire Justice. I know we will speak again, but I wanted you to be one of the first to know in case you hadn’t heard. Thank you so much. ~ A Grateful Father
EMPIRE JUSTICE CENTER Albany ♦ Long Island ♦ Rochester ♦ Westchester www.empirejustice.org
We Make the Law Work.