CHICAGO, IL, USA, February 25, 2014 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Center for Disability & Elder Law, which has provided free legal services for more than 30,000 senior citizens and persons with disabilities, will celebrate its 30th Anniversary on Feb. 26, 2014.

The Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL) is pleased to announce Tim Eaton, President of the Chicago Bar Association, Lisa Madigan, Illinois Attorney General, and Michael L. Morkin, Managing Partner of Baker & McKenzie’s Chicago Office will be Honorary Co-Chairs of its Winter Awards Benefit and special 30th Anniversary Celebration on February 26, 2014.

Cook Co. Circuit Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and Cook Co. Circuit Judge Patricia Banks, who presides over the Elder Law & Misc. Remedies Division, will be honored with the Impact Award for their commitment to seniors in Cook County, exemplified by the opening of the Cook County Elder Justice Center in 2013, designed to help elderly navigate the Cook County Court system and one of the first of its kind in the country.

The Corporate Partner Award will be presented to United Airlines, in honor of its commitment to seniors in Cook County exemplified by United’s participation in CDEL’s Senior Center Initiatives and by its recruitment of other corp. counsels to participate.

The Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented to Judith T. Davis, an attorney at the Chicago law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP, whose commitment to seniors is exemplified by her enthusiastic work at CDEL’s Senior Legal Assistance Clinic at the Argento Center in Calumet City and by her work at the Cook County Guardianship Help Desk.

The Founders Award will be presented to The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and Dr. Henry Betts. Dr. Betz served on the first Board of Directors of CDEL, and through his leadership, the Rehabilitation Institute donated office space and administrative services to CDEL for a number of years.

For the third consecutive year, the "Light Up the Loop" Winter Awards Benefit is chaired by CDEL Board member Theresa Jaffe, principal of Theresa Jaffe Consulting. "We are thrilled to have Theresa heading up our Winter Awards Benefit for the third year," said Anthony O’Neill, President of the CDEL Governing Board. "We are grateful to Theresa for her contribution, vision and dedication to CDEL’s mission and for guiding every aspect of this event," Mr. O’Neill added.

"It’s a privilege to continue to serve as Chair of this important event," Jaffe said. "We are looking forward to celebrating CDEL’s 30 years of success and contributing in a meaningful way to its future. We are extremely appreciative of the companies and law firms that have joined us as sponsors, and we look forward to an inspiring evening as we honor our very deserving awardees and reflect back on 30 years of diligent work by dedicated volunteers, CDEL’s staff, volunteers and financial sponsors."

In the last 30 years, more than 30,000 disabled people and senior citizens have been provided free legal services from CDEL, with its staff of four attorneys and hundreds of volunteer lawyers. Those services provided include: adult guardianship, landlord/tenant disputes, financial elder abuse, consumer fraud, mortgage fraud and property tax and assistance at the Pro Se Guardianship Help Desk. In addition, CDEL runs workshops and assists seniors with powers of attorney for healthcare and property, and living will declarations. CDEL trains volunteers who provide counseling to senior citizens who are at risk of losing their homes due to delinquent property taxes, helping them take advantage of tax assistance programs and exemptions.

The CDEL Winter Awards Benefit will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 pm on February 26, 2014 at Baker & McKenzie, 300 East Randolph Street in Chicago. Tickets may be purchased online at cdelaw.org.

About CDEL
The Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL) was founded to provide legal services to low-income residents of Cook County, Illinois who are either elderly or who have permanent disabilities. Dedicated volunteers from some of the largest law firms in Chicago, and from firms and corporations located throughout Cook County, as well as paralegals, provide more than ninety percent of all legal services CDEL delivers, pro bono, to its clients. In its 30-year history, CDEL has provided services to more than 30,000 clients.

Press release courtesy of Online PR Media: http://bit.ly/1fpbeIc

Helen Lucaitis
Corboy & Demetrio
312-346-3191
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