Our first in-person Gala in almost three years brought out more than 300 people to the beautiful Hibernia and we also raised an additional $30,000+ on the night of the event! We are so appreciative of our wonderful co-chairs for the evening, David Kelly and Melinda Haag, for kicking off our program. Our Pro Bono Legal Services client, Shona Pikula, and Bay Area Minority Law Student Scholarship Program recipient, Eduardo Figueroa each gave powerful, moving speeches that provided tremendous insight into the impact of the JDC. Watch a quick highlight reel from the night below.
"I want to thank the extraordinary staff of JDC who put their heart and soul into this mission every day. I want to thank all of you volunteer lawyers who put 46,000 hours on the books for us last year to the tune of 18 million dollars of free legal services. I want to thank everybody who helps the Homeless Advocacy Project, the most challenging clients we have. I want to thank everybody who prevents an immigrant from being removed from their family," said President Mary McNamara.
Pikula, a client of JDC, spoke extensively about her struggles with domestic violence and the downfalls of the system. "I went over to the San Francisco Sheriff's Department and I tried to file for a restraining order and get them to help me out, but the District Attorney wouldn't pick up the charges," Pikula explained.
"The system failed me but I saw it work for a lot of other people. Domestic violence is severely misrepresented and underserved. I finally got a hold of Antonia More and she's never let me down. She's always been there to answer my questions."
Although she was finally connected with the right resources at JDC, Pikula explained how challenges arose with her move up north. "I moved to Sacramento and there are no services like this up there. San Francisco is a nonprofit-rich city, but not in the capital. I can't find services up there for anything. So when I say that we need to be bigger and think more globally, I say that with all seriousness because in Sacramento I'm on my own."
Pikula explained how she has since been able to take that missing advocacy and turn it toward herself. She recently won a scholarship to go to law school and hopes to give back to the community in the same way she was helped.
Figueroa also spoke about the impact that JDC's Bay Area Minority Law Student Scholarship had on his confidence as a young legal professional. "The reality is that there are many others like me who will never get the same experiences I did. None of this could have been possible without the support of JDC and people like you," said Figueroa.
"I needed help from people like you to guide me, invest in my future, and believe in me and my dreams as much as I believe in them. You have the ability to pay it forward, and in doing so, you play an important role in improving our legal community. Your investment matters and it makes a difference."
A special thank you to all who attended, including donors and sponsors: your donation ensures that JDC can continue fighting for equity, equality, and justice every day for our community.
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us to celebrate JDC’s essential programming. Your support ensures that the JDC can continue advancing justice every day for the people of the San Francisco Bay Area. If you didn’t get a chance to make a donation to the JDC during the Gala and would like to, please click here and make your gift.
