Legal Council for Health Justice Celebrates 30 Years of Serving Illinoisans with Serious Medical Conditions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2018
Contacts:
Kevin Mork, kjmork@legalcouncil.org, 312-605-1976
Dani Hunter, dhunter@legalcouncil.org, 312-605-1957
Legal Council for Health Justice Celebrates 30 Years of Serving Illinoisans with Serious Medical Conditions
Chicago organization will host its 30th Anniversary Gala on Oct. 13 and honor three community leaders: Rep. Greg Harris, Dr. Nicole Hamp, and Howard Brown Health
CHICAGO—On Saturday, Oct. 13, more than 400 leaders in law, finance, business and public service will celebrate Legal Council for Health Justice’s 30th anniversary providing free legal services to communities in need at Venue West. Legal Council will present awards in leadership and advocacy to Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), University of Chicago Medicine’s Dr. Nicole Hamp, and health organization Howard Brown Health.
At the height of the AIDS epidemic, Legal Council—then named AIDS Legal Council of Chicago—was founded as a life-changing resource to people living with HIV facing unique, health-related legal problems that are still prominent today, such as workplace discrimination, insurance denials, confidentiality breaches, and illegal evictions. Thirty years later, Legal Council has expanded its services to include other populations facing similar systemic barriers: families of children with serious illnesses, seniors, and homeless individuals with severe mental illnesses.
“At a time when persistent, ruthless attacks on health care happen almost daily, in Illinois and across the nation, the work Legal Council does is more important than ever before,” said Tom Yates, Executive Director at Legal Council.
Kimball R. Anderson and Karen Gatsis Anderson, local leaders in law and longtime supporters of Legal Council, will co-chair the gala.
“Thirty years ago, our hero James Monroe Smith founded AIDS Legal Council to serve the legal needs of persons affected by HIV,” said Kimball R. Anderson, who served as the first Board of Directors President for Legal Council. “We worked with Smith at the inception of this organization to help him achieve his dream of affording access to justice to a portion of our community that really needed help.”
“Legal Council continues to serve a vital need in our community because access to critical health care and justice remain in jeopardy. We are honored to chair Legal Council’s thirtieth anniversary gala,” said Karen Gatsis Anderson.
Legal Council will present three awards during the gala’s program The James Monroe Smith Founder Award, presented to Rep. Harris, honors an outstanding leader in promoting and protecting quality, affordable, and accessible health care and services for marginalized communities. The Ann Hilton Fisher Advocate Award, presented to Dr. Hamp, honors a distinguished community leader whose advocacy has advanced Legal Council’s mission in serving individuals facing barriers due to chronic illnesses or disabilities. The Anderson Community Award, presented to Howard Brown, honors an exceptional community partner dedicated to removing barriers to health care for individuals living with HIV, children and their families, seniors, and/or people who are homeless and living with mental illness.
For tickets, silent auction items, raffle tickets, and more information, visit legalcouncil.org/gala.
30th Anniversary Gala Sponsors:
| AbbVie | Mayer Brown LLP |
| Actuate Law LLC | MillerCoors |
| C. Grost Photography | Precision Color Graphics Chicago |
| ChicagoPride.com | Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP |
| Dentons | Sidetrack |
| Foley & Lardner LLP | Sidley Austin LLP |
| GRAB Magazine | Sinai Health System |
| Hyatt Hotels Corporation | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP |
| Illinois Health & Hospital Association | Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young LLP |
| Ken O’Keefe & Jason Stephens | Windy City Media Group |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Winston & Strawn LLP |
| Marc Realty |
###
Legal Council for Health Justice uses the power of the law to secure dignity, opportunity, and well-being for people facing barriers due to illness and disability. Legal Council partners with health and hospital systems to train and support the care provider network, provide direct representation to referred patients, and conduct systemic advocacy to promote health equity among populations facing chronic, disabling, and stigmatizing health and social conditions. www.legalcouncil.org