2017ANNUAL REPORT

MISSION STATEMENT

It is the mission of Center for Elder Law & Justice to improve

the quality of life for elderly, disabled and low-income persons

in Western New York. We do so through the provision of free

civil legal services, primarily to individuals age sixty and over as

defined by the federal Older Americans Act, but also to younger

disabled and low-income individuals, as funding permits. Our

primary goal is to use the legal system to assure that our clients

may live independently and with dignity

1

KAREN NICOLSON

C h i e f E x e c u t i v e O f f i c e r

2017 was a landmark year for CELJ. I am extreme-

ly proud and encouraged by this agency’s growth

and development. In 2017 we added two office

locations across Western New York and hired ad-

ditional attorneys to help with the needs of our

community. We have come so far, and yet, we

have so far to go.

I regularly receive effusive letters from our cli-

ents praising the work our team did to save their

homes, their families, and their income. As an

agency, we are proud of the special role we play

in our system of justice. It is because of the pas-

sion of our staff, volunteers, donors, and elected

officials that CELJ is on the path to charting new

territory. And we’re not done yet.

Facilitating the administration of justice is the

mission our agency and one of the things that

makes me most proud to lead this organization.

However, according to a report by the Permanent

Commission on Access to Justice, “only 37% of the

legal needs of low-income New Yorkers are being

met statewide.” Every day, CELJ staff goes above

and beyond to assist as many of our neighbors

as we can. As we all continue to fill this justice

gap, we should remember the words of Supreme

Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor: “We educated,

privileged lawyers have a professional and moral

duty to represent the underrepresented in our so-

ciety, to ensure that justice exists for all, both

legal and economic justice.”

The need for the services that CELJ provides

continues to grow. The aging population is

increasing, elder abuse is on the rise, and fi-

nancial exploitation of older adults is a billion

dollar problem in New York State. As you will

see when reviewing our 2017 annual report,

we address all of these issues and more. Our

impact on the community is vast and compel-

ling—as is our need for continued support. I

am so grateful to our community for embrac-

ing the needs of the aging and less fortunate

among us. With your support, CELJ will con-

tinue to advocate for justice so that our cli-

ents may live independently and with dignity.

2

Bruce Reinoso, Esq.President

Jill Bond, Esq. Vice President

John C. Brady, IIIVice President

Holly Hejmowski, CPATreasurer

David J. Starkey, Esq.Secretary

OFFICERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MEMBERS

Claire Fortin, Esq.

Garry M. Graber, Esq.

Ryan D. Ledebur, Esq.

Tolulope F. Odunsi, Esq.

Timothy M. O’Mara, Esq.

Edward C. Robinson, Esq.

Denise Gonez-Santos

Kelly M. Showard

Jamie Smith, Esq.

Robert C. Weissflach, Esq.

(Top L-R) Doug Curella, Jill Bond, John Brady, Hon. Rosalie Bailey, Holly Hejmowski, Robert Weissflach, David Starkey

(Bottom L-R) Ed Robinson, Bruce Reinoso, Cynthia Vance, Claire Fortin, Tolulope Odunsi, Treneeka Fields

(FISCAL YEAR 2017)

3

Karen L. Nicolson, Esq.Chief Executive Officer

Jessica Fields, Esq., CPAChief Financial Officer

Shatorah Donovan, Esq.Director of Development & Communications

Helen Ferraro-Zaffram, Esq.Managing Attorney

Sarah Balogh, Esq.Supervising Attorney

Kevin Quinn, Esq.Supervising Attorney

Sarah Duval, Esq.Supervising Attorney

STAFF ATTORNEYS Rachel Baldassaro, Esq.Kelly Barrett, Esq.F. Alex Fehrman, Esq.Lindsay Heckler, Esq.Nicole Komin, Esq.Bradley Loliger, Esq.Roslyn McLin, Esq.Nicole Parshall, Esq.Erin Riker, Esq.David Shapiro, Esq.Molly White, Esq.

Katie Earl, Social WorkerKayleah Feser, Social WorkerKathleen Hermann, Social Worker Kathy Kanaley, Social WorkerFidele Menavanza, Law Graduate Shaquilla Reid, Legal Assistant

CELJ STAFF MEMBERS

PARALEGALSSteve DahlbergBrittany DavisDavid GiordanoBrandy HernandezKarlene KristichCheryl KostrewaTheresa MillerRachel SchepartBrenda SymansFurnette WilliamsMelissa Woods

Rachel HaseleyHuman Resource Manager

Christine HalikOffice Manager

Korin FrantzSenior Accountant

Michaelene JeziorowskiOffice Assistant

Gabrielle BrewerPooled Trust

Jamie VokesGuardianship Account Manager

Kirtan PatelStaff Accountant

Judy PiwowarAssistant to the CEO

Kelly Taylor Secretary/Receptionist, Intake Officer

Liam McMahonPooled Trust

(AS OF 2018)

4

Dear Ms. Nicolson, Please accept our donation for the excellent job done by your attorney and legal staff. Kelly Barrett and Brandy Hernandez aided us im-mensely. Our case was concluded with efficiency and ended with a favorable decision for us. Therefore, we thank you greatly and will inform others of your excellent, outstanding services.— Morgan* (Medicare Case)

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

Mine was a financial situation I had got myself into. Kevin and Rachel were a god send to me. I am grateful and appreciate all their help.— Terry* (Consumer Case)

I could not be happier. Thank you all so much!— Matthew* (Housing Case)

3,855

2,477*names have been changed5

STATISTICS

TOTAL STAFF48

PRACTICE AREAS14

COUNTIES SERVED11

NUMBER OF OFFICES3

WHO WE HELPED IN 2017

62%WHITE, NON-HISPANIC

23%

AFRICAN AMERICAN

3%HISPANIC

4% ASIAN

3% NATIVEAMERICAN

5% MULTI-RACIAL,UNSPECIFIED, OTHER

70%

OVER 60 YEARS OLD

30%59 YEARS OLDAND YOUNGER

3,855CASES OPENED

2,477CASES CLOSED

Through our Elder Abuse Prevention, Foreclosure Prevention, Consumer, Housing, Income Maintenance, and Health Care units—CELJ helped our clients recover or save $2,997,027.82.

Our services in the Kinship Care, Housing, Healthcare, Fore-closure, Guardianship, Elder Abuse Prevention units saved tax-payers across New York State $1,342,234.

CELJ provided community legal education to 13,858 individuals in the form of presentations, clinics, and workshops.

6

NEW OFFICES

7

DUNKIRK314 Central Avenue

Suite 300

Dunkirk, NY

14048

LOCKPORT175 Walnut Street

Suite 1

Lockport, NY

14094

JULY 2017

MARCH 2017

NEW PRACTICE AREAS

8

Senior Legal Advice Helpline1-844-481-0973The Senior Legal Advice Helpline launched on

May 9th, 2017. The free Helpline provides an-

swers to brief legal questions and referrals to

other legal resources for seniors in Monroe,

Livingston, Steuben and Allegany Counties.

The Helpline allows callers to reach an attor-

ney right away who can provide them with ad-

vice on a wide variety of legal issues, including

consumer protection, health insurance, housing

issues and more. The Helpline is open Mon-

day through Friday from 9:00am to 11:00am.

Legal Risk Detector AppA legal health check-up tool for housing, con-

sumer, financial exploitation and health care is-

sues. The Legal Risk Detector App is a program

developed with Pro Bono Net that service pro-

viders can use to screen seniors for potential le-

gal issues at no cost. Referrals are sent directly

to the Center for Elder Law & Justice once the

assessment is complete. The app is a web-based

legal health “check-up” tool that allows medical

personnel, social workers, and other allied pro-

fessionals to screen older adults, including home

bound people, for common legal issues, includ-

ing abuse and financial exploitation.

MedLaw is a partnership like no other in our com-

munity, as it combines the passion and knowledge

of a proven legal services agency, the prestige

of one of our region’s largest hospitals, with the

skills of exceptional healthcare providers– all in

an effort to improve health outcomes and quality

of life for our local population. After a generous

grant was awarded to CELJ by Judges & Lawyers

Breast Cancer Alert (JALBCA), a partnership was

formed between CELJ and Erie County Medical

Center (ECMC) that created MedLaw. Here, at-

torneys from CELJ are embedded at ECMC and

included as an integral part of the patient care

team. Referrals to MedLaw are made directly by

healthcare providers, who are trained to identify

common legal problems impacting their patients.

A medical-legal partnership (MLP) is a unique col-

laboration that unites the healthcare community

with agencies like CELJ under the common mis-

sion of addressing and preventing health-harm-

ing social conditions for vulnerable patients and

communities. MLPs link lawyers, with doctors,

nurses, social workers, and other clinical staff to

help patients address underlying legal problems

that harm their health. Through MedLaw, CELJ has

opened a legal assistance center located on the

ECMC Campus.

The goal of MedLaw is to address a patient’s legal

needs that are beyond the scope of a healthcare

provider’s clinical capacity and expertise. To that

end, MedLaw embraces the notion that at times,

the best medicine for a patient might include not

only clinical healthcare measures, but also the re-

ceipt of ‘legal care’ (i.e. legal assistance from an

attorney).

MedLaw is currently serving ECMC, ECMC Foun-

dation Mobile Mammography Unit, and Western

New York Breast Health patients being treated

for breast cancer, or at risk of breast cancer. We

are also serving patients being treated by ECMC’s

palliative medicine team. MedLaw offers full rep-

9

resentation and/or brief advice and counsel in

such matters as: access to state and federal pub-

lic benefits, health insurance, housing and utili-

ties, employment, legal status, planning for future

decision-making, end of life planning, consumer

issues, and other personal/family concerns.

In addition to the legal assistance center, MedLaw

offers free monthly educational events that are

open to the public. Each month different speakers

present on important legal topics impacting pa-

tients and the community.

Our MedLaw unit is run by staff attorney, Rachel

Baldassaro—a passionate advocate for breast

cancer survivors. The launch of this program,

aimed at helping individuals impacted by breast

cancer, holds personal significance for Baldassa-

ro. She is the daughter of a breast cancer survivor

who observed first-hand the effects chemother-

apy and radiation had on her mother. “I endured

the stress of watching a loved one face a serious

illness, and I felt first-hand the anxiety of the un-

known. To say that my mother’s cancer diagnosis

impacted my life significantly would be an under-

statement,” says Baldassaro.

The news of a cancer diagnosis is devastating –

devastating not only to the individual impacted by

the disease, but also to their family and friends. “If

one positive thing came of my mother’s disease, it

is that I learned how critical it is for a patient and

their families to lean on their support networks,

and that sometimes these support networks take

an unexpected shape,” said Baldassaro.

At CELJ, we advocate for justice at all stages of

life, so that our clients may live independently and

with dignity. The MedLaw program is one of the

boldest and most direct ways we can fulfil our

mission in our community. CELJ thanks JALBCA for

their financial support and ECMC, ECMC Founda-

tion, and WNY Breast Health for their partnership.

10

MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHES WITH NYC BACKING

M e d L a w C a n c e r

P a r t n e r s h i p o f W e s t e r n

N e w Y o r k : A n

i n t e r s e c t i o n o f l a w ,

h e a l t h c a r e , a n d

p h i l a n t h r o p y .

Paul knows more about these rules than most

attorneys. As founder and chief counsel of

Paramount Settlement Planning, he’s dedicat-

ed to helping injured and disabled plaintiffs

transition to life after litigation. And for him,

CELJ has been an indispensable resource.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

P a u l I s a a c

Nearly every day I witness

firsthand the works of

[CELJ], says donor Paul Is-

sac. “They are an incred-

ible organization with a

depth of knowledge, com-

passion, understanding,

and experience practicing

in an arena where most

would find it impossible to

understand the rules.

“CELJ is always willing to take a call and give

guidance or take steps to actively intervene to

assist a disadvantaged Western New Yorker,”

Paul says. “I doubt that most people would

have any idea of the level of dedication that

this organization has for the elderly and dis-

advantaged.”

Paul first became affiliated with CELJ

fifteen years ago. “I realized that the

organization had a heavy concentra-

tion of very knowledgeable attorneys

and support staff who were extremely

dedicated and highly experience in a

very nuanced area of the law.”

Paul’s fight for justice continues as

part of Precision Resolution, which

challenges liens levied against plain-

tiffs’ settlement proceeds, and CELJ

has stood with him every step of the

way. “Everyone who I ever came in

contact with has compassion for the

elderly, disabled and disadvantaged,”

Paul tells us. “This talent is put to great

use daily to help our most disadvan-

taged citizens.”

11

79TOTAL ATTORNEY VOLUNTEERS

229.1TOTAL HOURS

25TOTAL INTERN VOLUNTEERS

3,359.9 TOTAL HOURS

Lisa AllenEric AndrewMelissa BaderLydia Beebe SafulkoCharles BeinhauerSteve BengartSteve BengartMargot BennettElizabeth Bertrand Andrew BeschJohn BrillAnthony ColucciStephanie CookBenjamin CransionJudy Cuzacrea-WagnerPhi DelmontJoshua DubsLydia EvansPatricia FayRobert FeldmanNoemi FernandezHenry GartnerKathleen GarveyRuth GeorgeBill GerkenBill GirouxWilliam Giroux

Krista GottliebLeonard GrahamAmy Avers HareJean HarrisJean HarrisonJesslyn HolbrookElizabeth IngoldNina JuncewiczMegan KnepkaMarianne E. KoenigRobert KutzubaGraham LeonardBob LittleDevon LittleJames LoreeAlexandra LugoRichard MarcheseLindsay McKennaBritta McKennaMindy MenkeDenny MenshelElaina MonteTerrie Benson MurrayTolu OdunsiGerald ParadiseJessica PerazaKaren Perrigo

Ray PfieferPaul PochepanLeah RankeBruce ReinosoJay RickettsGeorge RiedelGeorge E. Riedel Jr.Edward RobinsonTodd RobinsonRichard RossoAnne RutlandLisa Beebe SafulkoLawrence R. SchwachAmanda ScottJamie SmithCarly SpeyerValerie StanekLinda Stravalaci GrearJames ThomanTyler ThreehouseAmanda TownsendFrank VavoneseMary VirginiaRob WeissflachSamantha White

2017 PRO BONO ATTORNEYS

Thank you to the following attorneys who support our Pro Bono program and make it possible for CELJ to help more in our community!

12

2017 PRO BONO VOLUNTEER STATISTICS

Center for Elder Law & Justice is co-trustee for the West-

ern New York Coalition Pooled Trusts (“the Trust” or “the

Pooled Trust”). The Trust is a Supplemental Needs Trust

(“SNT”). An SNT is a vehicle that can be used to enhance

the quality of life for individuals with disabling condi-

tions. The SNT must be used for the benefit of an indi-

vidual with a disabling condition and the expenditures

made on behalf of that person should supplement, not

replace, their government benefits. Beneficiaries pool

their money together to take advantage of better invest-

ment opportunities. The Pooled Trust is considered an

exempt resource for purposes of Medicaid and Social

Security. The Trust takes individuals out of the cycle of

poverty, by allowing them to live in the community and

maintain a comfortable quality of life.

2017 was a record year, with approximately 600 bene-

ficiaries and almost $9 million in trust assets. In order to

meet our clients’ needs, we hired new staff and doubled

our pooled trust team during the year.

POOLED TRUST

The Trust is a collaboration between Center for Elder Law

& Justice, People Inc, and Key Bank.

13

Henry GarnterKathleen GaveyGary GlebaJesslyn HolbrookElizabeth IngoldKristen KozlowskiRichard MarcheseBruce ReinosoTodd RobinsonRichard RossoGary SchaffAmanda Scott

2017 PRO BONO ATTORNEYS

ELDER LAW DAY 2017

Melissa BaderJudy Cuzzacrea WagnerKathleen GarveyLinda GrearBruce ReinosoTodd RobinsonAmanda ScottValerie Stanek

MINI ELDER LAW DAY 2017

2017 INTERNS

William AcevedoLauren AzziAlexandra BalmerAaron BengartShawn ByrnsRyan CarneyMargaret DugganAlex FermanBen GilbergKatelyn GindeleSarah HicksSantos JacobNeal JohnsonCatherine MartinLiam McMahonSaymoe MoePia PerfettoSamantha PersoffMaya RamosHeather RichardsAnthony SantopoloJashanjot Singh-GirnSuzanne StarrZyanna SteeleKortnie Williams

IN HOUSE PRO BONOVOLUNTEERS

Bill GirouxGary GlebaMelissa MummeryDan ShinerTony Szczygiel

Joshua DubsNoemi FernandezHenry GartnerMarianne KoenigTodd Robinson

PRO BONO ATTORNEYSWITH CASES

Thank you ever so much for helping me to get recertified by Medicaid! No matter what a pest I was, you were so patient and ever so polite to my Mom when she came by your offices and to me on the telephone. Please accept my sincere gratitude.

CENTER FOR ELDER LAW AND JUSTICE, INC.STATEMENT OF ACTIVITES AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS For the year ended December 31, 2017As audited by Bonadio & Co., LLP

14

REVENUE

Grants from governmental agencies

83%$3,138,814

Program revenue 11%438,238

Contributions 5%179,023

Special events, net 1%

TOTAL REVENUE $3,797,322 100%

41,247

OTHER INCOME

Investment income, net $91,153

TOTAL OTHER INCOME, NET $91,153

EXPENSES

Program services 87%$3,172,927

Supporting services 12%419,420

Fundraising 1%45,479

TOTAL EXPENSES $3,637,826 100%

CHANGE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

$159,496

CHANGE IN NET ASSETS $250,649

NET ASSETS — beginning of year $1,085,894

NET ASSETS — end of year $1,336,543

Mr. Peter AielloDr. Tosin AkanjiMr. David AlexanderMs. Cheryl AloiDr. Olajumoke AmuwoMs. Grace Marie AngeMr. and Mrs. James and Diane ArnoneMr. Thomas AyersHon. Rosalie BaileyMs. John BallowMr. Adam BarthMs. Robert BelfieldMs. Candace Lynn BellMs. Steven BengartMs. Cindy BennesMs. Megan BermanIDy. David BeyerMr. Ted BickfordMs. Gary BillingsleyMs. Dennis BischofMr. George BlairMs. Sandra BloomMs. Edward BloombergMr. David BowensMr. John BradyMr. Gregory BrownMs. Marc BrownMs. Joel BrownsteinMs. Thomas BrydgesMs. Danielle BurningMs. Martha BuyerMs. Kathleen CarmodyMs. Jerome CarrelMs. Alan CarrelMs. Patricia CarringtonMs. Anthony CasilioMs. Robert CastellaniMr. Joe CavanMs. Marilyn CedroneMr. Philip CelnikerMs. Michael ChelusMs. Daniel ChiacchiaMs. Robert CiesielskiMs. Paula CiprichMs. Peter ClarkMs. Lynn ClarkeMr. and Mrs. David CohenMr. and Mrs. Frederick CohenMs. Debra ColeMr. J. Michael CollinsMr. Anthony Colucci, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Joseph ConnellyMs. Thomas ConsidineMr. Doug Curella JrMrs. Treneeka Cusack FieldsMs. Victoria D’AngeloMr. Roger T. DavisonMr. John DelMonteMs. Sheila DickinsonMr. and Mrs. Melinda DisareMr. Brian Downey

Ms. Catherine EberlMr. Randy FahsMr. Thomas FarleyMs. Wendy FechterMr. John FeroletoHon. Shannon FilbertMr. Brian FitzgeraldMr. Edward FlickerMrs. Geraldine FlickerMr. David FloydMs. Lenora Foote-BeaversMr. Harry ForrestMs. Claire FortinMs. Elizabeth Fox-SolomonMr. Irwin FrancoMr. Lawrence FrancoMr. Robert FrangoolesMr. Howard FrankMs. Rhonda FrederickMr. Jeffrey FuchsMr. Henry GartnerMr. Robert GastleMs. Patricia GeorgeHon. Joseph GeraceMs. Sharon Stern GerstmanMr. Arthur GiacaloneMr. Joseph GiancarloMr. Herman GinsburgHon. Eric GlazerMr. Gary GlebaMr. and Mrs. Howard GondreeMrs. Denise Gonez-SantosHon. Jerome GorskiMr. Garry GraberMr. Kenneth GraberMr. Gerald GraceMr. Leslie GreenbaumMr. and Mrs. Richard GriffinHon. Michael GriffithDr. Kathleen GrimmMs. Laura GroschadlMs. Melinda GrossmanMr. Mark GruberMr. Frederick GuginoMr. Vincent HanleyMs. Donna HaslingerMrs. Holly HejmowskiMr. Franklin HellerMr. Greg HennesseyMr. William Grant HennigarMs. Ann HermanMs. Ann Giardina HessMr. Thomas HewnerMs. Marilyn HochfieldMs. Lynn Horne-MoyerMr. Scott HortonMr. Max HumannMr. Thomas HurleyMr. Thomas HydeMr. Paul IsaacMs. Michaelene JeziorowskiMr. Todd Joseph

Ms. Karen KaczmarskiMr. George KannarMs. Kristie KantorMiss Lindsey KasperczykMr. David KernanMr. Popkin KidsMr. Peter KleinMr. Robert KlumpMs. Pamela Krawczyk-GreeneMs. Eleanor KubiniecMr. Paul KullmanMr. Robert KutzubaDr. Toby LapingMs. Sandra LauerMr. Courtland LaValleeMr. David LazenskiMr. Ryan LedeburMr. Donald LewickiMr. Winston LinMrs. Kimberly LoCurtoMs. Sally LoganMr. Bradley LoligerMr. Leonard LondonMr. Gordon LyonMr. James MagavernMr. Samuel MagavernMr. William MaldovanMr. Edward MarkarianMr. Jeffrey MarkelloHon. Frederick MarshallMiss Ruth MathewsMs. Karen L. MathewsHon. Jeremiah McCarthyMr. William McLaughlinMs. Kathleen McMahon-StollMs. Fanny MeyerHon. Ann MikollMs. Kathleen MolloyMs. Karen MulveyMs. Margaret MurphyMiss Francine NdjatouMs. Nathan NeillMr. Thomas NelsonMr. F. Harris NicholsMr. Robert NicholsMr. Christopher NicksonMs. Karen NicolsonMr. Ilo NobleMs. Sally ObletzHon. John O’DonnellMiss Jesutomiloba OdunsiMrs. Ayo OdunsiMs. Tolulope OdunsiMr. and Mrs. Randall OdzaMr. Timothy O’MaraMs. Kelley OmelMs. Gerald ParadiseMs. Michelle ParkerMr. Paul PearsonMs. Danielle Pelfrey DuryeaMs. Karen PerrigoMs. Kimberly Phelan

15

ANNUAL FUND DONORS

16

ANNUAL FUND DONORS

Ms. Rosalind PolanowskiMr. Steven PolowitzMs. Marlene PotterMs. Pamela PyleMr. Theodore PyrakMr. Joseph RandazzoMs. Diane RehseMr. Paul ReidMr. Bruce ReinosoMr. and Mrs. Anna Marie RichmondMr. George RiedelMs. Debra RitzMr. Edward RobinsonHon. Lisa RodwinMr. Howard RosenhochMr. Richard RossoMr. Arthur RussMs. Melinda SaranMs. Jennifer ScharfMs. Geralyn SchifflerMr. James SchultzMr. E. Michael SempleMr. Leonardo Sette-CamaraMr. Michael ShannonMs. Kelly ShowardMr. Myron SiegelMrs. Elaine SilverMrs. Anita SmithMs. Jamie Smith

Mr. Christopher SmolkaMr. Eugene SmolkaMr. James SmytonMr. and Mrs. Margaret SnajczukMr. Jeffrey SpencerMr. David StarkeyMr. Thomas SteffanMr. Gregory StewartMs. Courtney StradfordMr. and Mrs. Ronald TalboysMs. Kelly A TaylorMr. and Mrs. Richard TobeMr. Denis UminskiMs. Vicky ValvoMs. Cynthia VanceMs. Mary VirginiaMs. Judith VoitMr. Matthew WagnerMr. Mark WallingMs. Laurie WalshMr. Daniel WebsterMs. Robert WeissflachMr. Alan WilliamsMr. Wayne WisbaumMs. Ruth Wiseman SpivackMs. Jennifer WoodMs. Laurence WoodwardMr. John ZakMr. John Ziegler

JUSTICE BASH 2017

GOLD SPONSORSHodgson Russ LLPPhillips Lytle LLP

BRONZE SPONSORSErie County Medical CenterHarter Secrest & Emery LLPHurwitz & Fine, PCKey Private BankPriam Enterprises, LLCRich Products CorporationSupermarket Management, Inc.The Olear Team at MJ Peterson

TRIVIA NIGHT FOR JUSTICE

TRIVIA SPONSORAdvance2000

CELJ 21ST ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

SILVER SPONSORSGibson, McAskill & CrosbyGurney Becker & BourneHodgson Russ LLPKenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLPMattingly Cavagnaro, LLPPfalzgraf, Beinhauer & MenziesSmith Vavonese, LLPThe Olear Team at MJ Peterson

TOWEL SPONSORAdvance2000

PHOTO SPONSORWoods Oviatt Gilman LLP

LUNCH SPONSORJensen, Marks, Langer & Vance LLC

COCKTAIL SPONSORWilliam C. Bernhardi Law Offices

CART SPONSORCollins & Collins Attorneys, LLC

BALL SPONSORBuffalo Building & Construction Trades Council

PARTNER AND FOUNDATION

Baird FoundationCommunity Foundation for Greater BuffaloEmpire Justice CenterEvans-Devereux Memorial FundJudges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert Medical Legal PartnershipLifespan Enhanced Multi Disciplinary TeamsNew York State Bar FoundationUnited Way of Buffalo and Erie CountyUnited Way of Buffalo and Erie County-SEFA Campaign

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Administration for Community Living-Elder Justice InnovationAllegany CountyCattaraugus CountyErie County Genesee CountyIOLA Fund of the State of New YorkNew York State Attorney General Home Owner Protection ProgramNew York State Division of Criminal Justice ServicesNew York State Long Term Care Ombudsman ProgramNew York State Office of Children and Family ServicesNew York State Unified Court SystemNiagara CountyOffice for Victims of Crime - Risk Detector InitiativeOrleans CountySeneca Nation of IndiansWyoming County

17

WHITE PAPERS

In 2017 Staff Attorney Lindsay Heckler wrote a profile on a nursing home, along with UB Law Professor Emeritus, Tony Szcygiel. Profiles like this are distributed to New York State legislators to give an informed and unbiased report of underperforming nursing homes in an effort to protect residents.

At CELJ, we believe in advocating, not only for our clients, but for the rights of all New Yorkers who are impacted by outdated or unfair policies. As a result, our staff works closely with legislators and policy makers to provide unbiased testimony and analysis on relevant laws. This is done through white papers, testimony, and comments on proposed legislation.

18

LEGISLATIVE TESTIMONY

Throughout the year, our attorneys have provided testimony to the New York State Assembly Committees on Health, Social Services, and Aging.

On February 27, 2017, staff attorneys Lindsay Heckler and Kelly Barrett submitted tes-timony to the New York State Assembly in order to address Home Health Work Force Issues. Attorney Heckler presented testimony to share experiences of those in our community who have been affected by a shortage of home health care aides.

On September 28, 2017, Attorney Heckler testified regarding adult care facilities. Her testimony focused on the need for better basic conditions of facilities, more trans-parency, and increased penalties.

19

A LOOK BACK

20

A LOOK BACK

21

A LOOK BACK

22

A LOOK BACK