Volunteer Lawyers Project celebrates 25 years of service at gala
Hundreds of lawyers and judges packed the Brooklyn Academy of Music for the 25th annual Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) gala, where nine different honorees were presented with awards.
“Twenty-five years ago, three visionary leaders of the Brooklyn Bar, the Executive Director Avery Eli Okin, Hon. Miriam Cyrulnik and the late Allen Lashley, worked together to establish and incorporate the Volunteer Lawyers Project,” said the evening’s mistress of ceremonies Andrea E. Bonina.
“Their goal was to ensure that the needs of the underprivileged would be served here in Brooklyn. Their dedication formed the foundation of the group that we are here celebrating tonight.”
The gala honored the Brooklyn Bar Association as well as Hon. Allan L. Gropper, Henry B. Gutman, Karen Patton Seymour and Samuel W. Seymour, and Betty Whelchel. TD Bank Champion of Justice Awards were also presented to Fernando A. Bohorquez Jr., Muhammad U. Faridi and Gregory M. Starner.