Released 12/11/17 | Tags:
NVLSP Raises More than Half a Million Dollars for Pro-Bono Legal Aid for Veterans & Their Families
Ninth annual benefit breaks fundraising records, supports advocacy for disability benefits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 28, 2017
PHOTOS AVAILABLE
Washington – A record $520,000 was raised on November 16th at the annual benefit reception for the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP).
Themed “Delivering on our Promise,” the annual benefit was pivotal in raising resources that enable NVLSP’s team of legal experts to assist our nation’s veterans and service members. The reception and one-hour program provided an opportunity to honor those who have made significant contributions to improving the lives of our veterans and their families.
“We are greatly appreciative and pleased by the generosity of supporters who made this event a success so that NVLSP can continue helping veterans obtain the disability benefits they’ve earned,” said Bart Stichman, co-founder and joint executive director of NVLSP. “Through the ongoing commitment of our partners and sponsors, NVLSP is able to sustain its mission, ensuring that we hold true to our nation’s promise to military service members and their families.”
CNN lead political anchor, Wolf Blitzer, emceed the evening’s program. Over 250 professionals from the legal industry, government and corporate community, military leaders and members of the press attended.
The event highlighted a recent NVLSP victory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUPvIUx-b9c, which is forcing the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay $2 billion in emergency medical care benefits to veterans. The victory became final when VA Secretary David Shulkin announced that the VA would voluntarily withdraw its appeal of NVLSP’s case, Staab v. Shulkin. This case win mandated the VA to reimburse veterans who incurred emergency medical care expenses at non-VA facilities and had their claims for reimbursement wrongfully denied. The win was important not only for Mr. Staab, a veteran left with $48,000 in medical bills, but for as many as 100,000 veterans who waited as long as seven years for reimbursement of their emergency medical care expenses.
NVLSP recognized two organizations at the event for their dedicated service to veterans, service members and military families. A valued partner in NVLSP’s Lawyers Serving Warriors Program since 2010, Verizon was presented the Corporate Leadership Award for supporting and reengaging military veterans as they return to civilian life and the workforce. Verizon’s corporate culture, recruitment practices and specialized programs for veterans and service members placed it at the top of Military Times - Best for Vets employer rankings.
NVLSP’s Pro Bono of the Year Award was presented to WilmerHale, LLP, a valued partner for nearly a decade and one of the first law firms to accept pro bono cases from NVLSP. WilmerHale is also NVLSP’s primary partner in a new Lawyers Serving Warriors project for cases originating from the Texas Veterans Commission.
NVLSP’s first Lawyers Serving Warriors Excellence Award was presented to honor a volunteer attorney who has provided exemplary pro bono services to veterans and service members. Einar Stole, a partner at Covington & Burling, LLP was the inaugural recipient of this award. Einar served as lead lawyer on eight NVLSP pro bono matters and succeeded in overturning unfavorable decisions in three cases at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in 2015 and 2016.
Top sponsors for this year’s benefit reception included:
Diamond level sponsor: Finnegan and WilmerHale, LLP
Platinum sponsors: Merck, Morgan Lewis, Covington & Burling and Raytheon
Gold sponsors: DLA Piper, Latham & Watkins, Kirkland & Ellis, Hunton & Williams, Reed Smith and Sidley Austin
Silver sponsors: Bank of America, Blank Rome, Greenberg Traurig, Hewlett Packard Inc., Honeywell, John H. & Corbin Harwood, L3 Communications, Tyco and Verizon
Bronze sponsors: Akin Gump, Bressler, Amery & Ross, Dechert, General Dynamics IT, HP Enterprise, Intel and Katten
ABOUT NVLSP
The National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) is an independent, nonprofit veterans service organization that has served active duty military personnel and veterans since 1980. NVLSP strives to ensure that our nation honors its commitment to its 22 million veterans and active duty personnel by ensuring they have the federal benefits they have earned through their service to our country. NVSLP offers training for attorneys and other advocates, connects veterans and active duty personnel with pro bono legal help when seeking disability benefits, publishes the nation's definitive guide on veteran benefits, and represents and litigates for veterans and their families before the VA, military discharge review agencies and federal courts. For more information go to www.nvlsp.org.
Photos/Media contact: Pamela Goldsmith, 202.621.5698, Pamela@nvlsp.org
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PHOTOS AVAILABLE:
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CNN political anchor, Wolf Blitzer emceed NVLSP's Ninth Annual Benefit Reception. |
NVLSP Joint Executive Director, Bart Stichman pictured with Benefit Chair,
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NVLSP Joint Executive Director, Bart Stichman, presented honoree Einar Stole with the inaugural Lawyers Serving Warriors Excellence Award. |
CNN political anchor, Wolf Blitzer is with Ron Flagg, NVLSP Board Chair, |
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CNN anchor, Wolf Blitzer with Thomas G. Saunders, Partner, who accepted the Pro Bono Partner of the Year Award on behalf of WilmerHale LLP. |
CNN Anchor Wolf Blitzer, NVLSP Joint Executive Director Bart Stichman, NVLSP Board Members Howard Menditch and Stephen Kinnaird, Awardee Einar Stole, NVSLP Joint Executive Director Ron Abrams, NVLSP Board Members Chris Antoniou, Eric Shumsky, Nancy Morrison O'Connor, Ben Block, and Ron Flagg with Thomas G. Saunders. |
