Chicago attorney Dennis J. Beninato, chair of the ISBA Young Lawyers Division Council, reported to the ISBA Board of Governors on Jan. 27 on the success of fund-raising events the division sponsored last year.

A total of $40,000 for the Children's Assistance Fund, administered by the Illinois Bar Foundation, was realized from proceeds of a summer golf outing and a holiday party.

The fund provides equipment, toys and games for supervised courthouse waiting rooms around the state where children of witnesses and litigants can stay, free from the adjudication of adversarial matters.

Officers of the YLD Council were invited by ISBA President Bob Downs to address the board. Beninato, of Amari & Locallo, was accompanied by vice chair Ryan M. Henderson of Lord, Bissell & Brook and secretary Gregg A. Garofalo.

Downs praised the young lawyers for their valuable help to the Bar Foundation in supporting important projects that otherwise might have been rejected for lack of funds.

The YLD will conduct its second annual benefit golf outing on Friday, July 14, at Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale. Registration will begin at 12 noon for the 1 p.m. shotgun start. A reception and dinner will follow at 6 p.m.

Cost of participation in the golf outing package is $150 per person. Attendance at only the dinner is $40. Foursomes and sponsorships may be secured by contacting ISBA Assembly member Gina Arquilla at (312) 322-0703.

Other YLD Council projects include Bridge the Gap seminars for new attorneys, a moot court competitions, ISBA student chapters at law schools, and informational luncheon programs.

Chief Judge Ann B. Jorgensen of the 18th Circuit will speak and answer questions on Wednesday, April 5, during a joint luncheon meeting of the ISBA and DuPage County Bar Association Young Lawyers Divisions.

A past president of the Illinois Judges Association, Jorgensen is a former chair of the ISBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Council. She became chief judge in December.

The free Lunch with a Judge program will take place at 12 noon in the Attorney Resource Center on the third floor of the DuPage County Judicial Center in Wheaton.

Program chair is ISBA Assembly member Dion Davi, who serves on the YLD Council and the Committee on Government Lawyers. For more information or to make reservations, e-mail Dion.Davi@dupageco.org.