Prairie State fund drives begin in Peoria, Waukegan

A kickoff luncheon for the Campaign for Legal Services of the Peoria County office of Prairie State Legal Services will be held at 12 noon Wednesday, Nov. 5, in the Packard Plaza Building.

Recognition of donors will precede a speech by Supreme Court Justice Thomas R. Kilbride. Call Lisa Wilson at (309) 674-9831 for reservations.

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Prairie State’s Lake County office will hold its annual donor appreciation and campaign kickoff event at 12 noon Wednesday, Oct. 29, in the Waukegan City Hall chambers.

Sponsors include 19th Circuit Judge Valerie Boettle Ceckowski and the Association of Women Attorneys of Lake County. Call Teresa Blackburn at (847) 662-6925 for details.

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Equip for Equality will hold its annual benefit reception and dinner from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, at the Renaissance Chicago Hotel. For details, access www.equipforequality.org.

Chicago attorney and author Scott Turow, the keynote speaker, will discuss issues pertaining to the involvement of people with disabilities in the justice system.

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The Joseph Story chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity will celebrate its 106th anniversary next month with a benefit reception and live auction. Donated items are being sought for the auction.

The event will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6 in the seventh-floor lounge at the DePaul University College of Law. E-mail storyalumni@gmail.com for details.

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The Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois will hold its third annual benefit Day of the Dead Ball from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at the Chicago Cultural Center. For reservations at $100, visit www.hlai.org.

The event features live salsa music and appropriate food, with a silent auction and display of Day of the Dead-inspired artwork created by Alejandro Romero.

Proceeds will support scholarships, fellowships, community service projects and holiday food drives.

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Chicago criminal defense attorney Charles J. Aron participated in his fifth Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12 to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Since he started to race in 2004 in memory of a brother-in-law who died of the disease at age 58, Aron has been able to contribute about $55,000 to the cause.

It’s not too late to contribute to the Alzheimer’s Association by sending a check to Aron in Suite 212, 19 W. Jackson, Chicago 60604, or e-mailing him at chuckaron@earthlink.net to obtain the direct link.

Cabrini Green moves

The offices of Cabrini Green Legal Aid have been relocated to 740 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago 60642. The new telephone number is (312) 738-2452 (CGLA). Access www.cgla.net for more information.

The new location in the West Town neighborhood provides more efficient staff office space, a professional environment for clients, and room for future growth. It is accessible for the disabled and near public transportation.

Legal aid officers

Wheaton attorney Sean M. McCumber of Sullivan, Taylor & Gumina is the new president of the DuPage Legal Assistance Foundation. Senior assistant public defender Jeffrey R. York is vice president.

Other new officers are Secretary Tom Slymin, a board member of the DuPage Community Clinic, and Treasurer Richard G. Rius Jr., a Lombard solo practitioner.

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Addison D. Braendel of Baker & McKenzie is the new president of the Center for Disability and Elder Law in Chicago.

Other officers are Vice President Erin McCloskey Maus, also of Baker & McKenzie; Treasurer Nicole Wells, a certified public accountant with FTI Consulting, and Secretary Robert Johnson of the McDonald’s Corp. workers’ compensation practice group.

Michael T. Roth, CDEL executive since July 2007, is a former board member.