CHARLESTON – Legal Aid of West Virginia recently recognized some of its members for going above and beyond the call of duty at the organization’s biannual statewide conference.
“It’s really special moment to be recognized by your peers because they know what we do and they know how demanding the work can be,” Erica Pulling, Legal Aid director of development & communications, told The West Virginia Record. “It’s a proud moment for everyone associated with the organization.”
Winners were nominated by their peers and later evaluated by an executive committee. On the night of the unveiling, staffers from all of the organization’s 12 offices were on hand at the Glade Springs Resort in Daniels.
This year, both Diane Calandros and fellow paralegal Cathy Jo Townsend-Estep were saluted for the advocacy work they do in representing clients at administrative hearings all over the state in all kinds of pressing situations.
“The work that we do embodies our belief that all people are equal in the eyes of the law and should have access to quality representation,” Pulling said. “We believe that to be the cornerstone of justice. We advocate for all those who can’t afford to be able to do so for themselves.”
Others honored included attorneys Kate White from the Charleston office for Leadership in achieving significant progress in seeking justice and changing lives and Josh Fraenkel of Wheeling for Advocacy in performing work achieving significant results for a client or clients.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Ed Hopple from the Morgantown office received the Making A Difference Award for outstanding collaboration inside and outside the organization.
Even as LAWV Executive Director Adrienne Worthy made it a point of stressing there really were no losers on such a worthwhile evening and where such life-changing work is concerned, she took time to signal out the aforementioned five.
“While we have excellent staff throughout the organization, these five people have gone above and beyond in their dedication and hard work, and we are deeply grateful to them,” Worthy said in a release.
Legal Aid of West Virginia is a nonprofit legal organization that is recognized as the primary provider of free civil legal services across the state for many of the area’s most vulnerable citizens.
The organization’s list of clients range from victims of abuse to exploited seniors to veterans and the disabled and those facing threats to shelter, housing and other basic rights such as adequate education and health care.
The Legal Aid Awards have been handed out for at least the last 15 years involving staffers from all offices.
“We find the added recognition to be a big source of morale for our already hard-working and dedicated people,” Pulling said.
