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Pro Bono Report: Health & Social Services

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy.  Paul Connuck assisted the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, a nonprofit organization established to fund innovative research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of cancer, in drafting and negotiating research grant awards totaling $2.5 million to Johns Hopkins, UCLA, City of Hope, University of Pennsylvania, and Louisiana State University Health Science Center.  These prestigious grants are awarded on a competitive basis to talented young scientists throughout the United States who show the most promising and innovative research and therapeutic strategies in the field of cancer gene research.  The grants are also intended to serve as seed money enabling the recipients to obtain additional federal funding.  These Grant Agreements were prepared in consultation with the Alliance’s principal attorney, Bill Smith of firm client Geneve Corporation, whose CEO, Edward Netter, is the founder and President of the Alliance. 

American Army Angels .   American Army Angels, Inc. raises donations for distribution to schools, hospitals, and needy individuals in rural Iraq.  Helayne StoopackPam Capps, and Michael Seaton helped the founders of the organization establish the corporate form and work towards filing for recognition as a tax-exempt organization.

American Friends of Herzog Hospital.  Ezra Levin, Helayne Stoopack, and Chatchada Chiamprasert did significant work on behalf of the American Friends of Herzog Hospital, an organization that supports the activities of Herzog Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel’s foremost center for geriatric and psychiatric medicine.  Helayne provided tax advice in connection with the formation of a hospital affiliate in the United States and a joint venture with a U.S.-based charity.  Chatchada revised the charter and bylaws of the American Friends.  Ezra served as counsel to American Friends and was involved in various matters of corporate governance and its disposition of certain property.  Brad Richter, Mary Jo Brady, and Gordon Stone also advised the American Friends on a wide range of matters.  In addition, Randy Lipsitz, Amanda Perlmutter, and Helayne Stoopack are advising the Hospital itself in connection with protecting its trademarks in the United States and throughout the world.

Doctors for Designated Driving.  Doctors for Designated Driving, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public safety through the promotion of designated driving.  James GrayerBarry Herzog, and Jodi Rosensaft represented the organization in connection with its nonprofit incorporation and application for tax exempt status. 

Early Alzheimer’s Foundation.  Alexandra Alberstadt continues to represent The Early Alzheimer’s Foundation, Inc., a New York nonprofit corporation that will operate “clubhouse” facilities for persons suffering from memory disorders, primarily Alzheimer’s Disease, and their caregivers.  EAF plans to offer a series of classes designed to improve function and delay progression of memory disorders, and to assist caregivers with the stress associated with caring for persons affected with memory disorders.  EAF will initially partner with established Alzheimer’s organizations before opening its own facility, planned to occur in late 2005. Kramer Levin has represented EAF since its inception, including in extensive negotiations with state agencies concerning limitations on nonprofit corporations in the social work sector.  Alex is currently assisting EAF in obtaining recognition of tax-exempt status.

Friends of Yad L’Kashish/Lifeline for the Old.  Friends of Yad L’Kashish/Lifeline for the Old awards grants to organizations that provide assistance to the elderly and promote inter-generational connections.  Jonathan WagnerBarry Herzog, Daniel Rindsberg, and Ben Bernstein represented the organization in connection with its nonprofit incorporation, application to obtain tax-exempt status, and registration with the State of New York.  Barry Herzog serves on its advisory board.

Glen Highland Farm.  Glen Highland Farm, Inc. is a New York nonprofit organization that operates Sweet Border Collie Rescue, a national border collie rescue program, and Camp Border Collie for Kids, a two-week summer camp for inner-city children.  All of the Farm’s programs are designed to improve public understanding of animal-human relationships.  Kramer Levin has represented the Farm since its inception in 2000, forming the organization and its fundraising entity and assisting the Farm in securing tax-exempt status.  Alexandra Alberstadt continues to represent the Farm on various matters.

Healthy Schools Network.  HSN was formed to promote safe and healthy environmental conditions in New York’s schools and teaching facilities for the benefit of students and school employees.  During 2004, Erica Klein and Amanda Perlmutter worked on various intellectual property matters, including preparing and reviewing agreements, filing applications for copyright registrations, and providing general counseling on copyright and trademark matters.

Hope & Heroes Children’s Cancer Fund.  Helayne Stoopack provided ongoing advice to Hope & Heroes Children’s Cancer Fund.  Specifically, Helayne advised the organization with respect to charity registration requirements, and assisted it in negotiating a commercial co-venture agreement with Burger King and an agreement under which a national publication would run advertisements soliciting contributions to benefit the Fund.  Randy Lipsitz provided trademark advice in connection with the proposed advertisements, and Kevin Moss , Amanda Perlmutter, and Jessica Turko assisted the Fund with other trademark issues.

Hudson Guild.  Arthur AufsesKevin LeblangRobert Holtzman, and Susan Jacquemot provided advice to Hudson Guild, a nonprofit community services organization serving the Chelsea community, on a variety of employment-related matters.  Susan also represented the Guild in connection with certain claims brought by a former staff member arising from the termination of his employment, appearing on the Guild’s behalf at a hearing before the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board and obtaining the dismissal of a baseless complaint of employment discrimination filed by the same former employee with the New York State Division of Human Rights.  In June 2004, Susan received the Guild’s Outstanding Volunteer Recognition Award.  Grace O’Hanlon and Parthena G. Psyllos have also represented the Guild in connection with a fee dispute between the Guild and an event planner hired to organize its annual fundraiser.  In addition, Jennifer Raiola Danzo provided advice in connection with an immigration issue regarding the status of a prospective employee.

Little Baby Face Foundation.  Little Baby Face Foundation is a nonprofit organization that assists children born with facial deformities, providing corrective surgeries for such children, support services for their families, education for medical professionals, and support for research on reconstructive surgery.  Mary AversanoErica Klein, and Jessica Turko assisted the Foundation in obtaining federal trademark protection for its name and logo. 

NAMI-NYC METRO.  Charlotte Moses Fischman continued to serve as President and Chairman of the Board of NAMI-NYC METRO, a grass roots organization dedicated to improving the lives of people who live with mental illness, both consumers and family members.  NAMI-NYC METRO’s activities include a telephone Helpline manned by volunteers; more than 25 support groups for family members and consumers; public meetings with outstanding speakers on subjects ranging from estate planning to the legislative agenda as it affects the mental health community; outreach into the community to educate the public about mental illness; and an award-winning newsletter and website.  Abigail Mulligan and John Novogrod advised NAMI concerning charitable gift bequests and assisted in the administration of charitable gifts made under wills and trusts to NAMI.  Albert Fredericks assisted NAMI with its registration as a lobbyist and Scott Weiser provided advice on various corporate issues.

New Land Community Center.  The New Land Community Center, a/k/a Asian American Consulting Services, Inc., is a New York nonprofit corporation that provides social, legal, and educational services to immigrant families and children from South East Asia.  In 2000, the Center purchased a building in Ridgewood, Queens for the purpose of creating a center for after-school and other youth-oriented programs and services.  The Center engaged a number of construction companies to perform renovations to the building, many of which failed to perform their obligations under the contracts.  James Power assisted the Center in pursuing these contractors and in obtaining agreements from them to complete the required work.
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