Pace Women’s Justice Center Marks 25th Anniversary with Gala Dinner

The Pace Women’s Justice Center, Westchester’s leading civil legal services and training provider addressing domestic violence and elder abuse, honored the Westchester Women’s Bar Association with its 2016 Making a Difference award at its 25th Anniversary Gala dinner.

Also recognized were the four former executive directors of the Center whose visionary leadership was essential to the development of PWJC’s coordinated community response to eradicating interpersonal violence.

“For 25 years, the Westchester Women’s Bar Association has provided unwavering support to PWJC,” said PWJC Executive Director Cindy Kanusher, Esq. “They have donated hours of their time, provided invaluable guidance as well as having many of their members serve on our board. We couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

Susan Edwards Colson, Esq., President of the WWBA, whose continued support has been instrumental to the growth of the Center accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

“Westchester Women’s Bar Association is delighted to receive this honor,” said Colson, “our members have worked side-by-side with PWJC for many years and we are so pleased with their accomplishments and the wonderful work they do helping victims of domestic violence and elder abuse.”

Additionally, PWJC celebrated its four former Executive Directors: Michael Dowd, Esq.; Vicki Lutz, Esq.; Susan Pollet, Esq.; and Jane Aoyama-Martin, Esq.; whose combined extraordinary leadership over the past 25 years has significantly expanded the Center’s programs and services while operating on a very limited budget.

“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of these four very exceptional Directors,” said Cindy Kanusher, Esq. “The Center’s growth and success in helping the many thousands of clients who have experienced abuse is due to their remarkable foresight and initiative over the years.”

This year’s 25th Anniversary Gala was co-chaired by two former honorees, Chief of White Plains Police, Anne FitzSimmons and Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Sterling National Bank, Lawrence McElroen, Esq. and was held at Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle, NY.

The dinner drew over 350 supporters and raised nearly $150,000. All proceeds will help PWJC continue its work in providing free legal services for over 3,000 victims of domestic violence or elder abuse annually.

ABOUT PACE WOMEN’S JUSTICE CENTER:

PWJC is Westchester County’s largest civil legal services and training provider exclusively addressing domestic violence and elder abuse. Each year, PWJC staff and volunteers provide free legal services to nearly 3,000 victims and survivors of abuse, and conduct hundreds of outreach and training programs to educate the public, prevent abuse, and empower victims to leave abusive situations and move forward with their lives in safety. A self-funded nonprofit legal center at Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, PWJC serves low-income victims of abuse primarily in Westchester County. Click for more information.

IMAGES: Photo 1: PWJC Advisory Board member Linda Markowitz and WWBA President Susan Edwards Colson; Photo 2: PWJC former Executive Directors Susan Pollet, Esq., Jane Aoyama-Martin, Esq., Michael Dowd, Esq., and Vicki Lutz, Esq.; PWJC Executive Director Cindy Kanusher, Esq.; and former PWJC Associate Director Audrey Stone, Esq./ Credit: Margaret Fox Photography