Goldberg Kohn Celebrates 30th Anniversary With A $30,000 Grant to CLAIM

June 8, 2006

Chicago, IL - June 8, 2006 - Goldberg Kohn has presented the Goldberg Kohn Award to Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers (CLAIM), a non-profit organization that provides legal aid, education about the law, and systems change advocacy for and with women prisoners and their dependent children.  As recipient of the Goldberg Kohn Award, CLAIM received a $30,000 grant to further its efforts to address the gap in legal aid and advocacy for women prisoners and their families.

"We decided as a firm that the best way to celebrate our 30th anniversary was to honor one of the many wonderful organizations that provide legal advocacy, day in and day out, to Chicago's underserved communities," said Richard Kohn, a senior principal of Goldberg Kohn.  "We took nominations from the entire firm, and ultimately chose CLAIM, an organization that advocates on behalf of incarcerated mothers and their children. We are impressed with CLAIM's long record of service and the importance of the work they perform."

The firm selected CLAIM based on anonymous nominations from employees, ultimately selecting CLAIM because of its role as a pioneer in advocacy for female prisoners and their dependent children, a traditionally underrepresented group.

“We are thrilled about the Goldberg Kohn Award, and grateful for the firm’s exceptional generosity,” said Gail T. Smith, CLAIM’s executive director.  “It couldn’t have come at a better time.  We are expanding our work with women prisoners and their children to keep up with the growing need.  This is by far the most generous law firm donation we have received in our 20 year history, and we hope to build our relationship with Goldberg Kohn as we face new challenges.”

CLAIM provides legal advice and representation to help mothers take proactive steps to prevent their incarceration from causing the permanent destruction of their families. The organization helps women and their children enforce legal rights such as mother-child visits, placement and guardianship options for children, and public benefits for children while their mothers are incarcerated. Through intensive legal counseling CLAIM assists incarcerated mothers in making sound, realistic decisions about their children’s placement and their families’ future.
 
Goldberg Kohn Bell Black Rosenbloom & Moritz, Ltd. is a mid-sized commercial law firm located in downtown Chicago with principal concentrations in business litigation, commercial finance, creditors' rights and bankruptcy, corporate, federal and state taxation, intellectual property, Internet and e-commerce, labor and employment and real estate.  The firm is the Chicago member of Meritas - an international alliance of 200 business law firms dedicated to providing business clients access to superior legal advice and exceptional services around the globe.

Please visit www.claim-il.org for more information about CLAIM and www.goldbergkohn.com for more information about Goldberg Kohn.