LSHV’s Inaugural Orange Partners in Justice Reception is Held

NEWBURGH – Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV), the only nonprofit provider of free comprehensive civil legal services to the seven counties of the lower and mid-Hudson Valley, held its inaugural Orange Partners in Justice Reception on Thursday, May 18th at The Powelton Club in Newburgh. With over 120 people in attendance, the event honored Andrew Finkelstein, Esq., Partner, and Finkelstein & Partners, LLP, as Champion of Justice, and the United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region as Advocate for Justice.

Mr. Finkelstein and his firm were recognized for their loyal support of LSHV’s work for many years, as well as for their widely respected Community Service Program, through which employees give time, talent and financial support to nonprofits addressing critical social needs. Mr. Finkelstein said, “Through the years it has been our honor to assist LSHV in its mission, whether this be through pro bono legal services or raising contributions at our CLE classes, and we deeply believe in the LSHV’s philosophy of providing equal access to justice for all.”

The United Way was recognized for funding LSHV’s Housing Programwhich seeks to prevent homelessness for children and families, as well as for its philanthropic leadership and efforts to alleviate poverty in Dutchess and Orange Counties.  “The United Way strongly supports Legal Services’ aim to provide free, high quality counsel in civil matters to individuals and families who cannot afford to pay an attorney where basic human needs are at stake,” remarked Jeannie Montano, President & CEO of the United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region.

LSHV’s CEO, Barbara Finkelstein explained why this event was so important to the organization.  “This is our 50th anniversary of assuring fairness in the justice system — regardless of income — for hundreds of thousands of our neighbors who cannot afford an attorney and have nowhere else to turn for help.”  LSHV provides free counsel across a wide range of urgent legal issues including: domestic violence, housing emergencies (eviction and foreclosure prevention), disability law (physical, mental and developmental disabilities), children’s law and advocacy, elder law, healthcare, consumer fraud and more.  In 2016, the organization handled more than 15,500 cases (2,333 in Orange County alone) impacting more than 36,000 individuals. LSHV has provided services in Orange County, NY since 2004.

The event was a big success thanks in part to a Sponsorship Challenge Match from the Ralph E. Ogden Foundation, as well the generous support of its event sponsors: Finkelstein & Partners, LLP; Empire State Bank; Catania Mahon Milligram & Rider, PLLC; Orange & Rockland Utilities; Rand Commercial; Times Herald-Record; and United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region.

Special thanks to the following community leaders who lent their names to the Honorary Event Committee:
•    Paul Adler, Esq., Regional Manager, Rand Commercial
•    Nadia Allen, Executive Director, Mental Health Association in Orange County, Inc.
•    Lynn Allen Cione, President & CEO, Orange County Chamber of Commerce
•    Christian Farrell, Director, Orange County Veterans Services Agency
•    Elise Gold, Executive Director, Jewish Family Service
•    Maureen Halahan, President & CEO, Orange County Partnership
•    Glen Heller, Esq., Partner, Drake Loeb PLLC
•    David Jolly, Chief Operating Officer, Cornerstone Family Healthcare
•    KellyannKostyal-Larrier, Executive Director, Safe Homes of Orange County
•    Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, New York State C.D. 18
•    Stephen McLaughlin, Executive Director, Action Towards Independence
•    Chris Molinelli, Executive Director, HONOR
•    Faith Moore,Executive Director, Orange County Rural Development Advisory Corp.
•    Orange County Executive, Steven M. Neuhaus
•    Diane Passaro, 1st Vice President, Market Manager, & Commercial Loan Office, Orange Bank & Trust
•    Christine Randazzo, Esq., Christine Randazzo Law, PLLC
•    David L. Rider, Esq., Partner, Rider, Weiner & Frankel, P.C.
•    Dr. Dean Scher, Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer, Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange and Sullivan County
•    Sharon Williams, Executive Director, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Orange County

For more information about LSHV and the work that it does in the lower and mid-Hudson Valley, visit www.lshv.org.