PHILADELPHIA – Stradley Ronon is pleased to announce the firm has been recognized by Philadelphia Business Journal’s 2021 Faces of Philanthropy for its partnership with the Pro Bono Action for Community Impact in Pennsylvania Initiative, an innovative partnership between SeniorLAW Center, AARP and Legal Counsel for the Elderly. The Faces of Philanthropy awards recognize collaborations between for-profit and nonprofit organizations that benefit Philadelphia and make positive changes in the lives of others. This is the fourth year that Stradley Ronon has been recognized by the Faces of Philanthropy awards.

The 250-hour, summer-wide research initiative was led by Pro Bono Committee Chair and Counsel Spencer Short and Hiring Committee Chair and Litigation Department Vice Chair Marissa Parker. Through its collaboration with SeniorLAW Center, Stradley provided legal research and analysis instrumental in furthering the Center’s mission of seeking justice for older people through legal and political advocacy. By the time the summer program ended, the summer associates had produced distinguished memorandums of law addressing an intersectional, three-headed crises impacting Philadelphia and the Commonwealth. The collaboration focused on:

• Racial Justice - SeniorLAW Center serves predominantly black and brown older people who face historical and persistent disparities in education, housing, income, employment and health care.
• Access to Justice - Low-income older people only access civil legal assistance in one in five cases, including areas of basic human need.
• The COVID-19 Crisis - Older people have been at the epicenter, the most at risk of the virus and most likely to die, here and throughout the world.

Through the partnership, Stradley’s young professionals were provided a welcome opportunity to serve the needs of a vulnerable older population, while taking their first steps along what will no doubt become a career-long journey of pro bono advocacy.

The Pro Bono Action for Community Impact in Pennsylvania Initiative leverages partnerships with law firms, law schools, and in-house counsel to use their pro bono research powers to address the systemic issues that impact seniors.

About Stradley Ronon
Counseling clients since 1926, Stradley Ronon has helped private and public companies – from small businesses to Fortune 500 corporations – achieve their goals by providing pragmatic, value-driven legal counsel. With offices in seven strategic locations, our responsive team of more than 200 attorneys seamlessly addresses the full spectrum of our clients’ needs, ranging from sophisticated corporate transactions to complex commercial litigation.