(Philadelphia, July 3, 2007) - In the poem “One Hundred Years from Now,” poet Forest Witcraft wrote, “… the world may be a better place because I was important in the life of a child.” This is the essential mission of the Support Center for Child Advocates, which recently elected Leonard Bernstein, a partner in the Philadelphia office of Reed Smith LLP, as President of its Board of Directors.
Child Advocates is a non-profit pro bono organization offering free legal and social services to Philadelphia's abused, abandoned, and neglected children. Specially trained volunteer attorneys team with social workers to advocate for these young victims with the goal of securing permanent, nurturing environments for each child in care. The organization works to protect children by securing social services, finding alternative homes and helping the children in its care to testify in court.
Mr. Bernstein, who founded and chairs Reed Smith’s Financial Services Regulatory Group and whose practice centers on providing consumer credit compliance advice to a wide variety of public and private financial enterprises, has long been associated with Child Advocates. Not only was Mr. Bernstein a member of the non-profit’s Executive Committee, he is a trained volunteer and represents an 18 year old client whose family abandoned her years ago. “You hear the stories of these children and you cannot help but be moved. As an advocate for children, I find the work vastly rewarding and I’m honored to serve this organization. For us, it is all about the kids,” said Mr. Bernstein. "We are anxious to obtain support and input from the business and legal community."
Founded in 1977, Child Advocates provides services for five core programs: Child Protection, Medically Needy Children, Kinship Care, Adoption and Child Advocacy Leadership. Executive Director Frank Cervone, a member of the Child Welfare Review Panel of Philadelphia, commented: "We have over 700 active cases and need more resources to help give our kids a chance. We are delighted to have the leadership of Len Bernstein and the support of Reed Smith." Reed Smith Senior Pro Bono Counsel Chris Walters added: "Our lawyers dedicate hundreds of hours each year to pro bono cases, and we could not be more pleased to deepen our support for the Philadelphia's at risk children by having Len Bernstein lead Child Advocates."
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, with more than 1,500 lawyers in 21 offices throughout the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises. Its attorneys provide litigation services in multi-jurisdictional matters and other high stake disputes, deliver regulatory counsel, and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions. Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising and media, shipping, international trade and commodities, real estate, manufacturing, and education. For more information, visit reedsmith.com
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