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Illinois Bar Foundation

  • May 11, 2011 | Events
    IBF Wine Tasting Event to benefit Warren Lupel Fund

    The Illinois Bar Foundation will host a Wine Tasting Event to support the Warren Lupel Fund on Wednesday, June 8, at The Tasting Room, 1415 W. Randolph. This reception will feature a pairing of wine and hors d'oeuvres from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Find out more on the IBF website.

    Why is your support so important?

    Donations to the Lupel Fund are used for the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Lawyers Care Program. The Lawyers Care Program provides support to those lawyers or their families who are unable to support themselves due to age, infirmity or other tragedy. The typical subsistence recipients are active bar members. They have a severe and debilitating illness that prevents them from practicing law. The illness is such that their medical expenses have depleted their savings and, with no current income, they can’t support their family or pay their mortgage. The Foundation steps in to keep the family in their home and put some food on the table. We don’t provide anything extravagant, just enough to keep them going through this difficult time. With your help, we can continue.
  • March 17, 2011 | Events
    IBF to honor John Kincaid at DuPage County Fellows Reception
    [caption id="attachment_18307" align="alignright" width="150" caption="John Kincaid"][/caption] Please join us as we honor John Kincaid with the IBF DuPage County Fellows Beacon of the Profession Award on Thursday, April 21, 2011, at Maggiano's in Naperville. To become a sponsor and/or reserve your tickets, please call the IBF at (312) 726-6072, or e-mail Karen Kossart, IBF Development Assistant, at KKossart@isba.org.
  • February 17, 2011 | Events
    Lawyers Rock Legends raises over $55,000 for the Illinois Bar Foundation
    [caption id="attachment_17833" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The band OMT - One More Time with Naperville attorney Richard Kuhn (right) performs at Lawyers Rock Legends."][/caption] Over 400 people enjoyed the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Lawyers Rock Legends fundraising event on Feb. 3 at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago. The event raised over $55,000 to support the programs of the IBF. In the fall of 2010, the IBF held a contest on its Facebook page to determine which bands would be selected to perform. People were asked to become a fan of the page, and then view the submitted auditions and vote for their favorite bands. A total of 21 bands from around the state submitted auditions. In December, a panel of unbiased professional musicians viewed the final submissions, and taking into account all of the votes cast, chose the winning bands. The winning bands, which had to include at least one lawyer, were:
    • Barristers Big Band
    • Catfish & the Big Boss Blues Band
    • The Orphans
    • OMT-One More Time
    • 5-thirty
    • Joe Biscelgia plus Three
    • Loren Golden Jazz Ensemble
    “It was great to see so many young lawyers there,” Illinois State Bar Association President Mark Hassakis said. “It was a great mix of people who aren’t typically at bar events. Music cuts through all barriers.” The first-time event was such a success that plans are underway for a repeat performance in February, 2012.
  • February 3, 2011 | Events
    Lawyers Rock Legends still on for tonight
    Lawyers Rock Legends is still on for tonight! Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the first band will go on at 7:10 tonight. Call the Illinois Bar Foundation with any questions/concerns at (312) 726-6072.
  • January 26, 2011 | Events
    Get your tickets now for next week's Lawyers Rock Legends
    Seven bands will be performing at Buddy Guy’s Legends as part of the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Lawyers Rock Legends concert on Thursday, Feb. 3. The performing bands will be:
    • Barrister's Big Band
    • The Orphans
    • OMT-One More Time
    • 5-Thirty
    • Joe Bisceglia
    • Second Mortgage and the Sofa Kings
    • Loren Golden Jazz Ensemble
    These bands will be featured from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. at the Lawyers Rock Legends concert, and will each have 15 minutes to perform. They will be the lead-in bands for the featured Buddy Guy's Legends band, Brother John. To purchase tickets or for any further inquiries, feel free to call IBF at (312) 726-6072 or e-mail Liz at edriscoll@isba.org. More information is also available online here. Individual Ticket Prices: - $85 and $125 VIP Main Floor Seating (Ticket includes all food and beverages) - $35 Upper Level Seating (Ticket Includes two free drink coupons – please note that the upper level stage viewing will be on video screens only. There is no stage visibility.)
  • January 4, 2011 | Events
    8 bands set to perform at IBF Lawyers Rock Legends
    Eight bands have been selected to perform at Buddy Guy’s Legends as part of the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Lawyers Rock Legends concert on Thursday, Feb. 3. The performing bands will be:
    • Barrister's Big Band
    • Catfish & the Big Boss Blues Band
    • The Orphans
    • OMT-One More Time
    • 5-Thirty
    • Joe Bisceglia
    • Second Mortgage and the Sofa Kings
    • Loren Golden Jazz Ensemble
    These bands will be featured from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. at the Lawyers Rock Legends concert, and will each have 15 minutes to perform. They will be the lead-in bands for the featured Buddy Guy's Legends band, Brother John. To purchase tickets or for any further inquiries, feel free to call IBF at (312) 726.6072 or e-mail Liz at edriscoll@isba.org. Individual Ticket Prices: -  $85 and $125 VIP Main Floor Seating (Ticket includes all food and beverages) -  $35 Upper Level Seating (Ticket Includes two free drink coupons – please note that the upper level stage viewing will be on video screens only. There is no stage visibility.)
  • December 10, 2010 | Events | ISBA News
    Illinois Bar Foundation honors Montgomery, Lupel
    [caption id="attachment_16616" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Honorees James Montgomery and Warren Lupel"][/caption] The Illinois Bar Foundation honored James D. Montgomery with its Honorary Fellows Award and Warren Lupel with its Distinguished Service Award at the 2010 Fellows Award Breakfast on Friday morning. Montgomery and Lupel were also honored together in 2000 as Laureate Award Winners. IBF Past President Vince Cornelius presented the Honorary Fellow Award to Montgomery and Sean Berkowitz presented the Distinguished Service Award to Lupel. Click here to view photos from this event.
  • November 18, 2010 | ISBA News
    Illinois Bar Foundation welcomes new president
    [caption id="attachment_16145" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Illinois Bar Foundation President Vincent Cornelius passes the gavel to new IBF President George Mahoney at the Foundation’s recent board meeting. Mahoney will serve until 2012."][/caption] Illinois Bar Foundation President Vincent Cornelius, of the Law Offices of Vincent F. Cornelius, recently passed the gavel to Board Vice President George F. Mahoney, of Mahoney, Silverman & Cross, making Mahoney the new President of the IBF Board of Directors for 2010-2012. Also nominated that day was board member Shawn Kasserman of Corboy & Demetrio, who will be Secretary of the Executive Committee for the next two years. Mahoney is a Gold Fellow of the IBF, and is also the previous Chair of the IBF Development Committee. Kasserman is a Diamond Fellow, was the 2009 Board Gala Chair, and is the current Development Committee Chair. Cook County Circuit Judge Debra Walker was previously appointed as IBF Vice President. She will serve for two years after Mahoney’s term.
  • November 4, 2010 | ISBA News
    Illinois Bar Foundation’s 13th annual Gala raises over $450,000
    [caption id="attachment_15843" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Illinois Bar Foundation President Vince Cornelius (from left), Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke and Gala Co-Chair Jerold Solovy enjoy the Illinois Bar Foundation's Annual Gala at the Four Seasons. Burke was honored by the Foundation as the 2010 Recipient of the Distinguished Award for Excellence. "][/caption] On October 15th, more than 400 people attended the Illinois Bar Foundation’s 13th annual Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel. Lawyers and Judges alike joined to show their dedication to the Foundation’s cause and recognize our 2010 Recipient of the Distinguished Award for Excellence, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke. We’re very pleased to report that the evening was quite successful and grossed more than $450,000. Thanks to all of you who supported the event, we met or exceeded every goal for our 2010 Gala. These important funds will be used to help support the Foundation and the many organizations and individuals who receive our assistance. The night started with a silent auction of more than 90 great items, including spa treatments, theatre tickets, and several trips. Guests were able to bid on the auction items of their choice throughout the night on computerized terminals spread throughout the ballroom. During dinner, guests were also given the opportunity to bid on 4 live auction items.
  • November 2, 2010 | Events
    Audition deadline extended for Lawyers Rock Legends
    The deadline for audition applications for Lawyers Rock Legends at Buddy Guy's Legends has been extended to Nov. 12. Do you think you’re good enough to play at the famous Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago? Now's your chance to prove it!  We are seeking talented lawyers who moonlight as musicians (either as a solo performer or in a band) to participate in our Lawyers Rock Legends concert event on Thursday, February 3rd, 2011. We have extended the audition application date (originally November 1st) to November 12th.   The winning bands/performers will be announced at a special press conference at the ISBA/IJA Joint Meeting on Friday, December 10th. Those bands will be featured from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.