Celebrating CDEL’s 2024 Winter Awards Benefit Award Winners

This year, CDEL is proud to recognize our CDEL Volunteers of the Year, CDEL Partner of the Year, and CDEL Impact Award Winners. Learn more about the awards and award winners below.

2024 CDEL Volunteers of the Year:

The CDEL Volunteer of the Year Award honors a volunteer, organization or law firm who shows a strong commitment to CDEL’s mission by providing an extraordinary level of direct pro bono legal or supportive services to its clients and achieves results that benefit the client and/or the community of low-income seniors and people with disabilities throughout Cook County.

Ankoor Bagchi and Bob Goldman

Ankoor Bagchi and Bob Goldman began volunteering with CDEL in 2022.  In February 2023, they became Site Managers for our monthly Ezra Community Clinic in Uptown. This monthly commitment involves meeting with up to five clients over a four-hour period of time one morning each month. Ankoor and Bob are warm and compassionate with CDEL’s clients, and never shy away from learning a new area of law. They perform intakes that cover all of CDEL’s practice areas including housing, end of life planning and consumer issues. Clients often return for a second visit to complete important documents and Ankoor and Bob ensure that the documents are properly signed, witnessed and notarized. They are dedicated to CDEL’s mission and are consistent and reliable volunteers. Additionally, they have both worked to encourage their colleagues to join them in volunteering with CDEL. In 2023 alone, Ankoor and Bob volunteered over 90 hours at the Ezra Clinic, assisting dozens of clients.   

Learn more about previous award winners here: CDEL Volunteer of the Year

2024 CDEL Partner of the Year Award Winner:

The CDEL Partner of the Year Award honors a corporation and/or law firm that has provided exceptional assistance and volunteer support to CDEL and its clients.

Jenner & Block LLP

Jenner & Block LLP is an outstanding CDEL partner.  In recent years the firm has supported CDEL through multiple forms of volunteerism.  The firm has participated in CDEL’s Power of Attorney Workshops, first joining CDEL during the pandemic when all programs were operating remotely.  

In the summer of 2023, Jenner & Block LLP provided crucial pro bono and financial support for an important CDEL case involving an individual who was at risk of losing full ownership of his home due to a family member taking advantage of him. The file was very complex and required the assistance of both ASL and Certified Deaf Interpreters.  Jenner & Block LLP Partners Lina Powell and Andrew Merrick agreed to take on the file for pro bono trial representation.  At the same time, an incoming Jenner & Block LLP Associate was starting a Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Fellowship with CDEL.  Elizabeth Powers devoted much of her fellowship to trail preparation.  The entire team was fantastic. The trial took place over four days, and the firm spent over 200 hours on the preparation, trial, and post-trial pleadings.   

Learn more about previous award winners here: CDEL Partner of the Year

2024 CDEL Impact Award Winner:

The CDEL Impact Award recognizes a volunteer, law firm, organization, coalition or corporation that has developed an initiative, program or services that profoundly impacts the lives of senior citizens and people with disabilities in Cook County.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has led the Cook County Board of Commissioners since 2010.  In her tenure, she has marshalled millions of dollars into Cook County communities.  She is dedicated to transparency and equity in her leadership and is known for her commitment to affordable housing.  President Preckwinkle previously served as the Alderperson of the 4th Ward for nineteen years.  

Over the past four years, President Preckwinkle has invested pandemic funds to increase equity in the courts.  The Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD) provides free legal consultation for self-represented litigants in eviction, consumer, foreclosure and property tax cases.  Since the inception of the program, CCLAHD has provided over 29,000 referrals to legal aid partners, including CDEL. This innovative program has become a model for court systems all over the nation. CDEL has five staff members who are dedicated to the program.  In less than four years, CDEL has served over 3,000 clients, mainly in eviction and consumer debt cases.  

Learn more about previous award winners here: CDEL Impact Award