Celebrating CDEL’s 2023 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.

2023 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.

Shane Kelly, Addison Braendel, Crofton Kelly, Stephen S. Phalen

Shane Kelly, Addison Braendel and Crofton Kelly of Baker McKenzie LLP, and Stephen S. Phalen of The Law Offices of Stephen S. Phalen, LLC have shown tremendous commitment to CDEL's clients and mission. CDEL client, Katherine, is a ninety-three-year-old woman who faces the loss of her home of over fifty years to a family member who scammed her out of her home, obtained a mortgage to strip all equity out of the home, and later defaulted on that loan, leading to a foreclosure. CDEL filed an elder financial abuse and quiet title case to try to restore Katherine’s homeownership. When all efforts by CDEL staff to settle the case failed, the judge set the case intending for a quick trial. Shane, Addie and Steve joined the trial team, diving into the case and spending an enormous amount of time and effort working on discovery and dispositive motions. After an adverse decision at the trial court the team agreed to file an appeal. Crofton Kelly, an Associate at Baker McKenzie, joined the team to work on the appellate brief. Simultaneously, the team also signed on to defend the foreclosure filed by the bank. Addison, Shane, Steve and Crofton's tireless work and dedication to Katherine’s case exemplifies the tremendous commitment of CDEL’s pro bono volunteers.

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

2023 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.

Since 2018, Karen Yarbrough has been the Clerk of Cook County, coordinating the election procedures for Cook County, overseeing the recording process of deeds, other property documents and business forms, and administering the maintenance of Cook County vital records. She was the Cook County Recorder of Deeds from 2012 from 2018 before the office was incorporated into the Cook County Clerk’s Office. She previously served as Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois House of Representatives. Her office was key in establishing the Cook County Clerk’s Help Desk, a monthly, in-person space where Cook County residents can receive no-cost assistance with common questions on documents frequently recorded at the Cook County Clerk’s Office that are unable to be addressed by the Clerk’s Office because of restrictions. Her office assembled a coalition of partners to craft the shape and timing of the Help Desk. The Clerk’s office provides the space to host the Help Desk, contributes supplies to the Help Desk including permitting access to vital computer systems and continues to promote the Help Desk through multiple mediums.

Learn more about previous award winners here: CDEL Impact Award

2023 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.

Astellas Pharma US

Astellas Pharma US first partnered with CDEL in 2017 at a Power of Attorney Workshop. During the pandemic years, the CDEL and Astellas Pharma US partnership greatly increased and diversified. In 2021-2022, Astellas Pharma US participated in a Power of Attorney workshop for older adults, held Proud to Thrive (PTT) training for their staff and participated in a PTT Power of Attorney workshop and Will workshop. Astellas Pharma US also provided pro bono assistance for two of CDEL’s Mobile Guardianship Help Desk Workshops. At one of these workshops, the legal department paired with Astellas Pharma US staff all over the country who are part of Astellas’ Hispanic Employee Impact Group (HEIG) and all of the appointments were conducted in Spanish. Astellas Pharma US is a fantastic CDEL partner and has gone above and beyond to make CDEL’s services more accessible.

Astellas Pharma US, Inc. is a U.S. affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc., a pharmaceutical conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. Astellas stands on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into value for patients.

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