Benefiting Central California Legal Services

The Inaugural Together for Justice Dinner was held on Thursday, October 10th at Toca Madera Winery. This event benefitted Central California Legal Services, for which over $85,000 was raised. It was a beautiful evening under the stars with the Millington Strings quartet, charcuterie from The Grazing Table Events, and dinner from Pardini's. The stunning view of the vineyards from the Toca Madera Winery terrace looked like the hills of Tuscany.

McCormick Barstow LLP was honored as the Law Firm of the Year. McCormick Barstow partner Jessica Boujikian, who accepted the award on behalf of the firm along with partner Gordon Park, remarked that “Almost everyone at McCormick Barstow became a lawyer because they wanted to help people and to make a difference for their clients and their community. The firm’s work with CCLS is a great opportunity to make that mission a reality. We are proud of our work with CCLS and honored to be its Pro Bono Firm of the Year.”

Don Fischbach received the Community Legacy Award for his decades of service to the profession, locally and state-wide, and for his decades of support, pro bono service, and board service to CCLS. CCLS’ affirmative litigation team and pro bono co-counsel Patience Milrod were recognized for their work in achieving a settlement with the City of Clovis that will bring more affordable housing to that city.

CCLS Board Member Stacey Reimer shone a spotlight on Project First Step, a long-standing pro bono project providing pro bono attorneys to domestic violence survivors seeking restraining orders, and thanked dinner attendees Harry Drandell, Frankie Rodriguez, and Tiffany Pack, who have all acted as pro bono counsel for Project First Step clients.

CCLS deeply appreciates the generous support of Title Sponsor California Health Advocates; Platinum Sponsor Fresno First Bank; Gold Sponsors Sierra Health Foundation, McCormick Barstow LLP, Fennemore, The Whole Vine Festival, and CalViva Health; along with the many other sponsors, donors, and attendees—all of whom came together to make the event a huge success.

They were honored to have local dignitaries join them for the evening: the Honorable Patricia Matthews, Mayor of Lemoore; the Honorable Kirk Sherriff, Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District; the Honorable Pahoua Lor, Judge, and the Honorable Jonathan Skiles, Judge, and the Honorable W. Kent Hamlin, Judge (ret.), Fresno County Superior Court; the Honorable Lynette Gonzales, Administrative Law Judge; the Honorable Juan Arambula, former State Assembly Member; Marciela Ortiz, Field Representative for Assembly Member Joaquin Arambula; Jessi Fierro, Treasurer, California Lawyers Association; and Michelle Tutunjian, COO and Deputy CEO of the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission.

“Thank you to everyone who attended our Inaugural Together for Justice Dinner. We especially extend a heartful appreciation to our staff, board, honorees, sponsors, and partners who are instrumental in serving our community. Together we are more impactful, and your support makes it possible for CCLS to meet our clients’ critical legal needs,” said Michelle Kezirian, Executive Director of CCLS. For more information about Central California Legal Services, please visit www.centralcallegal.org.