Chicago partner and member of Diversity Scholarship Foundation (DSF) Avanti Bakane presented one of six Advocates for Diversity awards at the Unity Award Dinner, DSF's premier fundraising annual event, on December 3 in Chicago, Illinois. A committee member of the DSF Unity Dinner for five years and a past recipient of the Advocate for Diversity award, Bakane introduced award recipient, Attorney Neha Tannan. Ms. Tannan has maintained her dedication to pro bono work throughout her career and continues to inspire others to share in this important work.
The Advocates for Diversity award recognizes members of the Chicago legal community for their tireless efforts in making significant contributions to the legal community and the community at large, including embracing diversity and the ideals diversity represents. Awards presented at the dinner included the Unity Award given to Hon. Rebecca R. Pallmeyer, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, and the Advocate for Diversity Award which was given to the Hon. Tom Chiola (Ret), Circuit Court of Cook County; Erica Kirkwood, Vice President & General Counsel, GMA Construction Group; Jesse H. Ruiz, Deputy Governor, Office of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker; and Neha Tannan, Attorney, Ford & Britton, P.C.
Gordon & Rees was a Bronze Level sponsor and hosted a table seating members of the legal community, judiciary, as well as Gordon & Rees lawyers Nerissa Diaz Moisan, Sarah Clark, Yara Mroueh, and Bakane.
"It's an honor to represent Gordon & Rees at the Unity Award Dinner, always an inspiring and celebratory night," said Bakane. "The true highlight continues to be awarding more than 20 DSF scholarships to diverse law students from across Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin who have already demonstrated a strong commitment to community service."
The Diversity Scholarship Foundation (DSF) is a not-for-profit organization that provides scholarships to diverse and deserving law students. The DSF also provides free continuing legal education seminars (CLEs) on a wide range of topics.