On Feb. 5, 2021, the Legal Foundation of Washington held its flagship event, the Goldmark Luncheon, the largest civil legal aid fundraiser in the state. Partner Thomas Vertetis served as emcee of the event’s VIP reception, which raised more than $400,000 to meet the growing needs for civil legal aid and racial equity in Washington. Vertetis was selected as a host because of his role as President of the Campaign for Equal Justice, a unified fund drive for civil legal aid and a program of the Legal Foundation of Washington.
Vertetis was joined by other notable speakers, including Nick Brown, former General Counsel to Governor Jay Inslee and presumptive U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington; musician and activist Paula Boggs; Ed Goines, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the Seattle Seahawks; and Doug Baldwin, Jr., a retired Seattle Seahawks wide receiver and Super Bowl champion. This year’s recipient of the Goldmark Award was Lembhard G. Howell, a trailblazing civil rights attorney and renowned champion of justice who helped found the Loren Miller Bar Association.
The Legal Foundation of Washington is a non-profit that believes civil legal aid is a basic human right and should be available and accessible to all people, regardless of income. The organization provides funds and other forms of support to 40 civil legal aid programs throughout the state. Its prestigious Goldmark Award is named after Charles A. Goldmark, a historic figure in the fight for equal access to the justice system in Washington.
Watch the virtual event below.