Our committees are made up of ACBA members who generously donate time and resources to raise awareness of the programs and initiatives of the ACBF, supporting our efforts to promote justice for all in our community.
Attorneys Against Hunger Committee
The AAH Committee sponsors the annual fundraising campaign to collect money that is distributed to food banks in Allegheny County. Members coordinate the direct mail solicitations and advertisements of the campaign and encourage participation through the Sections of the ACBA in addition to coordinating with AAH Grant recipients.
Co-Chairs:
Corinne M. McGinley Smith
(412) 565-7634
Abagale E. Steidl
(412) 391-8000
Liaison from Board:
Sunu M. Pillai
(412) 209-2516
ACBF Liaisons:
Lorrie K. Albert
(412) 402-6640
Members:
Jennifer R. Andrade
Gilda M. Arroyo
Jaclyn M. Belczyk
Ben Bratman
Kelton Merrill Burgess
Norma M. Caquatto
Cindy K. Chung
Maria Comas
Alyssa Burrell Cowan
Thomas E. Crowley
Edward J. Donnelly
Frederick N. Frank
Kathryn Harrison
Crystal McCormick Ware
Mary L. McLaughlin
Bryan Neft
Abagale E. Steidl
Kathryn A. Gioia
Bryan Vertz
David Zvirman
Endowment Committee
From 2019-2021, the ACBF underwent a campaign to grow the Foundation’s Endowment and ensure support for programming in the years to come. The Endowment Committee was composed of ACBA members who exhibited leadership in philanthropy and who volunteered their time to support this campaign by reaching out to the community. The campaign successfully concluded in 2021 after raising $1.5 million for the Foundation’s Endowment, an achievement made possible by the members of the Endowment Committee. Thank you for your leadership and advocacy!
Chair:
W. Thomas McGough
Vice Chairs:
John Gismondi
Carol A. Behers
Ronald L. Hicks
Lourdes Sanchez Ridge
Gary M. Lang
Keith E. Whitson
Eric Cottle
Gregory B. Jordan
John R. McGinley, Jr.
Members:
Jennifer R. Andrade
Hal D. Coffey
Jessica L. Crown
Walter P. DeForest
Efrem M. Grail
Gary P. Hunt
Marie Milie Jones
Lori E. McMaster
Thomas R. Moore
Richard S. Wiedman
Fellows GIVE Committee
The Fellows GIVE Committee oversees the Fellows GIVE program, which builds the Foundation’s endowment and provides funding for the ACBF’s Legal Aid Grants. The Committee is responsible for approving nominations for new Fellows, establishing policy and procedures, coordinating the annual reception and dinner to induct new Fellows into the program, and generally acting as ambassadors for Fellows GIVE.
Co-Chair:
Jaclyn M. Belczyk
(412) 352-0286
Liaison from Board:
Jaclyn M. Belczyk
(412) 352-0286
ACBA Liaison:
David A. Blaner
(412) 402-6601
ACBF Liaisons:
Lorrie K. Albert
(412) 402-6640
Members:
Gilda M. Arroyo
Mackenzie A. Baird
Carol A. Behers
Lacee C. Ecker
Beth Fischman
Hon. Lisa Pupo Lenihan
Jacqueline B. Martinez
Elisabeth W. Molnar
Thomas R. Moore
Bryan Scott Neft
Marla Nicole Presley
Joseph R. Williams
Regina Wilson
Golf Tournament Committee
The ACBF Golf Tournament Committee oversees the annual ACBA Golf Tournament, a fundraising event benefitting the Allegheny County Bar Foundation and Neighborhood Legal Services. Committee members are active in player recruitment, law firm participation, corporate sponsorships, and all details connected to the tournament, which takes place in July.
Co-Chairs:
Kim Aedan Bodnar
(412) 804-4048
Brett A. Solomon
(412) 480-2019
ACBF Liaisons:
Lorrie K. Albert
(412) 402-6640
Members:
Dana L. Basci
Robert A. Creo
A. Patricia Diulus-Myers
Beth Fischman
Andrew G. Kimball
Christine Kirby
Julia Marasco
Kevin F. McCarthy
Diane K. McMillen
Robert V. Racunas
Mary Elizabeth Williams
Grant Making Committee
The Grant Making Committee is responsible for developing procedures for making ACBF grants consistent with the ACBF’s goals, determines which grant proposals to fund and at what amount, and performs all other necessary functions incident to the making of the grants. The Committee oversees the planning of the annual Pitch Event each fall in conjunction with the Fellows GIVE Committee.
Chair:
Kathryn McKee
(412) 434-5779
Liaison from Board:
Daniel J. Sinclair
(412) 566-2913
ACBF Liaisons:
Lorrie K. Albert
(412) 402-6640
Members:
Kenneth M. Argentieri
Jill Lipman Beck
Hon. Kim Berkeley Clark
Jeanine L. DeBor
Edward J. Donnelly III
Susan DiGirolamo
Beth Fischman
Bruce H. Herschlag
Joanne M. La Rose
Carol S. Mills McCarthy
Kathryn McKee
Mary L. McLaughlin
Antoinette C. Oliver
Adrian Nathaniel Roe
Melaine Shannon Rothey
Hon. Christine Ann Ward
Richard Steven Wiedman
Lawyers’ Fund Committee
The purpose of the Lawyers’ Fund Committee is to relieve want or distress among members of the Allegheny County Bar Association or their immediate families; to promote, advance, improve, and facilitate the administration of justice in Allegheny County; to give scholarships, fellowships, and grants-in-aid for research, writing, and other study of law and of the administration of justice; to make loans to deserving law students; and to acquire, preserve, and exhibit rare books and objects of art, and items of historical interest having legal significance or bearing on the administration of justice. The Lawyers’ Fund was transferred from the ACBA to the ACBF in July 2002.
Chair:
Jessica L. Crown
(412) 281-2971
Vice-Chair:
Gilda M. Arroyo
Secretary:
Ron G. Jones
(412) 392-5468
ACBF Board Liason:
Keith E. Whitson
(412) 577-5220
ACBA Liaisons:
David A. Blaner
(412) 402-6601
ACBF Liaison:
Lorrie K. Albert
(412) 402-6640
One-Year:
Carol A. Behers
John R. McGinley
W. Thomas McGough
Robert J. Ridge
Two-Year:
Jessica L. Crown
Ron G. Jones
Tara R. Pfeifer
Richard S. Wiedman
Three-Year:
Ron Jones
Tara R. Pfeifer
Ex Officio:
Jennifer R. Andrade
Jill Lipman Beck
Ronald J. Brown
Jessica L. Crown
Hon. Patricia L. Dodge
Keith E. Whitson
Loans & Scholarships Committee
This Committee oversees the Foundation’s scholarship and loan programs for current and future law students. The Committee oversees the distribution of funds from the Lawyers’ Fund, the F.C. Grote Fund, the Louis Little Attorneys’ Memorial Fund, and the James I. Smith, III Notre Dame Law School Scholarship Fund. The Committee’s responsibilities include establishing policy and procedures, accepting and reviewing loan and scholarship applications, interviewing applicants, and making recommendations for scholarships and loans for individuals attending approved law schools.
Chair:
Margaret W. Prescott
412-355-7405
ACBA Liaison:
David Blaner
412-402-6601
ACBF Liaisons:
Lorrie K. Albert
412-402-6640
Members:
Edward Jaffee Abes
Richard F. Andracki
Jill Lipman Beck
Jaclyn M. Belczyk
A. Patricia Diulus-Myers
Samuel Robert Grego
Ella Kwisnek
Gary M. Lang
Robert Mark Linn
Allie Linsenmeyer
Carol S. Mills McCarthy
Mary Lou McLaughlin
Bryan Scott Neft
Rhoda Shear Neft
Maggie W. Prescott
Melaine Shannon Rothey
Neva Lee Stotler
Keith E. Whitson
Mansmann Scholarship Committee
This Committee oversees the selection process for the Hon. Carol Los Mansmann Scholarship. The Committee’s responsibilities include establishing policy and procedures, accepting and reviewing loan and scholarship applications, and making recommendations for scholarships and loans for individuals attending approved law schools.
Chair:
Margaret W. Prescott
412-355-7405
ACBF Liaison:
Lorrie K. Albert
412-402-6640
Members:
Richard Andracki
Carol A. Behers
Maria Comas
Gary Hunt
Ella Kwisnek
Rhonda Neft
Margaret W. Prescott
Melaine Shannon Rothey
Stanley Stein
Zittrain Forums Committee
This Committee oversees the annual Zittrain Forums on Law & Public Policy. The committee members are active in speaker and venue selections and all details in planning the forum.
Chair:
Keith E. Whitson
412-577-5190
ACBF Liaison:
Lorrie K. Albert
412-402-6640
Members:
Kenneth M. Argentieri
David A. Blaner
John P. Gismondi
Stephan K. Todd