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THE ENDOWMENT AT WORK: ABI TASK FORCE ON VETERANS’ AND SERVICEMEMBERS’ AFFAIRS
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Those who have served our country in the military are treated less favorably under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code than those who haven’t, and veterans and servicemembers face different challenges in dealing with personal debt issues that civilians don’t encounter. For these reasons, ABI President Ted Gavin has committed the talents and expertise of ABI’s volunteers to researching and proposing solutions for these problems.
The Task Force on Veterans' and Servicemembers' Affairs — which will be financed in part by a grant from the ABI Endowment Fund and will be under the leadership of former ABI Presidents John Ames and John Penn, two-time ABI Resident Scholar Jack Williams, and Prof. Nancy Rapoport, who will serve as Reporter — has assembled more than two dozen enthusiastic volunteers from ABI membership as well as from the public sector. The Task Force will focus on two major goals. First, it will provide information regarding the HAVEN Act, which proposes to remove veterans' disability benefits from the calculation of income under the means test. Second, it will develop a financial support group for the military, similar to CARE, with volunteers trained to help veterans and current servicemembers better understand
credit issues.
The group has formed committees focused on Legislative Affairs, Financial Education & Counseling, Outreach, Pro Bono matters and Tribal Affairs (Native Americans are, as a group, overrepresented in the U.S. Armed Forces — over 50% generally and over 200% in the Marine Corps; the overrepresentation increases when only counting female members). These groups are already hard at work. For instance, the Outreach Committee has already established relationships with a number of groups to determine what they are doing and how ABI's efforts can be complementary.
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Endowment events in Los Angeles & Dallas
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The Western Region Endowment Wine Dinner kicked off the fall season of Endowment events on Oct. 3 at Upstairs2 in Los Angeles. Thanks go to the following sponsors: Bienert, Miller & Katzman, PLC; Development Specialists, Inc.; Donlin, Recano & Company, Inc.; East West Bank; FTI Consulting, Inc.; Katrina McLean; Omni Management Group, Inc.; Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP; Polsinelli; SierraConstellation Partners; and Smiley Wang-Ekvall, LLP.
On Oct. 11, Gray Reed & McGraw LLP hosted “An Evening with Bench and Bar” at the firm’s Elm Street office in Dallas. It featured an elegant cocktail reception with remarks by Judges Harlin D. Hale, Stacey G. C. Jernigan and Mark X. Mullin of the Northern District of Texas. ABI thanks the financial supporters of this event. Premium sponsor: Gray Reed & McGraw LLP. Gold sponsors: FTI Consulting, Inc.; GlassRatner (B. Riley Financial Co.); Haynes and Boone, LLP; Omni Management Group, Inc.; and Vinson & Elkins LLP. Silver sponsors: BMC Group; Chiron Financial LLC; CR3 Partners, LLC; Foley Gardere; Forshey & Prostok, LLP; Jackson Walker LLP; Kane Russell Coleman & Logan, PC; Nathan Associates, Inc.; Norton Rose Fulbright; Rochelle McCullough, LLP; and
Secretariat International.
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Bankruptcy Judges Mark X. Mullin, Harlin D. Hale and Stacey G. C. Jernigan (l-r) provided a lively discussion during the "Evening with Bench & Bar" Endowment program in Dallas.
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Scott Van Meter (Secretariat International), ABI Vice President-Development Robert P. Reynolds (Reynolds, Reynolds & Little, LLC) and Jason S. Brookner (Gray Reed & McGraw LLP) (l-r) were among the ABI leaders in Dallas.
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WINE DINNER TO BE HELD NOV. 28 IN PHILADELPHIA
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On Nov. 28, the ABI Endowment will host a networking wine dinner at La Famiglia Ristorante, Philadelphia's finest Italian restaurant, located on South Front Street in the heart of the Old City. Cocktails, wine and appetizers start at 6 p.m., with dinner following at 7 p.m. Sponsors for this event include Barnes & Thornburg LLP; Fox Rothschild LLP; Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP; Polsinelli; Richards, Layton & Finger, PA; and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
If your firm would like to sponsor this or any other Endowment-related events, please contact ABI Marketing Manager Sharisa L. Sloan at ssloan@abi.org.
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Get Noticed at ABI’s Winter Leadership Conference!
Members who pledge or contribute at or above the Sustaining Member level ($2,000 and up) will be recognized during ABI’s Winter Leadership Conference this December in Scottsdale, Ariz. There will also be an Endowment dessert reception sponsored by Omni Management Group, Inc. and Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP. The reception, which follows the Final Night Dinner Gala, is by invitation only and will include new donors at the Sustaining Member level and up.
Participate in the 2018 Combined Federal Campaign
Contributions to the Anthony H.N. Schnelling Endowment Fund are tax-deductible. ABI is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. If you have been considering making a donation to the ABI Endowment Fund, you may benefit by making your contribution to Combined Federal Campaign #11391. Your funds will be used to support research and education on insolvency. Please consider contributing during the current campaign season (the 2018 CFC Open Season runs from Sept. 1 through Dec. 15). Please contact ABI Chief Financial Officer Kathy Sheehan at ksheehan@abi.org or (703) 739-0800 for more information.
DONATE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE ITEMS TO ABI'S AMAZON WISH LIST!
Looking for an easy and unique way to give to the Endowment? Donating silent auction items is a great way to support the ABI Endowment Fund! Don’t know what to donate? Possible items have been selected and are available for purchase at amazon.com under a special “ABI Wish List.” Pick out items now for silent auctions that will be held at upcoming conferences (more information at abi.org/events), and be
sure to place your own bids at those conferences.
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New Donors Recognized
The Endowment Fund recognizes and thanks the following for reaching new levels of giving:
30th Anniversary Circle

Donald A. Workman
BakerHostetler LLP
Levels of Support
Millennium Level
Contributions of $50,000 and above
30th Anniversary Circle
Contributions of $30,000 – $49,999
Century Council Member
Contributions of $25,000 – $29,999
Visionary
Contributions of $20,000 – $24,999
Legacy
Contributions of $15,000 – $19,999
Lifetime Member
Contributions of $10,000 – $14,999
Benefactor
Contributions of $5,000 – $9,999
Sustaining Member
Contributions of $2,000 – $4,999
Leadership Club
Contributions of $1,000 – $1,999
Donor
Contributions of $100 – $999
Pledges at the Leadership Club level and up are payable over up to five years.
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Endowment Fund Development Committee
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Vice President—Development:
Robert P. Reynolds
Reynolds, Reynolds & Little, LLC
Committee Members:
Steven M. Berman
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP
Richard S. Lauter
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
Jerry M. Markowitz
Markowitz, Ringel, Trusty + Hartog, P.A.
Bradley D. Sharp
Development Specialists, Inc.
Christopher A. Ward
Polsinelli
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Regional Endowment Chairs
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Mid-Atlantic
Chair: Christopher A. Ward – Polsinelli
Sam J. Alberts – Dentons
Ryan G. Foley – Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP
Charles Forman – LeClairRyan, PC
Neil B. Glassman – Bayard, P.A.
Thomas M. Horan – Fox Rothschild LLP
Warren Martin – Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, PC
Richard M. Meth
James E. Van Horn – McGuireWoods LLP
Midwest
Chair: Richard S. Lauter – Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
Daniel A. DeMarco – Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP
James A. Lodoen – Lindquist & Vennum LLP
Claire Ann Resop – Steinhilber Swanson
Sheryl L. Toby – Dykema Gossett PLLC
New England
Chair: Jeffrey T. Varsalone – CBIZ MHM, LLC
New York Metro
Co-Chair: Lisa G. Beckerman – Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Co-Chair: Allen D. Wilen – EisnerAmper LLP
Rocky Mountain
Co-Chair: Annette W. Jarvis – Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Lynne Long – All Business Development Solutions, LLC
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South
Chair: Kristina M. Johnson – Jones Walker LLP
Rudy J. Cerone – McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC
Craig M. Geno – Craig M. Geno, PLLC
James R. Irving – Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP
Derek F. Meek – Burr & Forman LLP
James E. Smith – Williams Anderson PLC
Emily Campbell Taube – Burr & Forman LLP
Stephen P. Wheelis – Wheelis & Rozanski, APLC
Southeast
Chair: Jerry Markowitz – Markowitz, Ringel, Trusty + Hartog, P.A.
Terri L. Gardner – Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP
Neil C. Gordon – Arnall Golden Gregory LLP
Jennifer McLemore – Christian & Barton, LLP
Jennifer M. Meyerowitz – Atlanta
Edward J. Peterson, III – Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Prosser, PA
Lynn Lewis Tavenner – Tavenner & Beran, PLC
Glenn Thompson – Hamilton Stephens Steele & Martin, PLLC
Texas & Southwest
Co-Chair: Jason S. Brookner – Gray Reed & McGraw, PC
Co-Chair: Scott Van Meter – Berkeley Research Group, LLC
Thomas H. Grace – Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP
Jordan A. Kroop – Perkins Coie LLP
John Penn – Perkins Coie LLP
Thomas J. Salerno – Stinson Leonard Street (US) LLP
West
Chair: Bradley D. Sharp – Development Specialists, Inc.
Matthew Gates – Duff & Phelps, LLC
Scott Gautier – Robins Kaplan
Mitch Ryan – Donlin, Recano & Company, Inc.
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