Celebration of Service
Celebrating Our Commitment to Dignity for All
Each year, Rising for Justice hosts the Celebration of Service to bring together defenders of justice from across the Washington, DC region to honor progress made, recognize leadership, and reflect on the work that remains. Expanding access to justice is demanding work we cannot do alone, and we are proud to recognize the partners, funders, alumni, and peer organizations who help facilitate equitable legal access across our community.
Celebration of Service honors individuals and organizations that exemplify Rising for Justice’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of people facing legal crises. Through generous sponsorships, the event raises funds to sustain our legal, social work, and student programs that provide vulnerable DC residents with free, high-quality support.
To discuss sponsorship opportunities, please contact events@risingforjustice.org.
Save the Date: 2026 Celebration of Service
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
Honorees
Gwendolyn Washington is Pro Bono Counsel at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, where she helps lead the firm’s award-winning pro bono litigation practice. Her career has been defined by a sustained commitment to public interest law and expanding access to justice.
Washington spent nearly two decades as an attorney with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, representing clients in criminal, parole, and mental health matters and serving as an immigrant defense consultant.
Gwendolyn Washington is Pro Bono Counsel at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, where she helps lead the firm’s award-winning pro bono litigation practice. Her career has been defined by a sustained commitment to public interest law and expanding access to justice.
Washington spent nearly two decades as an attorney with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, representing clients in criminal, parole, and mental health matters and serving as an immigrant defense consultant.
She later served as a managing attorney at the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center’s Landlord and Tenant Resource Center and as Pro Bono Director at Rising for Justice, where she managed the Civil Protection Order Project. An alumna of Rising for Justice’s clinical program, she has maintained a strong connection to the organization’s mission.
Before joining Cleary, Washington was Manager for the Tenant Advocacy and Support Practice at Legal Counsel for the Elderly, overseeing housing litigation on behalf of senior citizens.
She has also served as Visiting Faculty at Harvard Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop and as an Adjunct Professor at Howard University School of Law, and has held leadership roles with the Washington Council of Lawyers and the District of Columbia Bar Pro Bono Committee.
Sponsors
Rising for Justice gratefully acknowledges the following sponsors for their generous support of our mission advancing greater access to justice for Washington, DC residents in need.
Friend of Justice
Previous Celebration of Service Honorees
2025
Nancy Drane
- DC Access to Justice Commission
2024
Karyn A. Temple
- Motion Picture Association
2023
Patrick McGlon
- Ullico Inc.
Patricia Mullahy Fugere,
- Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
2022
Julie Jacobs
- HP Inc.
2021
Wanji Walcott
- Discover
2019
Brian Ellis
- Danaher Corporation
2018
Avis E. Buchanan
- Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia
2017
Jack Olender
- Jack H. Olender & Associate
2016
Michele A. Roberts
- National Basketball Players Association
2015
Roderic V. O. Boggs
- Washington Lawyers Committee
2014
Thomas S. Williamson Jr.
- DC Bar
2013
Susan M. Hoffman
- Crowell & Moring
2012
David W. DeBruin
- Jenner & Block
2011
James Sandman
- Legal Services Corporation
Previous Celebration of Service Honorees
2025
Nancy Drane,
DC Access to Justice Commission
2024
Karyn A. Temple,
Motion Picture Association
2023
Patrick McGlone, Ullico Inc.
Patricia Mullahy Fugere, Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
2022
Julie Jacobs, HP Inc.
2021
Wanji Walcott, Discover
2019
Brian Ellis, Danaher Corporation
2018
Avis E. Buchanan, Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia
2017
Jack Olender, Jack H. Olender & Associate
2016
Michele A. Roberts, National Basketball Players Association
2015
Roderic V. O. Boggs, Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
2014
Thomas S. Williamson, Jr., DC Bar
2013
Susan M. Hoffman, Crowell & Moring
2012
David W. DeBruin
2011
James Sandman
Donald J. Ridings Jr. Award for Service
Established in 2024, the Donald J. Ridings, Jr. Award for Service recognizes extraordinary pro bono attorneys whose commitment has expanded access to justice for low-income DC residents. The award is named in honor of Donald J. Ridings, Jr., a lifelong champion of Rising for Justice who began his service as a student attorney in RFJ clinics and later served as President and member of the Board of Directors.
Previous Ridings Awardees
2025
- Scott Pivnick and Nicole Weeks, Alston and Bird
- Morrison Foerster
- Proskauer
2024
- Quintessa Davis and Sahara Shrestha, Troutman Pepper LLP
2025
- Scott Pivnick and Nicole Weeks, Alston and Bird
- Morrison Foerster
- Proskauer
2024
- Quintessa Davis and Sahara Shrestha, Troutman Pepper LLP
901 4th Street NW, Suite 6000
Washington, DC 20001
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