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
Sponsor the Celebration of Service
See our Current Sponsors
Honoree
Gwendolyn Washington is Pro Bono Counsel at Cleary Gottlieb, 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.
Defender of Justice
Ally of Justice
Alexis Collins & Stephen Kotev
Supporter of Justice
Berit Enge & Don Ridings
Bruce Rosenblum
Friend of Justice
Alston & Bird
Arnall Golden Gregory LLP
The Ijaz Group
Billy Laxton
Jeremy Merkelson
James J. Sandman
Sidley Austin LLP
Vinson & Elkins LLP
Wiley Rein LLP
2026 Host Committee
Rising for Justice is grateful to the Celebration of Service Host Committee for their generous support and dedication to our mission. For information about joining the Host Committee, please contact events@risingforjustice.org.
Lise B. Adams
Sidley Austin
Lorraine Campos
Crowell & Moring
Alexis Collins & Stephen Kotev
Amazon
Nita Cumello*
Thomson Reuters
Helen Dooley*
Williams & Connolly
Justin Ferraro
Arnall Golden Gregory LLP
Carmen Iguina González*
ACLU National Prison Project
Tasha Hailey-Hutchins*
S&P Global
Ian Herbert*
Miller & Chevalier
Colette D. Honorable
Exelon Corporation
Theodore Howard*
Wiley Rein LLP
Jonathan S. Jeffress*
Kaiser PLLC
Phyllis A. Jones*
Covington & Burling LLP
James Koukios*
Morrison Foerster LLP
Billy Laxton*
Jones Day
Anne Y. Lee*
Covington & Burling LLP
Curtis Lu*
FTI Consulting
Jeremy Merkelson*
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Michelle Moriarty
Proskauer
Margarita K. O'Donnell*
Zuckerman Spaeder LLP
The Honorable Lloyd U. Nolan, Jr.
Heather Pinckney*
Public Defender Service for
the District of Columbia
James J. Sandman
University of South Carolina
Joseph F. Rice School of Law
William Silverman
Proskauer
Brian Stekloff*
Wilkinson Stekloff
Melinda Warner*
Vinson & Elkins LLP
*Rising for Justice Board Member
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
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
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
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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