A Season of Gratitude, A Shared Commitment to Justice

November offers natural opportunities to pause and reflect. As we turn our clocks back and the days grow shorter, we gain an hour that affords us extra time for the people, commitments, and causes that matter most. It is also a season of gratitude, and an opportunity to recognize the people who give their time, talent, and resources to strengthen our communities.

It is fitting that in November — November 7 — we will come together for the Philadelphia Bar Foundation’s annual Philly Justice Ball, A Legacy of Liberty, A Promise of Justice, at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. As we mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the evening offers an opportunity to celebrate the ideals that continue to shape our nation and the people working to advance them today.

The Ball is also a celebration of our legal community and its commitment to equal justice. Every sponsor, attendee, volunteer, and supporter plays a role in strengthening the organizations and individuals working to ensure that people can access the legal help they need. Thank you to everyone who has helped make this year's celebration possible. We hope that the event, and the stories surrounding our four awardees, the late Honorable Frederica Massiah-Jackson, Deborah (Debbie) Gross, Esquire, Jonathan A. Grode, Esquire, and Sue Wasserkrug, Esquire and the work they have done, will inspire us well beyond. 

As we know, November is also an important moment for our democracy, as voters head to the polls. Elections remind us that civic participation matters. A healthy democracy depends on more than participation alone. It also depends on the rule of law, strong institutions, and the ability of people to understand and exercise their rights.

Access to justice is fundamental to that promise. When people cannot obtain legal assistance or navigate the systems that affect their lives, the protections our laws provide can remain out of reach. The Philadelphia Bar Foundation works to strengthen the legal aid ecosystem by investing in legal services organizations, supporting their leadership, and bringing our community together to address persistent barriers to justice.

Picturing the classic symbol of the scales of justice, justice requires the scales to be level. The Philadelphia Bar Foundation strives every day to keep those scales balanced, so access to justice doesn’t depend on what someone can pay. And this November, voters will decide who keeps those scales steady.

As we look ahead to the end of the year, I hope you will consider supporting the Philadelphia Bar Foundation through our annual campaign. Philanthropy enables us to invest in organizations and people who work every day to advance equal justice. It also strengthens the capacity, sustainability, and connections that allow this work to continue and grow. 

Whether you make a gift, renew your support, or encourage a colleague to get involved, your participation makes a difference. Together, we can help ensure that the promise of justice is supported not only by our shared ideals, but also by the resources and commitment necessary to put those ideals into practice. 

As we move through November and toward a new year, let us make time to recognize what we are grateful for and consider how we can contribute to what comes next. The work of advancing equal justice is ongoing, and we share the responsibility.

Thank you for being part of this community and for supporting the Philadelphia Bar Foundation as we continue our work.