2017 Annual Spring Dinner

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Our sincere thanks to all of you who joined us in supporting Constitutional Rights Foundation’s 2017 Spring Dinner and our mission to transform young lives by empowering the students we serve to become informed, skilled and engaged citizens. We especially thank the hundreds of guests representing more than 50 international law firms and corporations who joined us in person on May 25, 2017.

Our Bill of Rights honoree The Honorable Carlos R. Moreno shared inspiring remarks that included the following:  “It is my unassailable belief that the survival of our basic freedoms and our form of democracy is dependent on the strength and independence of our judiciary.”

KPMG LLP was honored with the Foundations of Freedom award. Jane Jelenko, receiving the award on behalf of KPMG, eloquently stated that CRF’s work builds, strengthens and supports the civic foundation of the country – work that is more critical now than ever before.

Sharon J. Matsumoto and The Honorable Ronald H. Rose received the Lloyd M. Smith Award for their many years of dedicated service to CRF and the Mock Trial program. They spoke passionately about the joy they experience as volunteers at CRF and how the students’ lives are changed in so many ways. 

The student presenters from TEACH Public Schools Academy of Technologies and the Los Angeles Police Department officers entertained the audience with their powerful presentation of the Cops & Kids program. As demonstrated, this program has proven effective in building positive relationships between young people and police officers.

Keynote Speaker Donald Verrilli spoke eloquently about the importance of CRF’s work. Verrilli stated:  "Our Constitution defines who we are as a people. It sets out our fundamental commitments, both in the majestic preamble and in the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment. And it establishes the structure of government through which each generation works out what these commitments will mean in practice.”  He went on to say the “work of the Constitutional Rights Foundation could not be more important – especially now. And it is ultimately CRF’s work that ensures that we will be able to fulfill the promise of the Constitution’s preamble to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”

For over 50 years, CRF has provided innovative, nonpartisan, educational programs and high-quality civic-learning resources for teachers and students throughout the United States. The need for CRF's programs continues to grow and it is your support that helps meet this need. Through the many generous sponsorships of our Spring Dinner, CRF raised close to $800,000 towards its vital mission. Thank you to all who have already pledged their support. For those of you who missed the event, you can still pledge a gift by composing a new text message to 41444 on your mobile phone. In the message box type: CRF space YOUR AMOUNT space YOUR NAME and hit Send.

We would love to stay connected with each of you. Please click here to receive updates from CRF on ways to get involved with our programs including invitations to upcoming Expanding Horizons Internships events this summer, and information on volunteering or visit our website at www.crf-usa.org. 

Thanks once again.