HIAS Pennsylvania’s 2022 Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) Volunteer Appreciation Awards

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Watch the full event replay | Meet our honorees | See our Pro Bono Honor Roll | Get to know our Social Services volunteers

HIAS Pennsylvania’s

2022 Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World)
Volunteer Appreciation Awards

Thanking our volunteers, who, in times of crisis and calm, constantly step up to “repair the world” by supporting immigrants and refugees.

Wednesday, October 19th
12PM to 2PM
Philadelphia Ethical Society or online

Honoring

Jordan Cole

for his mentorship of HIAS PA youth clients and his limitless advocacy work

David Mink

for his quick and dependable logistical and grocery support for newly arrived refugees and immigrants

Learn more about our honorees!

Nguyet T. Chau, Esq., is an attorney, animal rights activist, designer and more. After graduating from Barnard College and UCLA School of Law, Nguyet began her career as a corporate attorney, representing clients in securities matters and taking on several pro bono asylum clients. Prior to her legal practice, Nguyet worked at several international nonprofit organizations, including Saigon Children’s Charity, The Hunger Project, and the Cambodian Defenders Project, where she worked with homeless children, poor communities, and victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.

After practicing as a corporate attorney for several years, Nguyet turned her attention and talents towards volunteerism. For over a decade, Nguyet has worked to save the most vulnerable animals at Austin Pets Alive, The Berkeley Humane Society, Hopalong, and Muttville, where she fostered abused animals, concentrating on medical and hospice fosters, and was instrumental in getting them placed in permanent homes. Nguyet is heavily involved as a fundraiser and volunteer at Philly PAWS, where she established the Medical Relief Fund. This Fund allows PAWS to rescue animals with the most complex medical issues who would otherwise be passed over.

In 2021, Nguyet began volunteering as a pro bono attorney at HIAS Pennsylvania. She was motivated to volunteer at HIAS PA, in part, because she and her family were refugees and were resettled in the United States when Nguyet was a child. At HIAS PA, Nguyet developed and implemented a structured program to streamline the refugee green card application process for HIAS PA’s refugee clients. She drafted model documents, checklists, tracking tools and other reference materials for pro bono attorneys to use to better execute refugee clients’ green card applications. She also helped to coordinate assignment of refugee clients to pro bono attorneys and mentored pro bono attorneys for HIAS PA in order to increase HIAS PA’s capacity to serve more clients seeking green cards. In addition, Nguyet represented families herself, preparing their green card application packages and representing them through the entire application process, leading to their receipt of lawful permanent resident status.

The refugee assistance legal program at HIAS PA is deeply grateful to Nguyet for her dedication to the organization and her clients.

Jordan Cole is incredibly humbled to receive the 2022 Tikkun Olam Award.

For the past two years he has volunteered with HIAS PA, serving primarily in the Young Adult Mentorship Program and as a member of the HIAS PA Advocacy team. Jordan is thrilled to partner again with his mentees, who have graduated high school and are now attending college.

Additionally he has participated in HIAS PA and HIAS partner-sponsored events such as: COVID vaccination clinics, tree planting, community gardening, practice citizenship interviews, airport pick-ups, and asylum document translation. Jordan also works with the Pennsylvania Immigrant Family Unity Project (PAIFUP) and Driving PA Forward.

Jordan works in Delaware County as an Electrical Engineer at Monroe Energy. At his company he serves as a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion council. He is a mentor for first-year college students in science and technology careers.

Aside from volunteering, in his spare time Jordan enjoys running, rock climbing, and spending time with his family, including his dog, Leila.

Jordan is thankful for the home he has found at HIAS PA, where he is able to practice his faith by serving his neighbors in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania. He would like to thank his wife, Selina, for her love and support.

Jessica Chong Goebeler, Esq., earned her law degree from the New York University School of Law and her undergraduate degree, with distinction, from the University of Virginia. As Counsel at Cozen O’Connor, Jessica represents national insurance companies throughout the United States in disputes arising out of the transfer of structured settlement payment rights. Additionally, Jessica has experience with special needs trusts, Medicare set-asides, child support and other third-party garnishments, overpayment recovery, as well as fraud-related matters.

As a pro bono attorney, over the past 18 months, Jessica has helped three refugees who were resettled by HIAS PA apply to become Lawful Permanent Residents. This process is also referred to as applying for a “green card.” Two of Jessica’s clients are refugees from Pakistan and the other is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition to preparing these clients’ applications and assembling their document submissions, Jessica has helped the clients obtain the required medical appointments and respond to requests for evidence from the U.S. government. She also helped one client begin the process of petitioning the government to bring his children to the United States from a refugee camp abroad.

Jessica took her first pro bono cases two decades ago, helping a Sudanese “Lost Boy” obtain his U.S. Citizenship, a process that took several years. Since then, she has been active in pro bono matters. Jessica is fortunate that Cozen O’Connor not only allows but strongly encourages their attorneys to take on pro bono cases, and she is happy to be able to work with HIAS PA to help refugees obtain their permanent residency. As a child of parents who immigrated to America in the 1970s, Jessica’s pro bono heart has always been in helping immigrants.

David Mink retired from the restaurant business in 2001 and spends his time traveling and researching his family history. During his research, David discovered that his mother was assisted by HIAS PA when she immigrated from Poland and his cousins were supported by HIAS PA in 1949 after leaving a Displaced Persons Camp. Volunteering with HIAS PA has given him the opportunity to share his gratitude to the organization which assisted his family and share its legacy with his children and grandchildren. Currently David provides essential support to HIAS PA’s social services staff through delivering essential items to HIAS PA clients, providing culturally appropriate groceries and meals to newly arrived refugee families, and moving HIAS PA clients into their first apartments in Philadelphia. He resides in Center City, Philadelphia, with his wife of 50 years, Judi.

Pro Bono “Honor Roll”

Naturalization

Pooja Agarwal, FMC Corporation
Jose Aquino, Duane Morris LLP
Liz Bassani, Duane Morris LLP
Dana Becker (AIC), Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
Jim Becker, FMC Corporation
Lily Becker, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
Natalie Bennett (AIC), Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
Yang Boguang, Duane Morris LLP
Ed Brant, FMC Corporation
David Brier, Comcast Corporation
Paul Burnett, FMC Corporation
Jasper Cacananta, Comcast Corporation
Deb Carlos, Comcast Corporation
Brandon Chan, Duane Morris LLP
Charles Condro, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
Amauri Costa, Duane Morris LLP
Jeff DeAngelis, Comcast Corporation
Brendan Fee (AIC), Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
Gina Foran, Duane Morris LLP
Matthew Fradin, Comcast Corporation
Kiara Gardner, Comcast Corporation
Matthew Gaspari, Duane Morris LLP
John Gibson, Duane Morris LLP
Sarah Gitchell, Comcast Corporation
Julie Goldemberg (AIC), Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
John Gorman (AIC), Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
Patricia Picou Green, Duane Morris LLP
Gail Griffin, FMC Corporation
Doug Gush, FMC Corporation
Tracy Haslett, Comcast Corporation
Geoff Heaton, Duane Morris LLP
Catherine Heitzenrater, Duane Morris LLP
Susanne Heubel, HSE Law & Comcast Corporation
Alycia Horn, Duane Morris LLP
Jeremy Hsu, Comcast Corporation
Yunica Jiang, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
Zak Johns, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
Drew Kapur, Duane Morris LLP
Maritsa Koutsouras, Duane Morris LLP
Eric Kraeutler (AIC), Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
David Krisch, Duane Morris LLP
Joanna Kuzdra, Duane Morris LLP
Jason Lou, Duane Morris LLP
David Marcus, Comcast Corporation
Brian McAleenan, Duane Morris LLP
Will McEnroe, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
Kat McGee, Duane Morris LLP
Tejal Mehta, TD Bank, N.A.
Vineet Mehta, Duane Morris LLP
Galina Morgovsky, Comcast Corporation
Nancy No, Comcast Corporation
Sharon O’Reilly, Duane Morris LLP
Stephanie Oppenheim, Duane Morris LLP
Kurt Rademacher (AIC), Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
Michael Reilly, FMC Corporation
Tiffany Robinson, Duane Morris LLP
Sajid Saleem, Duane Morris LLP
Mindy Schwartz, Comcast Corporation
Alanna Simpson, Comcast Corporation
Sally Stanley, Duane Morris LLP
Larry Turner (AIC), Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
Susan Van Allen, Comcast Corporation
Alejandra Vargas, Duane Morris LLP
Sharon Webber, Comcast Corporation
Spencer Wein, Duane Morris LLP
Johannes Wirtz, Comcast Corporation

Refugee Green Card Applications

Susan Van Allen, Comcast Corporation
Alexis Arena, Comcast Corporation
Jake Bassinder, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
Deb Carlos, Comcast Corporation
Nguyet T. Chau
Deanna Chea, Duane Morris LLP
Wei-Ser Cheah, Comcast Corporation & Duane Morris LLP
Alexandra Dailerian, Comcast Corporation
Zahra Dean
David Dotson, Comcast Corporation & Duane Morris LLP
Erica Dressler, Troutman Pepper
Rebecca Eschen, Cozen O’Connor
Teri Evans, Comcast Corporation
Connor Finucane, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Jessica Chong Goebeler, Cozen O’Connor
Lisa Grant, Comcast Corporation
Brookes Hammock
Jessica Hayden, Comcast Corporation
Kevin Hayne, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
Jennifer White Healey
Kathleen Hirce, Duane Morris LLP
Matt Howell, Cozen O’Connor
Drew Kapur, Duane Morris LLP
Lydia Lim, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
Katy Lucas, Duane Morris LLP
Caroline Mansour, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
Guilherme Massetti, Duane Morris LLP
Charles McPhedran
Lindsay Miller, Cozen O’Connor
Debbie Minkoff, Cozen O’Connor
Daniel Mitchell, Duane Morris LLP
Johali Muzaliwa
Virginia Poli, Catalent, Inc.
Jeff Porter
Alezeh Rauf, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
Marianne Repetto, Duane Morris LLP
Alice Shanahan, Duane Morris LLP
Uyen Tu, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
Martiza Wagner, Comcast Corporation
Sharon Webber, Comcast Corporation
Rachel Welford, Cozen O’Connor
Marybeth Williams, Cozen O’Connor
Yulu Xu
Danni Yang, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

Law Firms and Companies

Ballard Spahr LLP
Blank Rome LLP
Catalent, Inc.
The City of Philadelphia
Comcast Corporation
Cozen O’Connor
Dechert LLP
DLA Piper
Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Duane Morris LLP
Eckert Seamans
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
FMC Corporation
Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller
Harter Secrest and Emery LLP
Hogan Lovells LLP
Kolsby, Gordon, Robin & Shore PC
McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP
Merck & Co.
Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP
TD Bank, N.A.
Troutman Pepper
University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

Social Services Volunteers of the Month, FY2021-2022

Joyce Ng – English as a Second Language (ESL) Tutor

David Akers – Philadelphia Citizenship Action Network (P-CAN) program; citizenship tutor; ESL tutor

David Mink – deliveries, moving, and grocery support

Jordan Cole – Young Adult Mentoring Program

Margaret Henly – Appointment Accompaniment

Jean Leonetti – Delivery driver and home setup volunteer

Social Services Volunteers FY2021-2022

Hot Meals & Grocery Volunteers

Melissa Baird
Ulrike Barankay
Jim Blumenstock
Clayton Bowes
Teresa Caponiti
Miranda Cavanagh
Susanne Chieffo
Amy Cohen
Marjorie Curtis-Cohen
William Dingfelder
Alicia Dinkel
Omeed Firouzi
Alyssa Flaschner
Andrew Heffler
Barbara Hoekje
Tadhg Hoey
Melissa Howell
Karen Kohn
Pamela Laucks
Cynthia Love
Mindy Maslin
David Mink
Kathryn Miller
Rebecca Musarra
Margaret Patton
Sadia Rabbani
Carrie Rathmann
Steve Rhoades
Laura Rock
Ronnie Samore
Dorothee Schneider
Judy Stavisky
Denette Stetler
Abraham Summers
Bethany Swann
Pam Tama

Home Setup Volunteers

Ruth Adelman
Ann Cohen
Melissa Howell
Jean Leonetti
Gerald Marron
Jeremy Meyer
Gina Renzi
Lila Robins
Peggy Seiden
Judy Stavisky
Robert Weinberg
Leslie Weiss

Administrative Volunteers

Leslie Weiler
Jordan Cole
Margaret Henly
Kathy Messerman
Arlyn Freed
Lila Robins
Estelle Bronstein
Ellen Braun
Robert Weinberg
Scott Posen
Soumya Vavilala
Georgienne Bednar
Seiden, Peggy
Jeremy Meyer
Carol Thomson
Jade Feng
Cohen, Ann
Cate Almon
Aneri Amin

Community Resettlement Volunteers

William Kavesh
Naomi Klayman
Nancy Kreimer
Daniel Kwak
Silvia Kwak
Dena Lake
Brenda Lazin
Phuong Lee
Tom Lee
Andrea Leerman
Sylvia Lifschitz
Fabian Lima
Hallie Lima
Sara Lima
Barbara Lissy
Tamar Magdovitz
Shannon Mahler
Yvonne Marlier
Mindy Maslin
Deneen McDonald
Beth Ford McNamee
Barbara Menin
Charles Miller
Tooka Mohajerin
Linda Needleman
Mary Nolan
John Novak
David Nover
Nora O’Neill
Sidney Ozer
Frank Palmieri
John Pau
Michael Ramberg
Wiley Redding
Carolyn Robbins
Tom Robbins
Corinne Rosenberg
Ivan Rosenberg
Susan Schewel
Ann Schmiedekamp
Carl Schmiedekamp
Eleanor Seif
LJeannine Shantz
Joan Silver
Jeremy Siu
Joe Siu
Howard Spodek
Ann Spooner
Don Spooner
Deborah Stern
Marna Sternbach
Neal Stolar
Lee Tabas
Diana Thompson
Lenny Thompson
Louisa Thompson
Steve Thompson
Lally Turner
Gregg Wagner
Khalil Wardak
Ben Weigert
Mike Winter
Ginny Witte
Paul Witte
Brien Wong
Saroj Wong
Barb Zerr
Brad Zerr