Fordham Law’s Feerick Center for Social Justice celebrated its fifth anniversary on Sept. 26—five years to the day of its launch in 2006.
The center presented honored guest Sen. George J. Mitchell, a former visiting professor at the law school, with the first George Mitchell Lifetime Public Service Award, recognizing Mitchell’s social justice work in the Northern Ireland peace process and as special presidential envoy for Middle East peace.
More than 240 alumni and friends attended a reception at the headquarters of Mutual of America, raising almost $400,000 for the center’s initiatives on behalf of poverty and consumer law, pro bono counsel initiatives and other social justice programs.
Robert C. Sheehan, former managing partner of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, was honored with the Spirit of Service Award. David Jones, president and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York, received the Life of Commitment Award.
Attending the event were the center’s founder and director John D. Feerick, former dean of the law school; Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham; Stephen Freedman, Ph.D., provost of the University; Michael M. Martin, dean of the law school; former New York State Chief Judge Judith Kaye; and Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., president emeritus of Fordham.