Kathy Ochroch became involved with Child Advocates even before attending law school. After graduating from Dickinson College, she worked as a paralegal at Drinker Biddle & Reath. Staff was encouraged to do pro bono work, so Kathy signed up to attend a volunteer training session taught by Child Advocates. She believed in the mission of our work so much that she proceeded to organize a city-wide program to recruit and train paralegals to work on cases with Child Advocates. 

 A graduate of the George Washington School of Law, Kathy is now a Partner at Blank Rome. She concentrates her practice in trusts and estates litigation, handling will and trust disputes as well as matters involving powers of attorney.  She represents corporate fiduciaries in a variety of matters in the Orphans' Courts of Pennsylvania, focusing particularly on issues involving guardianships and special needs trusts. She is also the firm's Director of Pro Bono Services, where she organizes and facilitates the Pro Bono Program for all attorneys at Blank Rome.

Kathy took her first case as a Child Advocates Volunteer Attorney in 1999, and has maintained at least one open case with us ever since. Believing that these clients are some of the most important of her career, Kathy still keeps in touch with her former clients and is thrilled when she learns of their successes. She recalls an exciting moment when a former client contacted her to share that he was applying to graduate school for nursing. Although his case ended years ago, he continues to come to her for school and career advice. She has been delighted to watch him grow and flourish into the strong and successful young man that he has become.

Asked if she has any advice for lawyers thinking about volunteering with Child Advocates, Kathy said, "Do not be intimidated about doing this work because you will work side-by-side with an expert in child advocacy during your cases. The model of pairing volunteer attorneys with a Child Advocates Social Worker means that the support you receive from Child Advocates is truly unparalleled; you never feel that you are alone."

Kathy joined the Board of Directors in 2010 and serves as Chair of the Research and Evaluation Committee, a member of the Volunteer Committee, a leader of her firm's Child Advocacy Practice Group and is now Chair of the 2015 Annual Benefit Reception and Auction. "I am so honored to serve as Chair of this year's Annual Benefit Reception & Auction.  This is an event that I look forward to all year long, not only because it supports such important, meaningful work, but also because it is so much fun!  There is a palpable energy that is truly exciting."

As the Annual Benefit Reception & Auction Chair, Kathy has found that one only has to explain the agency mission and people are almost always moved and inspired to sign on as a sponsor and to donate auction items. Last year, Kathy won her favorite auction item thus far - the opportunity to meet Terry Gross and to sit in on a taping of her NPR radio show, "Fresh Air." Excited to see what items and opportunities will be for auction this year, she encourages everyone to attend the event: "The honorees are very inspiring, the crowd is terrific and the auction items are amazing!"

We would also like to acknowledge the Shirley and Morrison C. Boyd Fund at The Philadelphia Foundation for their generous general operations grant. A shout out, too, to The Spruce Foundation and the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation! The Spruce Foundation has lent their support to our LGBTQ Youth Project, through which we provide specialized services to abused and neglected LGBTQ youth and offer training program on delivering optimal care to these young people. The Lindback Foundation is supporting Project YES! (Youth Educational Success). Through Project YES!, our Education Law Attorney represents children who have intractable academic issues and provides expertise and guidance to other case handlers whose clients are also experiencing severe school problems-a common and serious setback for children in the system of care.

We send our deepest thanks to these wonderful friends and to all who support our general operations and special projects!

Date: Wednesday, April 22nd
Time: 8:30am-4:30pm

Place: Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square East, Suite 1010

 REGISTER HERE!

**On the evening of April 22nd, we will celebrate an Evening For Child Advocacy at our Annual Benefit Reception & Auction. Please join us after the CLE workshop in the Crystal Tea Room of the Wanamaker Building from 5:00 -8:00 pm. All CLE attendees can buy event tickets at a discounted rate of $75. Contact Cate Galbally to make payment arrangements at cgalbally@advokid.org or (267) 546-9216.
 

For more information and to register for upcoming trainings, please click HERE.

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