During 2020, NAELA Foundation Board of Trustees awarded a record $53,000 in total grants to members, NAELA State Chapters, and nonprofit organizations who advocate or litigate issues that are of importance to NAELA members and the clients they serve.
Grants supported NAELA’s strategic priorities, including two COVID related grants awarded to Consumer Voice and Center for Public Representation to push for appropriate change and defend against efforts to weaken existing laws to protect LTC residents. Click on the link in the right-hand column to download full details and outcomes for the following grants:
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Consumer Voice: Quality Long Term Care During COVID-19
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Center for Public Representation: Nursing Facility Systemic Litigation in Time of COVID-19
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NAELA Minnesota Chapter, et al. v. Minnesota DHS: Fair Hearings Act for failure to publish administrative decisions. Ultimately, Minnesota found that DHS complied, and they were able to find their cases for both good and bad decisions.
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NAELA Minnesota Chapter: Compliance with federal spousal impoverishment rules.
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Montana Supreme Court Estate of Marilyn Scheidecker: Denial of nursing home Medicaid Application due to irrevocable grantor income-only trust being treated as a countable resource.
During 2020, the NAELA Foundation Board formed a Nominating Committee, welcomed three new Trustees, and formally added the co-chairs of the Federal and State Advocacy and Litigation Steering Committees as ex-officio members. This action serves to strategically represent a broader membership for grant making, fundraising, and reporting and allows for a diversity of perspectives centered around NAELA’s priorities.
Help the Foundation Take Action in 2021!
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Federal and State Advocacy and Litigation Priorities: NAELA Foundation is governed and guided by a Board of Trustees. These experienced and knowledgeable members ensure that grants are in line with NAELA’s priorities and are vetted by the Advocacy Steering Committee. Past and future grants offer members opportunities to learn from advocacy and litigation activities. Members can help through their work on NAELA Steering Committees, Committees, and Sections.
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Cohn Sisters' Scholarship for Patient Advocacy - Deadline Noon on February 10, 2021: Each year, the NAELA Foundation proudly awards the Cohn Sisters’ Scholarships for Patient Advocacy. Scholarships available to elder law and special needs planning attorneys who are unable to afford to attend the NAELA Annual Conference and who will use the training to advocate for older Americans and people with disabilities. This year’s Scholarship will be awarded to attend the 2021 NAELA Annual Conference to be held online March 24–26, 2021.
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Donate to Support Our Work: After a year of record grants, member donations ensure the Foundation is positioned to support the ongoing advocacy and litigation matters critical to our members and their clients. Members can support the Foundation through optional dues, donations or pledges, legacy gifts,
AmazonSmile, and/or participation in fundraising events like the popular Trivia Night and Comedy Show hosted in 2020.
Learn more.
NAELA Foundation Board of Trustees and Ex Officio Members
- Stuart D. Zimring, CAP, Fellow - Chair
- Vincent J. Russo, CELA, CAP, Fellow - Past Chair
- Rebecca C. Morgan, CAP, Fellow, Secretary
- Michael J. Amoruso, CAP, Fellow
- Wendy Shparago Cappelletto, CAP
- Hyman G. Darling, CELA, CAP, Fellow
- Roberta K. Flowers
- Jason A. Frank, CELA, Fellow, CAP
- Donna J. Jackson
- A. Frank Johns, CELA, CAP, Fellow
- Howard S. Krooks, Esq., CELA, CAP, Fellow
- Letha Sgritta McDowell, CELA
- Helen Cohn Needham, CAP, Fellow
- Heather Voorn, CELA, CAP
- Peter G. Wacht, CAE
- Mark W. Worthington, CELA, CAP
- Blaine P. Brockman - Federal Advocacy Committee Co-Chair
- Lauren Marinaro - Federal Advocacy Committee Co-Chair
- Judith M. Flynn, CELA - State Advocacy Committee Co-Chair
- Carol J. Wessels - State Advocacy Committee Co-Chair
- Molly M. Wood - Litigation Committee Chair
The mission of the NAELA Foundation is to promote the goals of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) to advocate for the rights of older Americans and people with disabilities by focusing on litigation and regulatory advocacy, amicus briefs, research, and education/scholarships.
Donations to NAELA Foundation are 100 percent tax-deductible; NAELA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN 45-5334205).