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The Justinian Society of Lawyers Held its 24th Annual Children’s Endowment Fund (CEF) Grant Reception on March 19, 2026.

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The Justinian Society of Lawyers held its 24th annual Children’s Endowment Fund (CEF) Grant Reception on March 19, 2026. Justinian President Catherine Caifano Locallo and Justinian Society Endowment Fund’s Chairman Frank A. Sommario presented a total of $15,000.00 in grants as follows: $5,000.00 grant to Center for Independence, $5,000.00 grant to Niles Township District for Special Education, and $5,000.00 grant to Variety – The Children’s Charity of IL.

The Justinian Endowment Fund, the fundraising arm of the Justinian Society of Lawyers, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, which consists of the Scholarship Fund and the CEF. Currently, the CEF and the Scholarship Fund have combined over $363,000.00 in their respective accounts, where these monies have been raised by its members over the years as well as by other donors. Each year, the Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to deserving law students and the CEF awards annual Grants to worthy recipients.

The March 19, 2026 event was held at Lux Bar, 18 E. Bellevue, Chicago, IL, where more than 65 people attended and enjoyed a wonderful meal and cocktails. Courtney Coleman and Josephine Boggs of Center for Independence, Tarin Kendrick and Heather Lane of Niles Township District for Special Education, and Angelique Barthel and Linda Mastandrea of Variety - The Children's Charity of IL were on hand to graciously accept the grants, provided short descriptions of each entity, and explained how the grant money would be used by each.

The mission of the CEF is to assist disabled or disadvantaged children in our community. Since establishing the CEF in 2002 during his term as president, Antonio M. Romanucci, Founding Partner of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, and his fellow Justinian members have raised crucial funds for a wide range of recipients, including Make-A-Wish Foundation, Bear Necessities, Ronald McDonald House of Chicagoland, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Reflections Foundation, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Child’s Voice, Maryville Academy Children’s Healthcare Center, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, CASA Kane County, Fox Valley Special Recreation Foundation, Direct Effect Charities, Saint Anthony Hospital, La Casa Norte, Almost Home Kids, and many others.

During this presentation, several members of the Society made spontaneous personal additional donations to the CEF, which will be tabulated and directed to the grant recipients as an additional donation. This generosity has continuously been done over the years at past events and has become a tradition.

“The Justinian Society is dedicated to promoting charitable giving as part of its mission, and we are pleased to support this year's extremely amazing and deserving recipients,” said Justinian President Catherine Caifano Locallo. “Center for Independence, Niles Township District for Special Education, and Variety – The Children’s Charity of Illinois do valuable work for children across our community. I can say emphatically that the Justinian Society and our individual donors are proud to support your efforts,” said Romanucci & Blandin senior partner and past Justinian President Frank A. Sommario.

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