MAY 28, 2026
Esperanza Arts Center - Gran Salón
4261 N. 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
Free On-Site Parking Available

6:00 - 7:00 PM
VIP Reception for Sponsors, VIP Ticket Holders, and Honored Guests

7:00 - 9:00 PM
Main Program

Culinary Experience by Chef Reuben Asaram 

Esperanza Immigration Legal Services (EILS) invites you to support this year’s Celebrating Hope for Immigrants—our signature fundraiser advancing dignity, opportunity, and justice for immigrant families. This year’s theme, Rooted in Resilience, honors the strength and perseverance of immigrant families and underscores the vital role that trusted legal services play in securing safe and stable futures.

Hosted at the Esperanza Arts Center – Gran Salón in North Philadelphia, this special evening honors the strength and perseverance of immigrant families while highlighting the vital role trusted legal services play in building safe and stable futures for those we serve.

The evening will begin with a pre-event reception for Sponsors and VIP ticket holders from 6:00–7:00 PM, followed by dinner and the main program at 7:00 PM featuring live music and inspiring stories from individuals impacted by EILS’s work.

This year, we are proud to honor Judi Bernstein-Baker, Esq., with the Civic Impact Award for her decades of advocacy on behalf of immigrants, and Michael Malvey, Esq., Managing Partner of Galfand Berger LLP, with the EILS Champion Award in recognition of his dedicated leadership and longstanding support of EILS.

Hosted once again by 6ABC Action News reporter Alyana Gomez, the event will bring together supporters, community leaders, and immigrant families to celebrate hope, resilience, and opportunity.

For more than 17 years, EILS has provided critical immigration legal services, education, advocacy, and support to immigrant families throughout Hispanic North Philadelphia.

We hope you will join us for this special evening in support of dignity, justice, and opportunity for all.

Anu Thomas, Esq
Executive Director
Esperanza Immigration Legal Services

Judi Bernstein-Baker, Esq.
Immigration Attorney | Nonprofit Executive | Public Service & Civic Activist
Judi Bernstein-Baker, Esq., is a respected immigration attorney, nonprofit leader, and lifelong advocate whose career has spanned more than five decades of public service. Inspired by her mother’s immigrant experience and early involvement in labor and civil rights activism, Judi began her work in social services and community organizing before earning both a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law. Throughout her career, Judi has championed housing stability, child advocacy, immigrant rights, and access to justice. In 1990, she became the Founding Director of the University of Pennsylvania Law School’s Public Service Program, helping establish one of the nation’s first mandatory public service requirements for law students. From 1998 to 2016, Judi served as Executive Director of HIAS Pennsylvania, where she expanded immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, and citizenship programs serving thousands annually. She also co-authored Understanding Immigration Law and Practice, a widely used educational resource for immigration attorneys and legal programs. In celebration of her enduring dedication to public service, access to justice, and civic leadership, Judi will receive the 2026 Civic Impact Award. 

Michael Malvey, Esq.
Managing Partner, Galfand Berger LLP
Michael Malvey, Esq., is a Philadelphia-based trial attorney, nonprofit leader, and longtime advocate for access to justice. He serves as Managing Partner of Galfand Berger LLP, where he focuses on personal injury litigation, representing clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including Spanish-speaking communities. Since joining the firm in 2002, Michael has helped secure more than $100 million in verdicts and settlements and has argued cases before the Pennsylvania Superior Court, Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2020, he successfully argued Bourgeois v. Snow Time, Inc. before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, resulting in a unanimous decision expanding protections for injured individuals across the Commonwealth. Beyond his legal practice, Michael has demonstrated a deep commitment to nonprofit leadership and community service through Esperanza Immigration Legal Services (EILS), where he served on the Board of Directors and as Board Chair for more than seven years. He continues to support EILS as a member of its Advisory Council. In recognition of his long-standing commitment to Esperanza Immigration Legal Services and his sustained leadership on behalf of immigrant families, Michael will receive the 2026 Champion Award.