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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 on Thursday, May 28, 2026, the evening will begin with a VIP pre-reception, followed by the main program at 7:00 PM, featuring live music and powerful stories from individuals whose lives have been shaped by EILS’s work.
This year’s celebration will honor two remarkable leaders whose service has deeply shaped access to justice for immigrant families. We are proud to present the EILS Civic Impact Award to Judi Bernstein-Baker for her decades of public service and continued pro bono advocacy on behalf of immigrants, and the EILS Champion Award to Michael Malvey, Managing Partner of Galfand Berger LLP, in appreciation of 10+ years of dedicated board leadership and steadfast support of EILS’s mission.
Last year, more than 140 guests—including EILS clients, volunteers, supporters, and leaders from the legal and civic communities—came together in support of Philadelphia’s immigrant families. The funds raised were critical to sustaining our mission and strengthening our capacity to respond to urgent and growing needs. In 2026, increased partnerships will be essential as demand for immigration legal services continues to rise.
For more than 17 years, EILS has been a trusted resource in Hispanic North Philadelphia. Over the past year, the generous support of our community partners has enabled EILS to provide critical immigration legal services—including citizenship, green card, work authorization, and asylum assistance—to hundreds of immigrants, along with education, referrals, and community-based support to many more.
Celebrating Hope for Immigrants: Rooted in Resilience highlights how EILS’s work often transforms not only the life of one individual, but the futures of entire families—strengthening communities across generations.
With your support, EILS will continue to make HOPE possible for immigrants and their families.
We look forward to seeing you on May 28!
Anu Thomas, Esq
Executive Director
Esperanza Immigration Legal Services
2026 HONOREES
Judi Bernstein-Baker, Esq.
Civic Impact Award
Judi Bernstein-Baker, Esq., is a respected immigration attorney, nonprofit leader, and lifelong civic activist with more than five decades of public service. Born in Queens, New York, to parents of Eastern European descent, her commitment to justice was shaped by her mother’s immigrant experience and involvement in labor and civil rights movements. She began her career in social work and community organizing, later earning a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law. She worked at Community Legal Services and the Support Center for Child Advocates before becoming the Founding Director of the University of Pennsylvania Law School’s Public Service Program. From 1998 to 2016, Judi served as Executive Director of HIAS Pennsylvania, expanding immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, and citizenship programs. She is co-author of Understanding Immigration Law and Practice, widely used in legal education. In retirement, she continues her work as a pro bono immigration attorney and remains an active volunteer with Esperanza Immigration Legal Services. Her legacy reflects a lifelong commitment to justice and civic engagement.
Michael Malvey, Esq.
Champion Award
Michael Malvey, Esq., is a Philadelphia-based trial attorney, law firm leader, and advocate for access to justice with more than two decades of experience. He is the Managing Partner of Galfand Berger LLP, where he focuses on personal injury litigation, representing clients across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Since joining the firm in 2002, Michael has handled more than 500 cases to verdict or settlement, helping secure over $100 million in recoveries. His experience spans jury trials, arbitration, and appellate courts, including the Pennsylvania Superior and Supreme Courts and the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2020, he argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Bourgeois v. Snow Time, Inc., resulting in a unanimous decision expanding the rights of injured individuals. He has been consistently recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer. Michael has also demonstrated a longstanding commitment to nonprofit leadership and pro bono service. He has supported Esperanza Immigration Legal Services since 2013, including more than seven years as Board Chair, and continues to serve on its Advisory Council.
MEDIA SPONSOR
For questions about registration or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Dean Farrar, VP of Development, at
dfarrar@esperanza.us |215-240-6981
Event Tickets & Sponsorship Opportunities
If you are interested in learning more about sponsoring this years event, please contact:
Dean Farrar, VP of Development, at dfarrar@esperanza.us | 215-240-6981
Esperanza Immigration Legal Services
,
Thank you for registering to attend the
2026 Celebrating Hope for Immigrants Annual Fundraiser.
We look forward to seeing you on May 28!
For questions about the event, please contact Dean Farrar, VP of Development, at dfarrar@esperanza.us | 215-240-6981
The official registration and financial information of Esperanza Immigration Legal Services [DBA EILS] EIN: 30-0239154 may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.