Justinian Society of Lawyers' 23rd annual Children’s Endowment Fund Grant Reception gives away $15,000 to local organizations

The Justinian Society of Lawyers held its 23rd annual Children’s Endowment Fund (CEF) Grant Reception on March 13, 2025. Justinian President Brian T. Monico and Justinian Society Endowment Fund’s Chairman Frank A. Sommario presented a total of $15,000 in grants.

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 $325,000 in their respective accounts, where its members have raised these monies over the years and 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 13, 2025, event was held at LUXBAR, 18 E. Bellevue, Chicago, IL, where almost 50 people attended and enjoyed a wonderful meal and cocktails. Edie Dobrez, Executive Director of Homewood Science Center, Doug Winkelstein, Board Director of Keshet, and Robert Markionni, Executive Director of CDGA, were on hand to graciously accept the grants and provide short descriptions of what Homewood Science Center, Keshet and CDGA are all about and explained how each would use the grant money.

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 recipients,” said Justinian President Brian T. Monico.

“Homewood Science Center, Keshet and Chicago District Golf Association Foundation 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.