Legal Aid Society of Rockland County Annual Gala

Carolyn Fish, who has served as the Executive Director of Center for

Safety & Change (formerly Rockland Family Shelter) for more than 35 years, has recently announced her retirement, though she will continue her involvement as
Executive Director Emeritus through early 2015 The Legal Aid Society of
Rockland County will honor her extraordinary contributions to our community at its
annual gala on October
3, 2013.

“Carolyn has had profound impact upon the lives of thousands of Rockland County residents”, says Alex Bursztein,
Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Rockland County.  “As a result of her efforts so many have been

Since 1966, the Legal Aid Society of
Rockland County has offered free legal representation to low income residents
of Rockland County. The organization is a charitable
501(c)(3) not-for-profit agency that relies upon philanthropic support from individuals, corporations and grant making sources to provide legal services to
over 4,000 people each year. The organization’s advocates serve two essential
functions: they represent children whose basic rights and lives are
at stake in cases heard by the Rockland County Family Court and they provide
legal assistance to adult Rockland
County residents in civil
cases in which those residents’ essential needs for shelter, income, food, and
health care are denied or threatened. 

The
work of the organization’s advocates encompasses many areas of the law. They help
families avoid losing the homes in mortgage foreclosure actions. They support people
fighting back against landlords who refuse to provide decent conditions. They help
people with disabilities obtain and preserve their federal disability benefits and
health care they need to live with dignity. 


They help people who have lost their jobs obtain unemployment benefits.  They help survivors of domestic violence break
the cycle of abuse by providing the legal support needed for safety and
financial security. And because of the Legal Aid Society of
Rockland County, children are given a voice in abuse and neglect, custody, and
other proceedings in family court.

Tickets
to the Legal Aid Society’s Annual Gala honoring Carolyn Fish can be obtained by
calling Rudy Breedy at (845) 634-3627. General

donations in honor of Ms. Fish and in support of the Legal Aid Society of

Rockland County can be made online by visiting www.legalaidrockland.org