Nov. 30, 2010

The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) celebrated its 12th Annual Access to Justice Dinner Nov. 17. Donors, community supporters and staff gathered at the Beverly Hilton Hotel to honor Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridely-Thomas with the Access to Justice Award for his efforts to re-open Martin Luther King Hospital in South Los Angeles after its closure in August 2007. Stephen D. Yslas, corporate vice president and general counsel for Northrop Grumman Corp., received the Maynard Toll Award for Distinguished Public Service, for his work in diversifying work places in law firms and corporate law offices. The festivities raised almost $500,000 for LAFLA’s programs and services. Photo 1: From left: Mark Ridley-Thomas, 2010 Access to Justice Honoree and Los Angeles County Supervisor; Stephen D. Yslas of Northrup Grumman and Maynard Toll Award for Distinguished Public Service recipient; and Greg Nitzkowski, Managing Partner of the law firm Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, recipient of the Pro Bono Service Award. Photo 2: From left: Civil Rights Attorney Connie L. Rice; Neil B. Martin, LAFLA Board President, both presenting the 2010 Access to Justice Award to Mark-Ridley Thomas.