This year, the ABI Develoment Committee has undertaken a special effort to raise funds for the ABI Endowment, which finances research and education on insolvency. The 2006 Spring Campaign has already begun to yield phenomenal results. Anthony H.N. Schnelling, the Development Committee Chair, and the other Development Committee members have begun outreach efforts, including mailings and phone calls to ABI members asking them to increase their efforts. The response to date has been very positive. Several new donors have made contributions to the Endowment, and many more have increased contributions to achieve new recognition levels. Endowment Recognition Levels are described in the box below. Contributions that have been received at press time are noted below.

Scott Baena of Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP, who donated $25,000, is a new Century Club member this year. As Scott indicated: "Reflecting on our own good luck in the bankruptcy and restructuring arenas, our firm recognized that the ABI has been the principal bankruptcy organization responsible for improvements in the administration of justice, continuing legal education and collegiality, which have enhanced our practice, as well as the quality of professional life for all bankruptcy practitioners."

Joseph E. Myers and Stuart Kessler of Clear Thinking Group LLC of Hillsborough, N.J., are also new donors. Joe is managing director of Clear Thinking Group and strongly values the educational element of the Endowment. "We are proud to be associated with the ABI and consider it an honor to be a Lifetime Member supporter of the Endowment. ABI educational programs are an integral part of our work in the insolvency/restructuring arena. Moreover, membership in the Institute demonstrates a high level of professionalism, ensuring our clients and bankruptcy professionals that Clear Thinking Group adheres to the highest standards and a rigorous code of conduct." David Linn of Oak Point Partners added, "it is a privilege for Oak Point Partners to be able to support the Endowment Fund. We are proud to add to the Endowment's ever-growing financial base and its continuing support for research and education."

In addition, several ABI authors have donated royalties from their ABI publications. Susan Gummow of Clausen Miller PC has generously donated the royalties from the First Edition of ABI's Bankruptcy and Insurance Law Manual.

Newest Endowment Donors
(Donor level and above)

Scott Baena $25,000
Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod, LLP

Otto Beatty $100
Baker & Hostetler LLP

Paul Bran $400
Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky, LLP

Clear Thinking Group LLC $10,000
Joseph E. Myers & Stuart Kessler

Robert Dangremond $5,000
AlixPartners LLC

Executive Sounding Board Assoc. Inc. $5,000
Martin I. Katz

David Farrell $100
Thompson Coburn LLP

Mark Felger $250
Cozen O'Connor

Penny Friedman $1,250
CIT Business Capital

David Grochocinski $100
Grochocinski, Grochocinski & Lloyd, Ltd.

Geoffrey Groshong $100
Miller Nash LLP

Susan Gummow $1,451
Clausen Miller PC

Reginald Jackson $600
Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

Alan Lasko $400
Alan D. Lasko & Associates, PC

David Linn $5,000
Oak Point Partners

Craig Rasile $5,000
Hunton & Williams LLP

Thomas Salerno $5,000
Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, LLP

James Shea $5,000
Shea & Carlyon, Ltd.

The Hilco Organization $5,000
Benjamin L. Nortman and Richard L. Kaye

Togut, Segal & Segal LLP $5,000
Albert Togut.