Former Chief-of-Staff of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Elaine Jones presents the Advocate for Justice 2016 Award to Author Wil Haygood for his best-selling book “Showdown…Thurgood Marshall” along with Jack Olender, president of The Malpractice Law Firm Jack H Olender & Associates, a D.C. and Maryland law firm. (Courtesy Photo)
Jack Olender and his associates presented the 30th Annual Olender Foundation Awards Dec. 5 at the John F. Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts, 700 F St NW, in celebration of others who serve the less fortunate. Paul Berry served as master of ceremonies and Debra Tidwell sang along with “Colorz” and the Greg Twombley band.
In addition to scholarships to six law students at UDC David Clarke Law School and six law students from Howard University Law School, grants were made to NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund in honor of Wil Haygood, writer of the best-selling book on Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
A grant was made to Robert A Shuker scholarship Fund for law students who seek to represent poor people and another grant was made to Holy Trinity Baptist Church in honor of its founders Pastors Rev. George C. Gilbert, Sr., Rev. George C. Gilbert, Jr. and Rev. Xavier Gilbert. The Gilberts have, in addition to their ministries, attempted to help the community throughout the city including labor efforts.
