VIP in Action Published September 30, 2026
VIP Celebrates Forty-Five Years of Pro Bono
Opening Doors to Advocacy:
Celebrating 45 Years of Pro Bono
On September 26, 2026, over 400 members of VIP’s community gathered to celebrate our organization’s history, recognize excellence in pro bono volunteering, and raise funds to support our mission in years to come.
Speakers included U.S. Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, the Honorable Daniel J. Anders, and Bob Scott, who dedicated the Lee Zimmerman Memorial Fund.
During the Gala, we announced our goal of raising $300,000 in 2026 to support the Fund, which will expand our activities serving low-income homeowners and small businesses. Learn about the Fund here.
We also heard testimonials from two VIP clients—a defendant in a debt collection lawsuit and a small business owner—and we celebrated our Champion Award honorees: Jared Bayer, Cory Jacobs, Jacob Brownstein, and Sierra Applegate.
The final award of the night was presented to VIP’s co-founder, Frank Devine. Frank is the first recipient of the Francis P. Devine, III Keystone Award for Lifetime Advocacy.
View the program booklet here and scroll down to view photos from the evening.
Frank Devine receives the Francis P. Devine, III Keystone Award for Lifetime Advocacy and a citation from Philadelphia's City Council
Guests bid on a monument tour with VIP Supervising Attorney Mike Jones during the auction
Guests applaud VIP's honorees and award recipients
Sierra Applegate receives the Champion Award for Preserving Income
Megan and Chris Watson recreate a memorable photo from a previous VIP Gala
Jared Bayer receives the Champion Award for Preventing Homelessness
VIP Board President Chanda A. Miller addresses the audience
Jacob Brownstein receives the Champion Award for Promoting Community Economic Development