KCBF’s Breakfast with Champions Brings in Record Breaking Green for Justice

Award winning poet and raconteur Sherman Alexie brought the crowd of 650 lawyers and judges to its feet with his stirring portraits of life on the reservation, and admonitions to continue the fight for equal justice, even against overwhelming odds. Alexie’s remarks provided the highlight of the fifth annual Breakfast with Champions sponsored by King County Bar Foundation on March 23, 2005 at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in downtown Seattle.

Also headlining the event was the Foundation’s presentation of its 2005 Champion awards. This year’s Champion of Justice Award went to the Honorable Joan E. DuBuque for her extraordinary contributions to Family Law, Criminal law and, since 2002, as Chief of Unified Family Court. The 2005 Champion of Diversity Award was presented to Karen W. Murray in honor of her leadership as chair of KCBF’s Future of the Law Institute and her lifelong pursuit of equal justice.

Not to be outdone by the Champion star quality that preceded them, County Executive Ron Sims and County Prosecutor Norm Maleng once again wrapped up the fundraising Breakfast with humorous but persuasive admonitions to “Bring in the Green for Justice.” And, although final figures are still not in, preliminary calculations total more than $220,000.

Special kudos belong to BWC strategists Honorable Charlie Burdell, Judge Sharon Armstrong, Eileen Concannon, Dan Gandara, and Colleen Kinerk; to Master of Ceremonies Peter Ehrlichman; and to the 65 fantastic table captains who provided leadership.

The tax deductible donations made at the Breakfast will help fund the eight pro bono legal services programs, minority law student scholarships, and Future of the Law Institute programs supported by King County Bar Foundation.