The Theresa Awards
The Theresa Foundation presents an annual Theresa Award honoring a National Academy of Elder Law Attorney (NAELA) in recognition of their outstanding efforts and advocacy for individuals with special needs. Theresa Award Honorees are given a grant allocation for which they can choose the recipients.
2026 Theresa Award
On behalf of the Theresa Foundation Board of Directors, we are thrilled to present Harry S. Margolis with the 32nd Annual NAELA Theresa Award. Harry has been a lifelong advocate for individuals with disabilities and their families, working to strengthen access, opportunity, and long-term support for those who need it most.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Harry’s story.
The Theresa Foundation is proud to donate $5,000 in Harry’s name to So They Can.
Theresa Award Recipients
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2026
Harry S. Margolis
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![A middle-aged man with a beard wearing a gray suit, light blue shirt, and a multicolored striped tie, smiling in front of a dark green background.]()
2025
James A. Caffry
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![Lee Holmes]()
2024
Lee Holmes
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![Laurie Hanson]()
2023
Laurie Hanson
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![A middle-aged man with gray hair and blue eyes, wearing a dark suit, light blue shirt, and patterned tie, smiling in front of a wooden background.]()
2023
Richard J. Shonter
Posthumously -
![Peter J. Strauss]()
2022
Peter J. Strauss
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![A smiling woman with short brown hair, wearing a green sleeveless top, standing indoors with a blurred background.]()
2021
Annette M. Hines, Esq.
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![A man and woman smiling and posing together indoors. The woman has short auburn hair and is wearing a colorful patterned top. The man has gray hair, glasses, and is wearing a lavender shirt with a floral tie. They appear happy and are standing close to each other.]()
2020
Michael & Myra Gilfix
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![Portrait of an older man with a light complexion, blue eyes, and a beard, wearing a suit jacket, dress shirt, and a colorful tie, against a solid blue background.]()
2019
Tim Nay
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![Lora Webster]()
2018
Lora Webster
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![Smiling middle-aged African American man wearing a beige suit, white shirt, and a colorful abstract tie, standing against a dark green gradient background.]()
2018
Alfred “Chip” Chiplin, Esq.
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![Professional headshot of a woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing a black blazer, silver necklace, and hoop earrings, against a gray background.]()
2017
Kelly Piacenti
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![A woman smiling, wearing a purple dress with a pink and purple ribbon and a brooch, and long, dangling earrings.]()
2017
Judy Murdaugh-Jackson
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![A middle-aged man with short light brown hair, wearing glasses, a dark pinstripe suit, a light blue shirt, and a red polka dot tie.]()
2017
H. Amos Goodall, Esq.
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![Robert McGuire]()
2016
Robert McGuire
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![Close-up of a middle-aged man with gray hair, blue eyes, wearing a dark suit, light blue shirt, and green tie.]()
2016
Corey B. Bearak, Esq.
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![A woman with short, curly white hair smiling, wearing a purple top and jewelry, in a warmly lit room with windows in the background.]()
2016
Elizabethanne Miller Angevine, Esq.
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![Portrait of an older man with white hair and a beard, wearing a suit jacket and a checked shirt, smiling in a professional setting.]()
2015
Fred C. Klein, Esq.
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![Portrait of a woman with short light brown hair, smiling, wearing a black blazer, earrings, and a necklace, against a blue background.]()
2015
Mary Alice Jackson, Esq.
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![A professional man with short gray hair, light beard, dressed in a dark suit, light blue shirt, and multicolored tie, smiling at the camera.]()
2014
Michael Amoruso, Esq.
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![A smiling middle-aged man with gray hair and glasses, wearing a blue suit, a light-colored shirt, and a patriotic American flag pin on his lapel, against a dark background.]()
2014
John LaSpina
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![Close-up portrait of a middle-aged man with gray hair, glasses, wearing a light blue shirt and a blue plaid bow tie, against a blue background.]()
2013
John J. Ford, Esq.
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![Joan L. Robert]()
2012
Joan L. Robert
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![A middle-aged man with short gray hair, wearing a white dress shirt and a brown checkered blazer, standing outdoors with blurred trees and buildings in the background.]()
2012
Jim Mulvaney
Surf for All -
![Two smiling men standing in the ocean wearing blue 'Surf for All' shirts, with one showing a shaka sign and the other pointing towards the camera.]()
2012
Will & Cliff Skudin
Surf for All -
![Bob Policastro]()
2011
Bob Policastro
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![Portrait of a smiling middle-aged woman with glasses and wavy, shoulder-length hair, wearing a striped blouse.]()
2011
Renée C. Lovelace, Esq.
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![Stephen W. Dale, Esq.]()
2010
Stephen W. Dale, Esq.
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![NYS Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg]()
2010
NYS Assemblyman
Harvey Weisenberg -
![Richard A. Courtney, Esq.]()
2009
Richard A. Courtney, Esq.
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![Matthew Makar]()
2009
Matthew Makar
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![A man in a black suit with a white neck ruffle, and a woman with blonde hair in a black sleeveless top, posing together in a room with blue walls and checkered curtains.]()
2009
Sandy De Ninno-Braun
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![Sidiki Conde]()
2008
Sidiki Conde
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![Professor Rebecca Morgan, Esq.]()
2008
Professor Rebecca Morgan, Esq.
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![Emily S. Starr]()
2007
Emily S. Starr
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![Joseph M. Valenzano, Jr.]()
2007
Joseph M. Valenzano, Jr.
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![Charles P. Sabatino]()
2006
Charles P. Sabatino
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![A young man with short brown hair and a red shirt sitting outside next to a yellow Labrador retriever wearing a blue vest.]()
2006
Scott Pollock
Posthumously -
![Brother Rick Curry, S.J.]()
2005
Brother Rick Curry, S.J.
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![A professional headshot of a middle-aged man with gray hair, wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and a colorful tie, smiling against a plain gray background.]()
2005
Stephen J. Silverberg, Esq.
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![A professional woman with short, curly gray hair, wearing glasses and a black suit with a white shirt, smiling against a plain white background.]()
2004
Judith A. Stein, Esq.
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![A man with reddish-brown hair, sunglasses, and a big smile, wearing a dark shirt, with a blue and gray background.]()
2004
Father Jim Maltese
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![A smiling woman with blonde hair wearing a light blue shirt outdoors with green trees and a horse in the background.]()
2003
Lisa A. Gatti
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![A woman with red hair styled back, wearing a beige blazer with intricate black design, pearl earrings, and a pearl necklace, smiling against a blue background.]()
2003
Mary T. Schmitt Smith, Esq.
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![A portrait of an older man with gray hair, wearing glasses, a dark suit, a white shirt, and a red patterned tie, against a gray background.]()
2002
Anthony Caporrino
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![A woman with curly hair smiling outdoors in front of trees with fall foliage.]()
2002
Kate A. Mewhinney, Esq.
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![A middle-aged man with gray hair, wearing glasses, a dark suit, a light blue shirt, and a navy tie with red diagonal stripes.]()
2001
Rene H. Reixach, Esq.
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![An elderly woman with blonde hair sits at a bar counter, smiling and looking to her left. She is wearing a sheer, long-sleeved white top with black polka dots, and earrings. The background is dark with shelves of bottles.]()
2001
Laury Adsit-Gelardi
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![A smiling man with gray hair wearing glasses, a blue shirt, and a black jacket, against a darkstormy sky background.]()
2000
Charles R. Robert, Esq.
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![A smiling elderly man in a dark suit and tie with a white shirt, sitting next to an elderly woman in a red blouse with jewelry, holding a drink, at a social event or dinner.]()
2000
Eric & Hedy Page
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![Close-up of a smiling elderly man with a white beard and blue eyes, wearing a light blue shirt outdoors with a cloudy sky and water in the background.]()
1999
Allan D. Bogutz, Esq.
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![A smiling man and woman dressed in formal attire at a celebratory event, with the man holding a diploma or certificate.]()
1999
Marvin & Barbara Rachlin
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![A man wearing a suit and tie, smiling faintly, with a dark background.]()
1998
Jack J. Britvan
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![Smiling woman with blonde hair wearing a black blazer and white shirt, standing in front of green plants and a window.]()
1998
Donna R. Bashaw, Esq.
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![A middle-aged man with brown hair and a mustache, wearing a dark blazer, light blue shirt, and a patterned tie, smiling in front of an orange background.]()
1997
Kurt J. Murgo
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1997
Scott R. Severns, Esq.
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![A woman with dark hair and red lipstick smiling in front of a wooden wall with framed items.]()
1996
Tracy Phillips
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![Close-up of a smiling senior man wearing a black cap with the text 'COMBAT' and a patch, a black jacket with a badge, a red and blue scarf, and standing outdoors with blurred autumn trees in the background.]()
1996
Richard Northorn
AIHS -
![A middle-aged man with a bald head wearing a beige suit, white shirt, and a colorful tie, smiling against a gray background.]()
1996
A. Frank Johns, Esq.
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![A middle-aged man with gray hair in a dark suit, white shirt, and yellow tie smiling against a gray background.]()
1995
Ira S. Wiesner, Esq
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![A smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing an orange cardigan, holding a white paper and a pen. Behind her is a colorful board with a rainbow design and decorative flowers.]()
1995
Colleen M. Moseman
