Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund Announces Carol Pitchersky Development Fellowship.

WASHINGTON -- The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund (LCCREF) today announced the formation of the Carol Pitchersky Development Fellowship in honor of Carol H. Pitchersky, a fundraising pioneer who passed away on October 19, 2004.

In announcing the fellowship, Karen McGill Lawson, LCCREF's Executive Director, and Wade Henderson, the organization's counselor and Executive Director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), recognized Ms. Pitchersky's lasting contribution to the movement for social and economic justice in the United States.

"As Associate Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) during the 1980s, Carol helped to steer the organization's strategic planning and fundraising capacity, making an immeasurable impact on the ACLU's growth," noted Henderson, who served as counsel to the ACLU during the same period. "Over the years, her development expertise has helped advance the missions of so many organizations in the civil rights and human rights communities, including the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Amnesty International, Children's Rights, Inc., Oxfam America, Planned Parenthood, and the Washington Office on Latin America. She was a pioneer in finding creative ways to fund capacity-building in nonprofit social justice organizations."

Morton H. Halperin, Carol Pitchersky's husband, said, "Carol cared deeply about development work as a profession that brought out the best in nonprofit organizations. She also was intensely devoted to civil rights so this fellowship truly honors her and her work. Carol's family is grateful to the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund and to all those who are making generous contributions." Halperin, who previously served as director of the ACLU Washington office, added, "Carol would always say that if your organization is doing something important, and you are explaining it properly, you won't have trouble raising money. This fellowship will help new generations of development professionals to follow Carol's remarkable lead."

LCCREF plans to raise $1,000,000 to endow the fellowship and offer training and advancement to young development professionals serving LCCREF and the nation's civil rights community. The fellowship will also help further three of Ms. Pitchersky's key interests: expanding the fundraising capacity of the civil rights community; offering advancement to young minority development professionals; and furthering the understanding of diversity in the practice of donor relations.

LCCREF is a 501(c)(3) organization, and donations to the Carol Pitchersky Development Fellowship are tax-deductible. Contributions may be sent to the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund, made payable to LCCREF with the notation of "CP Fellowship" and mailed to the LCCREF Carol Pitchersky Development Fellowship, 1629 K Street, NW, 10th Floor, Washington, DC, 20006. Donations may also be made online at www.civilrights.org.

LCCREF promotes an understanding of the need for national policies that support civil rights and social and economic justice, and encourages an appreciation of the nation's diversity. LCCREF is the sister organization of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the nation's oldest, largest and most diverse civil rights coalition, consisting of more than 180 national organizations representing persons of color, women, children, older Americans, individuals with disabilities, gays and lesbians, labor unions, major religious groups and civil liberties and human rights groups.