WHEREAS, Frank Cervone has served the Support Center for Child Advocates (“Child Advocates”) for more than 33 years; and

WHEREAS; for the last 31 years, Frank Cervone has served as the Executive Director of Child Advocates; and

WHEREAS; Child Advocates advocates for victims of child abuse and neglect with the goal of securing safety, justice, well-being and a permanent, nurturing environment for every child; and

WHEREAS, under leadership of Frank Cervone, the number of children being served by Child Advocates increased from 400 to more than 1000 annually; and

WHEREAS; Frank Cervone has ensured the long term stability of Child Advocates, increasing its operational budget to $5.1 million and its endowment to $7 million; and

WHEREAS, Frank Cervone is a recognized national leader in shaping policy related to juvenile court procedural rules; and

WHEREAS, Frank Cervone has been recognized both locally and nationally with numerous awards, including the American Bar Association Mark Hardin Award for Child Welfare Legal Scholarship and Systems Change in 2014 and the 2006 Philadelphia Bar Association Foundation Award; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his work for Child Advocates, Frank Cervone founded the National Children’s Law Network, served as the chair of the Board of the Children’s Trust Fund of Pennsylvania, served as the chair of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation Task Force on Children, and served as a member of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee; and

WHEREAS, Frank Cervone has been a valued friend and colleague to the Philadelphia Bar Association, particularly in his leadership roles with its Delivery of Legal Services Committee and in generously providing guidance and advice to countless staff of other legal services organizations; and

WHEREAS, members of the bar “literally” have run side by side with him in the Bar Association’s annual bar run for the benefit of Child Advocates, coinciding with his metaphorical marathon service to that organization; and

WHEREAS, the children of Philadelphia are safer and better protected as the result of his tireless efforts and those efforts of all of the members of Child Advocates staff, volunteer advocates, the many Boards of Directors and donors; and

WHEREAS, after decades of advocating for children in Philadelphia and across the nation, Frank Cervone has announced that he will retire on June 30, 2023.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Bar Association conveys its deepest gratitude to Frank Cervone for distinguished service to the City of Philadelphia and the legal profession and congratulates him on the occasion of his retirement.

PHILADELPHIA BAR ASSOCIATION
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
ADOPTED: June 29, 2023