Celebrating CDEL’s 2026 Winter Awards Benefit Award Winners
This year, we are proud to recognize our Volunteer of the Year, Partner of the Year, and Impact Award Winners. Learn more about the awards and award winners below.
2026 CDEL Volunteer of the Year:
The CDEL Volunteer of the Year Award honors a volunteer, organization or law firm who shows a strong commitment to CDEL’s mission by providing an extraordinary level of direct pro bono legal or supportive services to its clients and achieves results that benefit the client and/or the community of low-income seniors and people with disabilities throughout Cook County.
Tom Broderick
Tom Broderick is a licensed Illinois attorney and was a trial attorney and manager for Travelers Insurance Companies for 30 years. He grew up in Yonkers, N.Y and went to undergrad and law school at the University of Notre Dame. Since retirement, Tom has been one of CDEL’s most dedicated volunteers with CDEL and our clients, having volunteered at many of our Power of Attorney Workshops as well as the Legal Guardianship help desk at the Daley Center. Tom has been married to Joan Broderick for 52 years, and they are the proud parents of Spike (Thomas III) and Emily. Joan and Tom are also the proud grandparents of Louis, Rowan and Florence.
Learn more about previous award winners here: CDEL Volunteer of the Year
2026 CDEL Partner of the Year Award Winner:
The CDEL Partner of the Year Award honors a corporation and/or law firm that has provided exceptional assistance and volunteer support to CDEL and its clients.
Milberg
Milberg is a global law firm with its main headquarters located in San Juan, Puerto Rico as a limited liability corporation. Its domestic United States principal place of business is a professional limited liability corporation located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Milberg has numerous office locations across the United States.
In 2025, Milberg supported CDEL financially with a Cy Pres Award as a result of a Class Action Settlement. This award has had a profound and lasting impact on our organization and the clients we serve. Beyond the financial significance, Milberg’s Cy Pres award represents a powerful commitment to ensuring that large scale litigation outcomes create meaningful community benefit. The firm’s recognition of CDEL’s mission and trust in our work underscores the essential role that thoughtful, values-driven partnerships play in advancing justice beyond the courtroom.
Learn more about previous award winners here: CDEL Partner of the Year
2026 CDEL Impact Award Winner:
The CDEL Impact Award recognizes a volunteer, law firm, organization, coalition or corporation that has developed an initiative, program or services that profoundly impacts the lives of senior citizens and people with disabilities in Cook County.
Judge Timothy C. Evans
Judge Timothy C. Evans served as Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County from September 2001 until September 2025. As Chief Judge, he led the largest of 24 judicial circuits in Illinois and one of the largest unified court systems in the world. He oversaw the circuit’s approximately 400 judges, whom he assigned throughout the court’s ten divisions and six geographic districts.
Judge Evans is Cook County’s longest-serving Chief Judge with a tenure marked by visionary leadership, thoughtful reform and an unwavering commitment to equity and access within our court system. Under his leadership, the judiciary implemented significant reforms and programs that strengthened protections, improved court processes and enhanced access to justice for older adults and persons with disabilities. One such program is the Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt program of which CDEL’s Early Resolution Program is based.
Learn more about previous award winners here: CDEL Impact Award