The Duffy Firm, through its founder, Tom Duffy, is committed to making a difference in Philadelphia through its work on behalf of the catastrophically injured and through service to many charitable organizations.
In 2012, the Duffy Fellowship was established to underwrite staff attorneys’ salaries at the city’s most well-regarded legal services organizations. At the core of this program is Tom’s belief that ‘we are all in this together,’ and that our neighbors who are facing some of the harshest realities of life deserve our support.
In 2013, CLS was awarded a Duffy Fellowship, with the addition of Staff Attorney Jennifer Burdick. Jen is now a Divisional Supervising Attorney in the SSI Unit. She represents low-income Philadelphians in SSI cases and conducts national advocacy to improve access to Social Security for people with disabilities across the country.
In 2022, Tom expanded the fellowship to also fund CLS Staff Attorney Sarah Martinez. Sarah works in the Health and Independence Unit where she focuses on helping clients access vital income supports and medical assistance.
CLS is grateful to Tom and the Duffy Fellowship for helping us further our mission and for always being such a wonderful supporter of CLS.
If you or your organization would like to establish a similar fellowship, please contact Major Gifts Officer Deanna Galer at dgaler@clsphila.org or (215) 981-3761.
CLS Duffy Fellow Jen Burdick pictured with Tom Duffy and CLS Executive Director Debby Freedman in April 2024
