Join Us at the 2021 Kandler Celebration

Celebrating Our 60th Anniversary

Thank you for your interest! This event is now over.

Because of you, our 36th Annual Kandler Awards Celebration was a success, despite being our first-ever hybrid (virtual and in-person) fundraiser. Thank you so much for your support of our work. We couldn’t do this without you!

Both Kandler Awardee videos from the event are now available on our YouTube channel. Check them out to see how we honored Carrie Casey and Dr. Yasser Payne, and to learn more about their inspiring and heartening work in support of civil liberties.

Watch Carrie Casey's video here

Watch Dr. Yasser Payne's video here


As we celebrate our 60th year as an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, we reflect back on our work, and all our partners along the way. Our ongoing efforts today to promote criminal legal reform, expanded voting rights, housing justice, education equity, and more, honor our organization’s six decade history as a vanguard of civil liberties in the First State.

Please join us to celebrate that history, and the history to come, at our virtual Kandler Awards Celebration on Wednesday, October 20 at 7 p.m. via Zoom — this year with in-person celebration options, too!

Guests of the 2021 Kandler Awards Celebration will have access to our online silent auction and a private Zoom event that will feature live music, opportunities to learn more about and engage with our work, and a party package — delivered right to your door — with vouchers for celebratory treats from your favorite local restaurants.

A limited number of ticket holders (first come, first-served) will have the option to reserve space at one of our partner restaurants for an in-person gathering, where you can celebrate with your friends during the live-streamed virtual event while you enjoy food, on us!

This event will also be held VIRTUALLY, requiring access to the internet by phone, computer, or tablet to attend. If you choose to attend virtually, you will receive the Zoom link via the email you provide prior to the event. You will also receive a voucher in your party package to pick up a celebratory meal from one of our partner restaurants — chosen when you purchase your ticket.

*Virtual tickets with no meal will be available until 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 20. In-person tickets and virtual tickets with a meal option are no longer available.
Please note: We cannot guarantee on-time swag bag delivery for tickets and sponsorships purchased after Monday, October 4.
If after purchasing your ticket, virtual or in-person, you decide to change how you would like to celebrate, please email Melissa Bryson, [email protected], as soon as possible.

2021 Kandler Awards hub page


Thank You to Our Sponsors

 

PROTECTORS OF FREEDOM

Ross, Aronstam, & Mortiz LLP
 

DEFENDERS OF LIBERTY 

Highmark Delaware

Julie Sandler

New Castle County Council
 

PARTNERS IN JUSTICE

David & Sally McBride

Faegre, Drinker, Biddle, & Reath LLP

Incyte

Morris, Nichols, Arsht, & Tunnell LLP

New Castle County Executive Office
 

VIDEO & PHOTOGRAPHY SPONSOR

Betsy McGeever
 

ADVOCATES 

Amy Simmerman

Carmen Twyman

First State Community Action Agency

Grace & Blair Messner

Joan Kandler

Judy & David Mellen

Larry & Marion Hamermesh

Tom & Jennifer O'Brien

WSFS Cares Foundation
 

CHAMPIONS

Alice & Geoff Sawyer

Ariel Gruswitz

Chris & Bill Sudell

Claire & Mikki Snyder-Hall

David & Gwen Brown

Delaware NORML

Department of Africana Studies at the University of Delaware

Don Peterson

Jeffrey & Linnea Goddess

Jeffrey Raffel

Joshua Twilley

Kate Cowperthwait

Kevin & Marilyn O'Connell

Laina & Michael Herbert

Leland & Melva Ware

Marlena Gibson

Mary Jo Anderson

Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League

Mike & Katie Brickner

Nan Hunter

Norman Monhait & Marcia Halperin

Peggy Strine

Tom & Marie Foley
 


This year, we will be honoring two incredible Delawareans who have left an indelible mark on civil liberties in our state.

KANDLER HONOREES

CARRIE CASEY

Manager, NCC Community Development & Housing Program

 

 

 

Yasser Payne
YASSER PAYNE, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, University of Delaware

 

 

 

 

 


OUR MUSICAL GUESTS

This year's entertainment for the Kandler celebration will be provided by

Jea Street, Jr. & Nadjah Nicole

 

Jea playing the piano and singing.
 Get to know Jea

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nadj standing in the middle of a city street.
 Get to know Nadjah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GREAT MUSIC DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED.

Please consider tipping Jea & Nadjah as a thank-you for sharing their music with us.

Jea's CashApp: $JeastreetJr

Nadjah's CashApp: $mommanadj