Innocence Project to host Third-Annual "Celebration of Freedom and Justice" Benefit May 6
News from the Innocence Project Advisory for Event Wednesday evening, May 6, 2009 Contact: Alana Salzberg; 212.364.5983; ASalzberg@innocenceproject.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Innocence Project Benefit Features John Grisham, Brooke Shields, Aidan Quinn, Blue Man Group, Several Exonerated New Yorkers Third-Annual “Celebration of Freedom and Justice” at Cipriani Wall Street Wednesday night honors actor/producer/director Bob Balaban, record executive Jason Flom, and law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges (New York, NY; May 5, 2009) – On Wednesday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m., the Innocence Project will host its third-annual benefit, A Celebration of Freedom and Justice, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. The program features Brooke Shields and Aidan Quinn performing an excerpt from the Drama Desk Award-winning play "The Exonerated”; as well as performances by Blue Man Group and Phoebe Snow. The evening will feature tributes to this year’s honorees: acclaimed actor, director and producer Bob Balaban, who directed the original stage production and the televised adaptation of "The Exonerated;" recording industry pioneer Jason Flom, who serves on the Innocence Project’s Board of Directors; and the law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, which has given pro bono support of the Innocence Project’s ambitious policy reform agenda. Honorary Chairman John Grisham will speak, as will Innocence Project Co-Directors Peter Neufeld and Barry Scheck. Eight Innocence Project clients who have been exonerated through DNA testing – most of them in the greater New York area – will also speak at the event. WHAT: A Celebration of Freedom and Justice, the Innocence Project’s third-annual benefit WHO: Innocence Project Co-Directors Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld; Brooke Sheilds, Aidan Quinn, John Grisham, Bob Balaban, Blue Man Group; and more. Eight Innocence Project clients who have been exonerated through DNA testing, most of them from the New York area. WHEN: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 Reception at 6:30 p.m.; dinner and program at 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Cipriani Wall Street 55 Wall Street at William Street The Innocence Project, which is affiliated with Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, is a national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice. To date, 239 people nationwide have been exonerated through DNA testing and dozens of states have implemented critical reforms to prevent wrongful convictions. ### Alana B. Salzberg Communications Associate The Innocence Project 100 Fifth Ave., 3rd Floor New York, NY 10011 Office: 212.364.5983 Mobile: 617.823.7808
