| 2nd Quarter Newsletter, 2026 | Vol 13, Num 2
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Updated Endowment Mission Statement Approved
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The ABI Board recently approved an updated mission statement for the Anthony H.N. Schnelling Endowment Fund. The revised statement reflects the Fund's ongoing commitment to supporting the insolvency and restructuring profession through research, education and professional development:
The mission of the Anthony H.N. Schnelling Endowment Fund is to promote excellence within the insolvency and restructuring community by funding high-quality research, innovative educational programs, and professional development opportunities. By cultivating emerging talent and expanding access to knowledge, the Fund helps ensure a resilient, informed, and forward-thinking profession. Through these efforts, the Fund strengthens the industry, champions insolvency professionals, educates the public, and contributes to a deeper understanding of financial distress, restructuring, and
reorganization.
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Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday by Investing in the Future
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As our nation prepares to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, consider making a lasting impact on the future of the insolvency and restructuring profession. Through the ABI Endowment Fund’s America 250 Giving Campaign, your gift helps support innovative research, educational programs and professional development opportunities that will strengthen our industry for generations to come.
Join us in honoring our nation’s legacy by investing in the next generation of insolvency professionals. Every gift makes a difference.
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Endowment Hosting Bourbon Mixology Event at the Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop
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Join the ABI Endowment Fund at the Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop for a unique and engaging Bourbon Mixology Experience. Attendees will learn about the history and production of bourbon, explore the characteristics of several featured bourbons, and create handcrafted cocktails under the guidance of experienced mixologists.
This is a great opportunity to network with colleagues while supporting the ABI Endowment Fund’s mission to advance bankruptcy research, education and professional development. Light appetizers will be served.
Date: Saturday, July 25
Time: 2:30–4:00 p.m.
Single Ticket: $175
Sponsorship: $1,200 (2 tickets + acknowledgment)
Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, please contact Erin Green at egreen@abi.org. Register here for the Southeast Conference and the Bourbon Tasting.
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Items Needed for Silent Auction Fundraiser at Southeast Workshop
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The ABI Endowment Fund’s Annual Southeast Silent Auction will take place July 23–25 during the Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop at Amelia Island, Fla. As the Endowment’s only silent auction of the year, this event is always a conference favorite and plays an important role in supporting the Endowment’s mission.
We are currently seeking donated items and experiences for the auction. Popular items from past years have included bourbon, sporting event tickets (football, baseball, etc.), dining experiences, vacation rentals, designer handbags, jewelry and other unique experiences and items.
If you are interested in donating an item or experience, please contact ABI Endowment Manager Erin Green at egreen@abi.org. Your generosity helps support bankruptcy research, education and professional development through the ABI Endowment Fund.
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L.A. Wine Social Date and Venue Announced
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Join ABI on October 21 for what has become an elegant tradition benefiting the ABI Anthony H.N. Schnelling Endowment Fund. ABI is again joining forces with Eataly in Century City, Calif., to host this event on their rooftop restaurant Terra. More information to come!
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Sheila Smith Scholarship Recipient Reflects Upon Her Experience at ABI's Annual Spring Meeting
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This year's Sheila S. Smith Scholarship recipient, Jenna Riedel with Gerry Law Firm in Sioux Falls, S.D., shared how attending ABI's Annual Spring Meeting in April — and bringing University of South Dakota law student Victoria Mendoza along — reinforced the values that defined Sheila's legacy. From the generosity of judges and practitioners who welcomed a first-time attendee, to the lasting impact of mentorship and personal connections, the experience was a powerful reminder that the insolvency profession is built on relationships. As Jenna reflected, "mentorship, generosity, and even the briefest human interactions can have a lasting impact," ensuring that Sheila Smith's legacy continues to inspire the next generation of professionals.
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Scholarship-winner Jenna Riedel posed with Immediate Past President Hon. Bruce A. Harwood at ABI's Annual Spring Meeting in April.
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Established in honor of the late Sheila Smith — a respected leader, mentor and friend to so many in the bankruptcy and restructuring community — the Sheila Smith Scholarship supports the next generation of insolvency professionals by providing financial assistance to attend ABI’s two national conferences. Recipients have the opportunity to expand their knowledge, grow their networks, and engage with leaders in the field.
To apply for the scholarship, click here. To donate to the scholarship, click here. For more information, contact ABI Endowment Manager Erin Green.
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New Developments
Committee Member
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Tara Schellhorn of Porzio, Bromberg & Newman (Parsippany, N.J.) joined the Development Committee during ABI’s Annual Spring Meeting in April. Her practice focuses on bankruptcy, restructuring and complex insolvency matters, and she advises clients at every stage of chapter 11, from initial strategy through resolution.
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The Research Grants Committee has welcomed Judge Paul Hage as its new committee chair. Following April’s Annual Spring Meeting, the committee also welcomed Professor Brook Gotberg as its newest member.
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Veterans Task Force Update
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Judge Mary Grace Diehl and Melissa Davey have continued their outstanding work with the We Care Fairs in Georgia, where veterans can visit an ABI-hosted booth to access financial literacy resources. In addition, Past ABI President Jeff Pomerantz has introduced Vets Legal to Los Angeles’s CARE program, helping expand outreach and support for veterans.
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Diamond Level
Contributions of $80,000 and above
Platinum Level
Contributions of $65,000 – $79,999
Millennium Level
Contributions of $50,000 – $64,999
30th Anniversary Circle
Contributions of $30,000 – $49,999
Century Council Member
Contributions of $25,000 – $29,999
Visionary
Contributions of $20,000 – $24,999
Legacy
Contributions of $15,000 – $19,999
Lifetime
Member
Contributions of $10,000 – $14,999
Benefactor
Contributions of $5,000 – $9,999
Sustaining Member
Contributions of $2,000 – $4,999
Leadership Club
Contributions of $1,000 – $1,999
Donor
Contributions of $100 – $999
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Endowment Fund Development Committee
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Vice President—Development:
Bradley D. Sharp
Development Specialists, Inc.
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Committee Members:
Steven M. Berman
Emeritus Member
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP
Marchand Boyd
IDB Bank
Ericka F. Johnson
Bayard, P.A.
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Kristina M. Johnson
Jones Walker LLP
Rebecca Redwine Grow
Hendren, Redwine & Malone, PLLC
Tara Schellhorn
Porzio, Bromberg & Newman
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