The Anapol Schwartz Foundation Names Dennis Gleason Its First Anapol Advocate Award Winner

Anapol Schwartz has announced burn survivor Dennis Gleason as its first Anapol Advocate Award winner. Established by The Anapol Schwartz Foundation (ASF) in winter 2010, the award recognizes inspiring individuals who have helped victims affected by disabling injuries lead better and more productive lives. This inaugural award focused on the burn care community, and nearly 1,000 people voted online to select the winner from among three semi-finalists. The ASF will make a $5,000 contribution to Crozer-Chester Medical Center’s burn center in Gleason’s honor.

“This tremendous response demonstrates how much our semi-finalists have touched others’ lives,” said Joel Feldman, managing partner of Anapol Schwartz. “We applaud all of our semifinalists, who, through their incredibly selfless efforts, help so many others, and we’re proud to honor Dennis Gleason.”

Nominated for his tireless commitment to helping contractors prevent on-the-job burn injuries, Gleason suffered serious electrical burns in the course of his work as a lineman at PECO, the Philadelphia region’s electric and natural gas utility. After coming into contact with a power distribution line, he sustained second and third degree burns over 20 percent of his body, spent months in Crozer-Chester Medical Center’s burn center and then even more time in rehab during a difficult, painful recovery.

To make the best out of a devastating situation, Gleason became a safety trainer at PECO. For almost 20 years, he has shared his personal story with all new aerial and underground line mechanics, contributing to the prevention of electrical contact injuries on the job. He also volunteers at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, is a member of the Burn Foundation’s Survivors Advisory Council, and serves as a mentor to other burn survivors.

A Word from Our Managing Partner

In everything our firm does, we’re working to ensure that individuals and their families are treated fairly and compassionately after they have been harmed. We’re proud to honor Dennis Gleason, who not only overcame serious burns himself, but who has since worked both to prevent others from suffering similar injuries and to support burn survivors and their families. The Anapol Schwartz Foundation will be presenting Crozer Chester Medical Center’s burn center – where Dennis was treated – with a $5,000 contribution in his honor.

And, we’d be remiss if we didn’t highlight our two other semi-finalists, Dr. Jean Klein and Rosemary Washington, who have also done amazing work to better the lives of those who have been injured by burns.

I encourage you to read all of their stories on our site. They are truly inspiring.

Future Anapol Advocate awards will focus on different care communities and their heroes. So, if you know someone like Dennis, Jean, or Rosemary who has worked to help victims affected by disabling injuries to lead better and more productive lives, tell us about him or her by writing to Beth Starrantino at bstarrantino@startoplin.com.

Sincerely,
Joel Feldman
Managing Partner, Anapol Schwartz