Each year, we remember Gerry Kandler, former president of ACLU Delaware, and honor those who exemplify his tireless commitment to the defense of all Delawareans’ civil liberties.
Our Online Silent Auction is Open for Bids!
Whether or not you attend the Kandler Celebration, we welcome you to celebrate with us by checking out the silent auction! The auction is open for bidding now, and will close at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 23.
To view our full selection and place your bids, click the button below!
Typically, we honor a few select Delawareans each year for their contributions to civil liberties. This year, on the 40th anniversary of the Kandler Celebration, we are making a big change: we are honoring EVERYONE!
And that's why this year we are making tickets to the Kandler Celebration free to everyone who wants to attend.
2025 has proven to be a difficult year already, and we need to be in community with one another now more than ever. Join us in celebrating our collective community action with an evening of hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and an online silent auction to support civil liberties work in Delaware!
WHEN:
Thursday, October 23, 6 - 9 p.m.
WHERE
Carriage House at Rockwood Park
4671 Washington Street Extension,
Wilmington, DE 19809
For questions, or if you need accessibility accomodations to attend, reach out to Melissa Connelly at [email protected].
BECOME A SPONSOR
In order to bring this community-focused event into reality, we are asking those who can be sponsors to continue supporting the event. All sponsorships will support our shared commitment to celebrate civil liberties and the essential work of the ACLU in safeguarding democracy. Sponsors will be recognized for their commitment to supporting our work and the annual Kandler Celebration.
The deadline to be listed as a Sponsor is Monday, October 20.
Thank you to our sponsors for making this year's celebration possible:
PROTECTOR OF FREEDOM
Joan Kandler
Ross, Aronstam & Moritz
DEFENDER OF LIBERTY
Julie Sandler
PARTNER IN JUSTICE
Ariel and Ben Gruswitz
Carmen Twyman
Faegre Drinker
David and Sally McBride
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell
Planned Parenthood of Delaware
Tom and Jennifer O'Brien
ADVOCATE
Amy Simmerman
Community Legal Aid Society Inc
Grace and Blair Messner
Highmark
Marion & Larry Hamermesh
Lynn Kielhorn
Ron Collins and Susan Cohen
WSFS
CHAMPION
Betsy McGeever
Brian Kandler
Caitlin McAndrews
Chuck and Janice Durante
Desmond Baker
Donald and Ethel Parsons
Jeffrey Raffel
Kate Cowperthwait
Katherine Mills
Leon Weiner & Associates Inc
Mara Gorman
Mike and Katie Brickner
M. J. Oakberg
Norman Monhait and Marcia Halperin
Steve and Lisa Close
Suchi and Vijay Iyengar
Tom and Marie Foley
WATCHDOG
Alan Garfield
Anna Hamilton
Austin Cory Bart
Casira Copes
Chris and Rich Connelly
Christina Hill-Johnson
Delaware Barristers Association
Diana Brown
Ellen and Bob Meyer
Evelyn and Drew Brady
Jeff Goddess
Kathryn Jakabcin
Kathy Epler
Maria Taylor
Marian & Howard Palley
Mary Wheeling
Melissa Connelly
Melva & Leland Ware
Patricia Downing
Paul and Pam Baumbach
Paula and Vinny Randazzo
Philip Krape
Ted Killheffer
Tiffany Geyer Lydon
Tim Brooks
Tom and Judy Pappenhagen
